President Barack Obama's Favorite Indonesian Meals

As many of you may have heard, president Barack Obama, as a child living in Indonesia he was fond of 2 local dishes. The first being a meat ball dish known to Indonesians as "Bakso" and the second is a fried rice dish called "Nasi Goreng". As these dishes are not common to most Americans I thought I'd give you the recipes and you can all see what the fuss is about. I've had both these dishes and I thought they were so wonderful that I had the chef show me how to make them. In Indonesia these dishes are made in many different ways depending on what part of Indonesia you are in. The ingredients can vary but these are your basic recipes.

Let's start with "Bakso".

The meat balls in Bakso can be prepared at home but it takes sometime. Indonesians usually buy the meat balls already made and ready to drop in to the soup. Try checking out Indonesian/oriental stores and there is a good chance they have Bakso balls on hand. If not, here is what you will need to make your own:

Ingredients:

Meatballs

1 1/3 cup minced beef

1/4 cup tapioca flour

1/3 cup crushed ice cube

2 white eggs

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 cloves of garlic, crushed

2 tablespoons fried shallots

Salt and pepper to taste

So then, take the meat and crushed ice and put them in a food processor. Begin processing and add the rest of the ingredients one by one. Continue processing until the meat has a sticky consistency. You're going to be rolling this meat into meat balls so if you think the consistency is too thin, add some more tapioca flour. Just a little at a time. Put in the refrigerator for 45 min.

While your meat is chilling lets get our broth started.

Broth

1 1/3 cup Beef bones

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cloves of garlic, crushed

1 stalk celery leaf, finely chopped

1 stalk green onion, finely chopped

800 ml water

In a soup pot, pour your water and add the beef bones. Turn the stove on high and begin adding the rest of your ingredients. Let this heat to a boil then turn it off.

Back to the meat balls:

After the meat has chilled for 45 minutes you will need to get another soup pot. We are going to form the meat into meat balls and drop them into a boiling pot of water. So put a pot on big enough to do so and heat the water to a boil. While the water is heating take 2 tablespoons of meat and in your hands roll it into a round ball. Make several until the water is boiling. Once boiling drop the balls one by one into the boiling water. Once the balls float to the top then they are ready. Take the cooked meat balls out and put in a colander.

You now have the essence of Bakso, the meat balls and the broth. This is divided into soup bowls and then ingredients of your choice can be added. Half a cup of cooked egg noodles is popular. Some like a leaf of spinach in it as well. Bakso is often garnished with sweet soy sauce, fried shallots and parsley.

Bakso can also be made with fish instead of meat. Just replace the meat for fish when making the balls.

Nasi Goreng

Nasi Goreng literally means fried rice and that is exactly what it is. Indonesians can make Nasi goring with anything left in the house. Sometimes just hot sauce and rice and they love it. Really there is no standard recipe for Nasi Goreng but I have a recipe that is very tasty.

Ingredients

1 Chicken fillet, cut into small pieces

2 cups of cold cooked rice

2 tablespoons of oil

1/2 cup cabbage, shredded

2 eggs

Spice Mix

1 tablespoon of fried shallots

3 shallots or 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced

2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced

1/2 medium fresh tomato

2 tablespoon sweet soy sauce

Salt to tast.

Traditionally Indonesians take the spice mix and smash it all down to a paste in a mortar and pestle. A food processor works also. So take the ingredients for the spice mix and smash or process it into a paste and set aside for later.

Next we are going to take a frying pan or wok and add a tablespoon of oil and heat on medium heat. Beat your eggs and pour them into the wok like an omelet. Once your omelet is done set it aside on a plate and let it cool. Once cool roll it up and slice it into strips.

Now in the same pan add the rest of your oil and your chicken. Cook the chicken till brown. After the chicken is brown add the spice paste and sauteé it for several minutes or until the smell of the spices has filled the room. Spice mixes when done smell really good. Once you've got the fragrance you're looking for add the cabbage. Cook for several minutes then add your rice and mix it in real well. Stir the rice constantly. Add your sweet soy sauce and stir it in until it is thoroughly mixed with the rice.

Use a bowl to mold the rice. Smash the fried rice into the bowl and then turn the bowl over on top of a plate. Garnish the molded rice with the egg strips and fried shallots.

Happy eating!