Kue PASOQ Khas Sulawesi Barat Sekali Gigit Bikin Ambyar | RAGAM INDONESIA (04/01/21)

Summary

Kue Pasok, a traditional sweet treat from Mandar, West Sulawesi, resembles the clorot cake of Java. Known for its cone-like shape, this snack is a popular morning or evening delicacy. Made primarily from rice flour, coconut, and palm sugar, it's wrapped in banana leaves, often with grated coconut as a base to hold its shape. The cake comes in two versions—single-layered and two-layered, the latter topped with a coconut milk layer. The cooking process is simple, and high-quality ingredients enhance its taste, aroma, and longevity. It's a sweet, soft, and chewy delight.

Takeaways

• 🍰 The script introduces a snack called 'kue pastel' from West Sulawesi, which resembles the 'clorot' cake from Java.
• 🍬 Kue pastel is typically enjoyed as a morning or afternoon snack by the Mandar people of West Sulawesi.
• 🍯 The cake has a sweet flavor due to the use of palm sugar, with a soft and chewy texture.
• 🍽 There are two versions of kue pastel: a single-layer version and a two-layer version, with the latter having a layer of coconut milk on top.
• 🌈 To make it more attractive, food coloring can be added to the two-layer version.
• 🌾 Key ingredients include rice flour, brown sugar, grated coconut, and banana leaves for wrapping.
• 🍃 The banana leaves should be soft and lightly burned to prevent tearing during the cone-shaped wrapping process.
• 🥥 The Mandar people believe the best coconut milk is extracted by squeezing the coconut between the thumb and forefinger, which helps it last longer.
• 👩‍🍳 The base dough is made by mixing rice flour with coconut milk and palm sugar until it turns brown, then placed in the banana leaf wrap.
• ⏳ The cake is steamed for 4-7 minutes for the first layer, then a second layer made from flour, thick coconut milk, sugar, and food coloring is added and steamed for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Q & A

What is kue pastel and where does it originate from?

Kue pastel is a cone-shaped traditional snack from West Sulawesi, Indonesia, particularly from the Mandar community. It is often enjoyed as a morning or afternoon snack.

What makes the taste of kue pastel unique?

The taste of kue pastel is sweet because of the palm sugar (gula aren) used in its preparation. It also has a soft and chewy texture.

How many versions of kue pastel exist, and what are their differences?

There are two versions of kue pastel: one with a single layer and another with two layers. The two-layer version includes an additional coconut milk layer on top.

What ingredients are used to make kue pastel?

The ingredients include rice flour, palm sugar, grated coconut, and banana leaves for wrapping. For the two-layer version, coconut milk is also added.

What is the role of banana leaves in making kue pastel?

Banana leaves are used as the wrapper for kue pastel, shaped into cones to hold the batter. They need to be softened by fire to prevent tearing when shaped.

What unique technique is used by the Mandar community to prevent the coconut milk from spoiling?

The Mandar community believes that pressing coconut milk through the thumb and index finger helps to keep the coconut milk from spoiling.

Why is kue pastel called 'pasok' and what does it mean?

The word 'pasok' means 'stake' or 'nail' in Indonesian, referring to the cone shape of the snack, which resembles a sharp, pointed object.

What should be done when adding the batter into the banana leaf cone?

The batter should not be filled to the top of the cone, leaving some space for the second layer of batter (in the two-layer version).

How long does it take to steam the kue pastel?

The base layer of kue pastel is steamed for 4-7 minutes until the palm sugar layer is cooked. After adding the second layer, it is steamed for another 10-15 minutes.

How does the quality of the ingredients affect the final outcome of kue pastel?

The quality of the rice flour and coconut milk greatly influences the taste, aroma, and shelf life of the kue pastel. High-quality ingredients result in a more delicious final product.