Food Bites: Nasi Tumpeng

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Food Bites: Nasi Tumpeng

This interestingly shaped rice dish, known as Nasi Tumpeng, is prepared using a cone-shaped container woven from bamboo strips. The rice may be prepared in different ways – it can be steamed and served as plain rice, cooked with coconut milk (also referred to as uduk rice), or coloured with a hue of yellow using a turmeric spice.

Nasi Tumpeng is usually served on tampah, a circular contained made of woven bamboo covered with a banana leaf, alongside with a variety of Indonesian side dishes.

What is the Significance of serving Nasi Tumpeng?

Traditionally, Indonesians prepare this dish to celebrate a special occasion. The appearance of the cone-shaped rice holds deeper meanings – the height of the one is a symbol of the greatness of Allah, while the food items surrounding the base of the cone represents the abundance that nature provides.

Dishin’ out the Nasi Tumpeng: What are the Yummy Sides Served?

An assortment of Indonesian dishes are served along with the soft, fragrant rice. These sides may include ayam goreng (crisp, crunchy chunks of fried chicken), ayam bakar (flavourful, grilled chicken), emapl gepuk (fried slices of tender beef cooked in a sweet and spicy sauce), sambal goreng ati (liver cooked in a appetisingly spicy sauce), boiled eggs and other dishes.

Our BonAppetour guests enjoyed a feast of Nasi Tumpeng with our lovely BonAppetour host, Nadya recently. It’s your turn to do the same now!

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Tagliatelle VS Tagliolini

Tagliatelle VS Tagliolini

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You might have already heard about Tagliatelle and Tagliolini without actually knowing the difference between them. This might be something to clear up before your next trip to Italy!

[irp posts=”38″ name=”Italy’s Must-Eat Foods: 12 Delicacies Not to Be Missed”]

What’s Tagliatelle?

Tagliatelle VS Tagliolini

The tagliatelle, derived from the Italian word tagliare – meaning “to cut” – refers to a type of pasta originating from the Emilia-Romagna and Marche regions of Italy. This pasta, similar to the fettuccine and has a flat, ribbon-like appearance.

Instead of water, it is made with eggs, with a ratio of one egg to one hundred grams of flour.

How to cook Tagliatelle

Being an absorbent pasta, the tagliatelle remains firm when it is served with heavy, meaty sauces such as the bolognese sauce. Meat dishes containing rabbit, veal, pork, or beef is also commonly served with this pasta.

What’s Tagliolini?

Tagliatelle VS Tagliolini

The names of these two kinds of pasta may sound a little similar, but do not confuse tagliatelle with tagliolini. Tagliolini is a variation of the tagliatelle pasta.

The difference between these two kinds of pasta lies in its form. Tagliolini has a cylindrical shape and has a paper-thin thickness with a dimension measuring less than 3 millimeters.

How to cook Tagliolini

Unlike tagliatelle, smooth, thin sauces work best when one is whipping up a dish with the tagliolini pasta. One will often find this pasta prepared with a white truffle sauce.

Being a versatile pasta variety, richer sauces, such as the carbonara, or other sauces containing creamy ricotta also work well with the tagliolini.

Over to you

Want to find out more about these Italian delicacies? Find out more about these types of pasta – and even try cooking them – with local chefs during a visit to Rome. Sandra, a local home chef in Rome, would be happy to have you at one of her pasta making cooking classes! 

Image credits: 1, 2

Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

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Gnocchi Alla Sorrentina

Gnocchi alla sorrentina translates directly to mean “gnocchi to Sorrento”. This recipe originates from Sorrento, a lovely town located in the south of Naples. The gnocchi alla sorrentina is representative of the Mediterranean diet, and contains ingredients such as Basil, Mozzarella and tomato sauce.

The dish, gnocchi, may sound relatively unfamiliar to some of us, particularly for those residing in Asia or who seldom consume European dishes. Gnocchi refers to soft, thick dumplings made from semolina, wheat flour, eggs, cheese, potato, bread crumbs, or other types of ingredients.

The gnocchi are served warm or hot, and are eaten as the first course in a meal. Similar to most Italian dishes, the recipes, names and ingredients used to cook the gnocchi varies, depending on the region that the dish is prepared in.

Can’t wait to tuck into the gnocchi alla sorrentina? Our BonAppetour hosts, Angelo and Simona can whip up a tantalising serving of this dish! 

Also, find out more about our hosts in Italy here!

Images credits: manusmenu.com, yeunglei.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com

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Food Bites: Torta Caprese

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Food Bites: Torta Caprese

Lovers of all things chocolate, look no further – the torta caprese is a rich and intense dessert that promises to tantalise and delight your tastebuds!

Discovering the Torta Caprese

Originating from the island of Capri, located near Naples, the torta caprese is a cake made with eggs, butter, chocolate and ground almonds. This simple selection of ingredients yields a dense cake that is rich and chocolatey.

The absence of flour makes this cake suitable for those who are gluten-intolerant, and the ground almonds help to add density and richness to the texture and flavour of the cake.

One Dessert, Many Ways of Serving It!

You’ve baked a luscious round of torta caprese for your guests at your dinner party. The next question is – how do you serve it to them?

If you prefer to stick to traditions, serve the torta caprese with nothing more than a dusting of powdered sugar. This is similar to the manner in which many desserts originating from the Campania regions are served.

Otherwise, for an indulgent treat, dish a slice of torta caprese with a scoop of aromatic vanilla gelato, or top if off with a velvety layer of ganache.

Savour the torta caprese with Simona, our lovely BonAppetour host in Italy! If you’re itching to bake your own tasty treats, be sure to check these BonAppetour recipes out – mmmm…

Image credits: foodrepublic.com, goodmorningtrieste.it, 3.bp.blogspot.com

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