Kerisik (Jawi: كريسيق), also known as ambu-ambu in Minangkabau and kelapa gongseng in Indonesian, is a condiment or spice made from grinding toasted and grated coconut used in cooking among the Malay and Minangkabau communities of Indonesia, Malaysia[1] and Singapore. It is sometimes referred to as coconut butter. It can be made at home as a byproduct of extracting coconut milk or bought ready made. Kerisik is used in dishes such as kerabu salads, nasi ulam, gulai and especially rendang as a gravy thickener.[2]
 A bowl of homemade kerisik | |
| Alternative names | ambu-ambu (Minangkabau), kelapa gongseng (Indonesian) |
|---|---|
| Type | Condiment |
| Place of origin | Indonesia and Malaysia[1] |
| Region or state | Sumatra, Singapore and Malay Peninsula |
| Created by | Malays |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
Kerisik means "dry" in Malaysian[3] in the sense of dry leaves or grated coconut. Fresh kerisik can be easily made from fresh coconut which is grated and sautéed on low heat, then ground in a mortar and pestle. Dried grated coconut can also be used, however, the resulting paste is not as fragrant. Pre-made kerisik can develop an unpleasant smell.
It is not easily found outside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and will most likely only be found in Asian specialty food shops outside of these countries.
Grading
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Kerisik is divided into grade 'A', for kerisik that is fragrant and creamy, tastes sweet and has a nutty aftertaste, and grade 'B', which tends to have fewer of the fragrant notes which are the key point in choosing a good kerisik. As for the last grade, grade 'C', manufacturers tend to use coconut leftovers from the production of coconut milk. This leaves the kerisik with only the nutty taste and with a bland and husky aftertaste. This 'C' grade kerisik floods the market, confusing customers.
See also
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External links
edit- How to toast coconut and make kerisik at pickles-and-spices.com
References
edit- ^ a b Wan, C. (2012). Simply Sedap: Oriental Cooking. Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. p. 190. ISBN 978-981-4435-03-1. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Arokiasamy, Christina (2017). The Malaysian Kitchen: 150 Recipes for Simple Home Cooking. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 362. ISBN 978-0544810020.
- ^ "Carian Umum". Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu (in Malay). Retrieved 2 October 2024.