Balinese cuisine IV - Bregedel Jagung (corn fritters)

Ready to experiment with Indonesian food yet? These yummie golden patties can also be made of meat, fish, seafood or whatever you feel like. Serve them as snack during "borrel" or as part of "rijsttafel". Rijsttafel, a Dutch word (that literally translates to "rice table"), is an elaborate meal adapted by the Dutch from the Indonesian feast called nasi padang. It consists of many (forty is not an unusual number) side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways. In Bali it is known under its Dutch name. Despite that the dishes are Indonesian, the rijsttafel’s origins were colonial. During their occupation of Indonesia, the Dutch introduced the rice table not only so they could enjoy a wide array of dishes at a single setting but also to impress visitors with the exotic abundance of their colony.

Ingredients (for approximately 12)




420g corn (preferably fresh), strained
5 shallots
2-3 cloves of garlic
1-2 small chillies
1 tsp. of turmeric
Salt and pepper to taste (if available, use Balinese sea salt (garam) which is slightly milder tham regular salt)
2 cups of vegetable oil
3 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. fried shallots (very easy to make yourself by frying bawang merah, red shallot)
1/2 tsp. kencur (aromatic ginger), grated*
1 1/2 tsp. galangal (mild ginger)*
1/2 large chilli
1/2 tsp. coriander seeds
1/4 tsp. shrimp paste
2 eggs
1/2 tbsp. rice flour (optional)
3 lime leaves, shredded

* as an alternative to kencur and galangal, try adding nutmeg and ginger.

Make a fine paste of the shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, kencur and large red chilli.



Add the corn and make sure not to overblend it. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and fold in the eggs, the flour(s) and the fried shallots.




Check seasonings. Heat the oil over a medium flame. Pour in a dessert spoon of the mixture at a time. After a minute or 2 flip the patty over and fry the other side until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining mixture.



Serve with sambal goreng! (see Balinese cuisine II)

You master the dishes so far and feel like trying a "rijsttafel" at home? Check in later for the recipes of nasi kuning (fragrant yellow rice) and sate lembat ayam (Balinese chicken satay with grated coconut)




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Location:Ubud, Bali - Indonesia