Family and Childhood Favourites

We had a lot of family gatherings when I was growing up.  My parents loved people, they often had friends to come to our home, and my mother always served beautiful spread for them.  Sweet glutinous rice rolls (Lemper) is one of my favourites.  I could not have them at any time, because my mother liked to serve the Lemper for a special occasion.

From the celebration of baby's birth, family's prayer group, Christmas, Easter to a wedding, we always had Lemper on the menu.  It has been my favourite.  Sometimes I cook Lemper for my family too.

This Lemper is my interpretation of Javanese Lemper.  The tradition of Javanese Lemper is cooked/wrap in banana leaves.  Shaped into small logs.  Served unsliced.

The Recipe:

Lemper

(Javanese glutinous rice rolls with sweet meat)

The Rice:

2 cups glutinous rice, soaked with 2 cups water

1/3 cup desiccated coconuts

2 cups of water

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Method

Put the rice that has been soaked in a heavy-based cooking pot

Add in 2 cups of water and the desiccated coconuts, cook over med heat

Bring it to a boil and stir from time to time, keep on cooking without a lid

When the liquid is almost absorbed add the salt and sugar, stir and mix

Cover the pot, lower the heat and keep on cooking for 11-13 minutes

Fluff the rice, add 1 tablespoon oil, then mix thoroughly, cover-let it cool.

When it is completely cool, you can start making/rolling/stuffing the Lemper.

The Meat: (filling)

250 g minced beef

1 tablespoon oil

½ cup stock or water

1/3 cup chopped onions

Some salt

1 tablespoon-heap brown sugar

1 tablespoon sweet soy

Sauté the onion with the oil until softened; add in the meat and cook to brown

Stir in the stock or water and salt; continue cooking until the liquid almost gone.

Add in the sugar and sweet soy, stir and keep on cooking for 2 minutes.

The meat mixture should be moist not to dry.  Let it cool.

Shaping the Lemper

You need: a piece of foil, baking paper and plastic glad wrap

Place the three parts of the wrapper in order

Put the cold rice on the plastic and spread it evenly to 30 cm x 20 cm about 1/3 cm of a thickness ( wrap your fingers with a  piece of glad wrap, so you won't get sticky fingers, or dip your fingers in water so you can work better this way) 

The next layer: place the meat on top of the rice and spread evenly

Roll the Lemper, from the side close to you roll it over and over to enclose.

Wrap in a cloth; let it cold entirely before you slice it.

Slice 1 cm thick.

To serve:

Serve with tea as a snack

Have fun.

Susy

Step by Step how to Do