TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Many restaurants along the Pantura route connecting Semarang-Panarukan in Central Java offer traditional dishes that are quite unique. On July 15 to 18, Tempo took a trip to Rembang. There, Tempo went to an area called Lasem, which is located near the main road of Rembang.
Most of the food stalls in the area serve 20-30 menus on average and they display one of the region’s typical dish that covered with banana leaves in a small package.
A seller named Sri Susana said that the dish is commonly called Botok, a traditional Javanese dish made from shredded coconut flesh, often mixed with other ingredients, and wrapped in banana leaf and steamed.
Botok is a common dish in Central Java and Yogyakarta. However, each region has different ingredients. “Some is made from shredded coconut flesh and petai, some from mixed fish or shrimp,” Sri explained.
In Rembang, which is a coastal area, the community cooks botok with shrimp. The fresh ingredient is taken from their own ponds. Botok is commonly served with vegetable soup and warm rice. “For example, plain soup, sour soup, or spinach soup,” she added.
A package of botok worth Rp1,000-3,000 on average in Rembang. People usually consume more than one botok as its tasty flavor will make you want to eat more.
FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA
