Jamu. It’s the ever-wondrous Indonesian cure-all that wakes the senses on any given morning. Bright, warming, and incredibly uplifting, it’s all you need to get your system into gear with a healthy kick of goodness.
The preparation of jamu tends to vary depending on where you are in Indonesia. In Bali, for example, there is usually the added element of lemongrass.
By and large, the two main ingredients that form the base of this flavour bomb are fresh turmeric and ginger. A sour element is then added, often by using tamarind, lime or lemon.
To sweeten, palm sugar or honey is spooned into the elixir to bring balance to the sharper notes from the ginger, and to mellow the tang of the selected sour fruit.
This is an easy one to make, but if you haven’t worked with fresh turmeric before, it’s worth knowing that it tends to stain and stick to everything. So, when blending the ingredients together, it would be best to use glass or stainless-steel utensils.
All in all, though, it’s completely worth it. Jamu is easy to store in the fridge, or freeze as ice cubes for when you need a boost to a cold smoothie. Serve warm and fresh from the stove, or chilled – either way, it will be amazing.
Ingredients
- 18cm fresh turmeric
- 15cm ginger
- 10cm galangal
- 1/2 a lemon, freshly squeezed
- 4-5 teaspoons palm sugar (or honey to taste)
- 800ml water
Method
- Chop the turmeric, ginger and galangal into 2.5cm pieces. Blend with the lemon juice and 200ml water to a very fine consistency.
- Sieve the mixture through a fine mesh strainer. Push the remaining pulp with a spoon to release as much liquid as possible. Once the liquid is well strained, set aside.
- Heat a deep pot on a low-medium flame. Add the liquid and 600ml water. Stir through and allow everything to simmer gently for 20 minutes.
- Add palm sugar or honey to taste, and serve while warm or allow to cool completely before refrigerating. Voila – you have a fresh cure-all ready to go for the morning!
@theorangesieve serves up recipes from the heart, inspired by travels near and far. It’s all about food that humbly invites you to discover the truth about flavour: the people, the culture and the stories behind them… the kind of food that leaves you with a smile for reasons you can’t quite put your finger on.