PANDAN 🌱: Natural vs Extract, Is It That Different? | Testing On Indonesian Pandan Pudding 🍮

Summary

In this episode of Island Cravings, Anastasia explores the difference between natural pandan and pandan extract in desserts. She makes Indonesian pandan pudding, comparing versions made with fresh pandan leaves and store-bought extract. The natural pandan pudding, despite its bitter taste, offers a richer, more fragrant flavor profile. The extract version, while easier to use, falls short in aroma and taste, resulting in a less authentic experience. The video concludes with a clear preference for using real pandan for its superior flavor and authenticity.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Pandan is a versatile plant used in Southeast and South Asian cuisines, particularly in desserts.
• 🍃 The pandan plant has a unique, indescribable fragrance that is floral, nutty, sweet, grassy, and fresh.
• 🥥 Indonesian Pandan Pudding, or Puding Pandan Lumu, was chosen as the dessert for comparing natural pandan and pandan extract.
• 🌱 To make natural pandan extract, mature leaves are harvested, cleaned, cut, blended with water, and strained.
• 📝 The process of making pandan extract involves straining the blended leaves to extract the maximum flavor.
• 🐱 Be cautious of pets interfering with the cooking process, especially with gelatin and eggs.
• 🥚 The recipe calls for eggs to be added to the pandan and coconut mixture, which should be warmed up to prevent scrambling.
• 🔎 The natural pandan version of the pudding had a better texture and set more effectively than the extract version.
• 💧 The pandan extract version required more flavoring to achieve a similar taste to the natural pandan, resulting in a neon color and a more artificial taste.
• 👃 The natural pandan pudding was more fragrant and had a deeper, more authentic flavor compared to the extract version.
• 👨‍🍳 Anastasia's husband Drew found the natural pandan pudding to be more flavorful and less artificial than the extract version.

Q & A

What is pandan and where does it grow?

Pandan is a plant that is somewhat grass-like but also shrub-like, and it grows all over Southeast and South Asia.

How is pandan typically used in cooking?

Pandan is commonly used in desserts and sometimes even in savory dishes due to its unique flavor profile.

What does the pandan flavor profile consist of?

Pandan has a complex flavor profile that is floral, nutty, sweet, grassy, and fresh.

What is the main difference between natural pandan and pandan extract?

Natural pandan is made from the actual leaves of the pandan plant, while pandan extract is a processed product that mimics the flavor.

What is the Indonesian dessert Anastasia chose to make for the comparison?

Anastasia chose to make Indonesian pandan pudding, also known as puding pandan lumu, for the comparison.

How should one harvest pandan leaves according to Anastasia?

When harvesting pandan leaves, one should take no more than 25% of the plant's leaves and only harvest the mature leaves at the bottom.

What is the process of making natural pandan extract as described in the script?

To make natural pandan extract, one should rinse the leaves, cut them into pieces, blend them with water, and then strain the mixture to extract the flavors.

What is the role of gelatin in the pandan pudding recipe?

Gelatin is used in the pandan pudding recipe to help it set and achieve the right texture.

How does Anastasia handle the eggs in the pandan pudding recipe?

Anastasia initially tries to temper the eggs to prevent them from scrambling, but later realizes that for puding pandan lumu, some scrambling is desired for texture.

What was the outcome of the comparison between natural pandan and pandan extract in the pudding?

The natural pandan pudding was significantly more fragrant and flavorful compared to the one made with pandan extract, which had a more artificial taste and a neon color.

What was Drew's opinion on the difference between the natural pandan and pandan extract puddings?

Drew found the natural pandan pudding to have a more realistic color and a deeper, less artificial flavor compared to the extract version.