ARTS AND CULTURE INFORMATION GATEWAY
Immerse yourself in the colorful world of art and culture! From traditional heritage to contemporary works, discover uniqueness that reflects the nation's identity and identity
GULAI ASAM RONG SIPUT SEDUT
Kedai Makan Long Zizah Kampung,
Kuala Sat Ulu Tembeling 27020 Jerantut Pahang
Picture
31
Video
Available
Today's Visitor
2
Number of Visitors
423
Introduction and history
Gulai Asam Rong Siput Sedut is a Pahang unusual cuisine of snails cooked with the seeds of rubber trees. And many do not know that rubber seeds can be a very special ingredient of a traditional cooking.
Asam is a method of storing fermented food for a certain period of time. While rong is the inside of a fruit (the pith). Originally, this asam rong was made from perah, a type of fruit obtained from the perah trees in Malaysian thick forests. But as it was harder to obtain, it was replaced with rubber seeds which are more easily available.
For the unversed, rubber trees (hevea brasiliensis) are one of the Malaysian’s sources of economy which offer various other uses to the Malaysian housewives. Other than the seeds are of use in cooking, the leaves are used to wrap tapai, another Malaysian delicacy, which is also another unusual craft.
The asam rong is not sour like other fermented food. Instead, it is slightly bitter and creamy. Perhaps as it is fermented, one names it 'asam'.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 kg of siput sedut (snails)
• 3 spoons of asam rong
• 20 fresh chilies – slighly blended
• 3 cm of fresh turmeric/ turmeric powder
• Salt, seasoning and water to taste
• 2 kesing leaves
HOW TO PREPARE
Preparing the Asam Rong
The main ingredient for asam rong is the pulp of the rubber seeds or buah perah. Good pulp is gathered from the seeds of mature rubber trees. The seeds are cracked to collect their white soft and chewy pulp, the isi rong.
The pulp is then dried in the heat between three and seven days (subject to weather). After being fully dried, it is pounded lightly, then fermented in a tightly closed container. After a perfect fermentation, it will be a good seasoning for cooking. Its dry granular texture makes it a versatile seasoning for a variety of cuisines. Usually, the isi rong lasts for months at room temperature.
Asam rong or asam rum is full of flavor, enriching other cuisines, especially freshwater fish cooking such as the keranak, toman and patin fish, or river snails. To make the asam rong gulai (thick soup) tastier, one can also add vegetables such as pucuk paku, pumpkin shoots, eggplant, yams, and sweet potatoes.
This dish is sought-after in both small villages like Ulu Tembeling, Kuala Tembeling, Kuala Tahan in Jerantut district, and bigger towns, Kuala Lipis, Maran, Raub and Kuantan.
How to Cook
1. Put clean snails into a pot of water.
2. Add the asam rong and the pounded chili rice/pepper and stir.
3. Add a little coarse salt.
4. Add some ground fresh turmeric or turmeric powder. Stir and leave for a while.
5. Add seasoning. Stir until boiling. 6. Add the kesing leaves. Wait until it boils, and the sauce thickens a little.
7. Ready to serve.
Reference Source
i. Bahan Bacaan
Professor Dr. Haji Mohd. Salehuddin Mohd Zahar. (2022).
Bab Dalam Buku Siri 1 : Pelestarian Warisan Makanan Tradisional Melayu. Kuala
Lumpur : Jabatan Warisan Malaysia.
Tengku Puan Pahang. (2005). Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang
Masakan tradisional Pahang. Pahang : Lembaga Muzium Negeri Pahang
Roselan Ab. Malek. (2019). Sajian Eksotik Jerantut : Metro
Ahad
Roselan Ab. Malek. (2019). Biji getah jadi rebutan
penduduk kampung: BH Online : muat turun pada 9 Oktober 2019 daripada
https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/wilayah/2019/10/615819/biji-getah-jadi-rebutan-penduduk-kampung
Madihaa.
(2012). Gulai Asam Rom (aserong) sajian
popular negeri
Pahang : blogspot : muat turun pada 29 Mac 2012 daripada
http://mamawandiha.blogspot.com/2012/03/gulai-asam-rom-babatperut-sajian.html
Location
State JKKN Contact Information
Puan Norlelah Abd Karim
Cultural Officer
Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara, Pahang
Kompleks JKKN Pahang
Lot 57100, Jalan Teluk Sisek,
25000, Kuantan,
Pahang Darul Makmur
09-517 8466
