AREM - AREM

A Taste from Java.

Arem Arem

My new version of Arem - Arem (Sliced steamed rice roll filled with spicy meat) wrapped in an omelette is pretty and excellent for snacking.  It is based on Javanese cooking, but I don't think you could get this particular arem-arem in Java.  I like to be creative, using new herbs and flavour that they can work together.  This dish made out of glutinous rice instead of plain rice, flavoured with soy and the filling is hot spicy chicken and carrot added with herbs, lemongrass leaves to enhance the flavour.  To dressed the Arem Arem, It wrapped with the omelette, before it is steamed.

Lemongrass

These are the quantities of ingredients, I did not write the recipe when I prepared it.  Cook an omelette from two eggs.  Almost two cups cooked steamed glutinous rice mix with 1 tablespoon oil, and 2 teaspoons soy (sweet and salty) The filling: one cup chopped chicken breast, chopped carrots, cooked in spicy lemongrass sauce (chilli, turmeric, lemongrass leaves, salt to taste). Cook the sauce first, then braise the chicken and carrots in it, until all the sauce is absorbed.
A note: It is good to have fresh herbs growing in the garden, this lemongrass is happy enough to grow in the pot.

How to make the Arem Arem, simply follow these pictures.

The rice is spread evenly on
a  piece of plastic glad wrap

Chicken, carrot cooked in
lemongrass spicy sauce.

Place the filling in the middle.

Start from the side close to you,
roll the rice to cover the filling
and do the same with the other end.

Wrap it with the plastic, roll it
with your hand to make 
a cylinder shape

On another, a piece of plastic, place

the omelette on, unwrapping the rice roll, 

place it on the omelette

Use the omelette to wrap the rice roll

The rice roll wrapped in the
omelette

The next wrapper is
baking paper

The rice roll needs to be steamed for ten minutes. Place the rice roll which is wrapped in the baking paper, now wrap it again with aluminium foil.  Place it in a steamer and steam for 10 minutes.

Steam for ten minute

Put it on a steamer

When it is cooked, transfer the roll to a tray to cool.

Cooked Arem Arem

Unwrapped,  arem arem

Pretty looking arem arem

Unwrapped to slice

Traditionally Arem Arem is served at room temperature,  it is popular food for snacking in Java. Keep in the refrigerator for a few days, warm up to reach room temperature before serving.

A platter of Arem Arem

How to cook the glutinous rice

Soak one cup glutinous rice in a cup of water, leave it for one hour.

In a deep and heavy base pot, place the soaked rice included the water, and add one cup water.

Add the grated coconut / desiccated coconut, a tablespoon oil, and salt to taste.

Cook and bring to a boil, stirring now and then.  Keep on cooking until the water all absorbed.

Place the lid on the pot, reduce the fire/heat on a low setting, and cook for 10 minutes.

Take the pot off the stove, open the lid, and fluff the rice.  The rice should be soft, sticky but not stick to the pot.
To prepare rice for the Arem Arem, mix the rice with a tablespoon oil, and a little salty and sweet soy.  If you like a darker colour, you could add more.  Leave to cool.

To fill and shaping arem arem is the best using cool rice but not cold.


My other variation of Arem Arem.

I cooked Arem Arem wrapped in Silverbeet instead of Omelet, it worked well, and the taste was so tasty.  Look up the older post.  Posted on 15 March 2014 under the heading: The Night Before.

The true Javanese arem arem is made out of steamed white rice (not glutinous).  The rice is rolled and filled with spiced meat and vegetables, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

Arem made out of the plain white rice is delicious too; unfortunately, banana leaf is not readily available at supermarkets here in Australia.

Growing a banana grove can be a challenge, and I have been trying to plant lemongrass; unfortunately, it has not been successful, but this time I was given the plants from a friend, and so far they are growing beautifully.

On that note, I must say the lemongrass plants are doing very well  Kay, thank you for sharing, and they are happy growing in pots.  Hopefully,  they will be flourishing and grow happily in my Friendship Garden.

Potted Lemongrass

Until Next Time
Susy