What is Otak-Okak?
Otak-foot is a fishing cream for fish in Southeast Asia. Food usually fresh and uses several herbs and spices common to Asian cuisine, as well as coconut milk and white fish. It is traditionally cooked and served in banana leaves.
Although mackerel is often used in Otak-Otak, any type of white fish can be used instead. Fish are traditionally fresh and must first be debated and the scales are removed. File, fresh or frozen can also be used. Fish are usually ground, but can be cut into sliced, before inclusion in the bowl. Normal ingredients are also fresh turmeric, lemon grass, coconut milk and eggs. Galangal , the type of ginger, along with the leaves of the kaffir lime, is usually added to the bowl. Other possible spices include coriander, shallots, garlic and white pepper. Candlesticks are usually included in the cream. Traditionally, mortar and wet are used, but the kitchen robot produces similar and faster results. After creating a paste, it is cooked in a pan and a combineIt is with sugar, salt and if it is used by coriander. Once the boiled paste is combined with coconut milk, eggs and crushed lime leaves. Fish can also be included at this time.
In addition to the ingredients of the paste or cream, banana leaves are usually used in Otak-Otak. Once the paste is made, it is placed in the leaves of bananas, which are composed of a bowl or pyramid around the cream and secured toothpicks. Leaves of Betel, native South Asian plants in the pepper family, are often placed on banana leaves in front of the paste. If the betel leaves are not available, spinach leaves can be used as a substitute, but they will not have a stimulating effect of the betel. In versions where the fish are not yet included in the pudding, pieces of meat are placed on the leaves and then completed with a paste.
As soon as Otak is ready, it is normally grilled or steamed, even if it can also be baked. After cooking, the bowl is still served wrapped in leaves BAnanas, but the leaves develop before consuming. If the leaves are not used, small individual meals or ramekins can be used. Otak-foot is often served with rice or bread.