Dee and I finally learn a few secrets to creating delicious(Enak!) Balinese food

travelin' woman 
Diandra and I had  signed up to take a cooking class at casa luna (www.casalunabali.com) months ago.
Everyday, foreigners swarm like bees to honey to learn all the delicious secrets and ingredients that make eating in Bali such a Pleasure.


Janet teaches only Monday and Tuesday..... therefore we were very fortunate to be guided by her expertise with a lot of Verve.  Her Balinese staff is very adept and experienced in teaching us all the various time consuming techniques.  I love it.  As you all know,

the galangal,turmeric,several fragrant gingers,shallots,chilies, long pepper,tamarind,shrimp paste+tomoatoes

ingredients for sambal

the meditative "food processor"

 We prepared many dishes that day: this is steamed fish in banana leaves.  all the techniques such as placing a fragrant leaf next to the fish,wrapping it in banana leaf and securing it with bamboo  (shard like toothpick) takes practice. Latihan!  The fish used was Spanish mackerel. (think: sushi bar: Yum)

;

fish chunks are mixed with cooked/fried sambal (wok utilized)

steaming

growing my food, learning about and  eating new cuisines and of course Cooking has been part of my raison d'etre my entire life.  Nothing like learning about a new culture than through what it puts in it's stomach and how it is all prepared.  Janet has written a very readable book, "fragrant rice" just about this subject, replete with recipes and of course LOVE.

some feast !

We made kangkung (my favorite spinach) and black rice pudding (dee's ultimate favorite food).
we learned all about the leaves, spices, roots and herbs...........fascinating...... we have bought ingredients traveling around Bali (more about that later)...... but as you know.... it is really impossible to replicate the flavors of a country..... the water, oil, method of cooking of the country creates`the magic!

achar (marinated pickled veggies)

kangkung (with fried shallots on top)

fish curry with coconut milk

dee is Very Happy

Rice is Life in Bali

black rice pudding swiiming in coconut milk

making sauce for rujak (spicy and sweet)

adding cukes, pears,apples - very refreshing

ingredients for rujak and kangkung

Add hibiscus tea and some arak (palm wine) and a feast is savoured.