Rica-rica facts for kids
Rica-rica sauce
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| Course | Main course |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Indonesia |
| Region or state | North Sulawesi |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Chicken, meat, or seafood in hot and spicy spice mixture with much red chili pepper |
Rica-rica (sometimes just called rica) is a super hot and spicy spice mix from Indonesia. It's a big part of the food from Manado, a city in North Sulawesi. This special spice mix is used to make many delicious dishes.
Rica-rica gets its fiery kick from lots of chopped or ground red and green chili peppers. It also uses bird's eye chili, which is even hotter! Other important ingredients are shallots, garlic, and ginger. A little bit of salt and sugar balances the flavors. These ground spices are cooked in coconut oil. Then, lime leaves, crushed lemongrass, and lime juice are added for a fresh, zesty taste. In Indonesia, rica-rica is a very popular seasoning. People use it to make barbecued meat, seafood, or chicken extra spicy and flavorful.
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What is Rica-rica?
Rica-rica is not just a sauce; it's a special blend of spices. This blend makes food taste amazing and spicy. It's a key part of cooking in the Manado region of Indonesia. The name "rica" itself means "spicy" or "chili" in the local language.
Key Ingredients in Rica-rica
The secret to rica-rica's unique taste is its mix of fresh ingredients.
- Chili Peppers: Both red and green chilies are used, often in large amounts.
- Bird's Eye Chili: These tiny chilies pack a powerful punch of heat.
- Aromatics: Shallots, garlic, and ginger add depth to the flavor.
- Fresh Herbs: Lime leaves and lemongrass give a fresh, citrusy aroma.
- Citrus: A splash of lime juice brightens the whole dish.
- Seasoning: A pinch of salt and sugar helps balance the intense flavors.
Popular Rica-rica Dishes
In Manado, almost any kind of meat, poultry, or fish can be cooked "rica-rica style." This means it's prepared with the famous spicy sauce. The most well-known dish is probably ayam rica-rica, which is chicken cooked with this spicy mix.
Different Meats and Seafood
Many different foods become delicious with rica-rica.
- Chicken: Ayam rica-rica is a favorite for many.
- Duck: Bebek rica-rica offers a rich, spicy flavor.
- Fish: You can find ikan mas rica-rica (carp) or cakalang rica-rica (skipjack tuna).
- Beef and Pork: Sapi rica-rica (beef) and babi rica-rica (pork) are also very popular.
- Seafood: Shrimp (udang rica-rica) and squid (cumi rica-rica) are often cooked this way.
- Rica-rica dishes
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Mackerel rica-rica
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Pork rica-rica
