The Great Raya Rendang Debate

What is your favourite Raya memory? For kampung kids, communal cooking of rendang, ketupat and dodol might be among their earliest memories of Raya, redolent with the aroma of caramelising coconut milk and firewood, Raya songs playing on the radio and the happy chatter of neighbours cooking up a storm.

For families with parents from different states, the Great Rendang Debate always arises towards the end of Ramadan. Each side will go into detail why the rendang from their home state is superior in flavour, aroma, texture, spiciness, right down to which is better as leftovers.

Some families would opt to make beef, chicken, cockles, lamb or other halal meat or seafood  rendang in different styles to placate both parties, and to the delight of their guests. This option would also cause another debate on which rendang is superior, proof that there are no winners or losers in the Great Rendang Debate, only happy tastebuds and full bellies.

There are four components to a great rendang : spices, paste, meat or seafood, and the creamy coconut milk base. Chefs, home cooks and rendang connoisseurs agree that quality coconut milk is a key ingredient for an exceptional rendang.

Ayam Brand understands the challenges of bringing heritage recipes to life from recipes passed down over centuries, and the needs of our busy lifestyles, health related dietary concerns, and limited cooking time.

Ayam Brand has been providing the great taste and health benefits of coconut milk, in convenient packs for decades. Ayam Brand Coconut Milk is hygienically squeezed from selected ripe coconuts, then sealed in convenient tetra packs using Ultra High Temperature (UHT) technology.  It is as good as squeezing by hand but without the hassle of cleaning up after. The standardisation on quality, thickness and quantity in each pack will take the guess work out of making rendang for cooks from the ‘agak-agak’ tradition.

You can use Ayam Brand Santan, Ayam Brand Santan Trim (45% reduced in fat) or Ayam Brand Santan Super Light (only 5% of fat!) depending on your preference.

In time for Raya, Ayam Brand has introduced its limited edition Ayam Brand Santan 200ml with easy open cap – so you can use what you need, seal the cap and refrigerate the rest for later. While the packaging format is new during this limited period, the taste and the recipe are the same with existing Ayam Brand Santan.

Working with three experienced and passionate home cooks, Ayam Brand brings you three unique rendang recipes. Each recipe is a family treasure, experimented and perfected on by generations with love and care.

If you haven’t decided on this Raya’s rendang, there’s still time to try out these recipes to find your favorite. Will it be Rendang Kerang, Rendang Ayam Cili Padi with Pulut Kuning  or Rendang Daging Pedas Perak?

Rendang Ayam Cili Padi by @mira.sofia.saufi

INGREDIENTS:

1. Ayam (Dipotong Kecil)
2. Bahan Kisar
3. 2 Bawang*
4. 3 Bawang Putih*
5. 3 Batang Serai*
6. 1 Halia*
7. 1 Lengkuas*
8. 1 Kunyit Hidup*
9. 1 Cawan Cili Api Kampung*
10. Bahan Lain
11. 1 Kotak Santan Ayam Brand 200ml
12. 2 Sudu Besar Kerisik
13. 1 Daun Limau Purut
14. Daun Kunyit
15. 1 Asam Keping
16. Gula & Garam Secukupnya

PREPARATION:

1. Kisar halus bahan2 bertanda * dan tumiskan sehingga pecah minyak.
2. Masukkan ayam, gula & garam secukupnya. Biarkan ayam kecut sedikit sebelum dimasukkan santan.
3. Setelah santan dimasukkan, biarkan sehingga kering sedikit. Masukkan kerisik dan asam keping. Biarkan sehingga ayam masak.
4. Setelah rendang masak, boleh taburkan dengan hirisan daun kunyit dan daun limau purut.
5. Hidang Bersama Pulut

Rendang Kerang by @wanakamal_79

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 Genggam Cili Api Hijau (Kampung)
2. 2 Labu Bawang Besar.
3. 5 Ulas Bawang Putih.
4. 2 Inci Halia Muda.
5. 2 Inci Lengkuas Muda.
6. 2 Inci Kunyit Hidup.
7. 5 Batang Serai.
8. Cawan Air.
9. Bahan-Bahan Lain
10. 1/2 Cawan Minyak Masak.
11. 2kg Kerang, Size Sederhana.
12. 1 Santan Ayam Brand 200ml
13. 200ml Air
14. 10 Urat Kacang Panjang.
15. 4sdb Kerisik Kelapa.
17. Daun Kunyit.

PREPARATION:

1. Kisar bahan-bahan dan ketepikan
2. Di dalam kuali panas, masukkan bahan kisaran,santan ayam brand dan air. Gaul sebati
3. Masukkan isi kerang dan masak.
4. Kemudian, masukkan, kacang Panjang dan kerisik kelapa. Tambahkan sedikit garam.
5. Gaul dan siap memasak.

Rendang Pedas (Daging) by @zarra.riana

INGREDIENTS:

1. *2 Biji Bawang Besar
2. *3 Batang Serai
3. *3 Ulas Bawang Putih
4. *1 1/2 Inci Kunyit Hidup
5. *1 Inci Halia
6. *1 Inci Lengkuas
7. *Segenggam Kelapa Parut
8. *Air Masak Paras Separuh Dr Bahan
9. 1kg Daging Batang Pinang (Potong Tebal)
10. 1 Senduk Lada Kisar
11. 1 Kotak Santan Ayam Brand 200ml
12. 1/2 Keping Asam Keping
13. 1/2 Ketul Gula Melaka
14. Garam Secukupnya
15. Daun Kunyit

[*Bahan Kisar]

PREPARATION:

1. Kisar semua bahan bertanda * kecuali kelapa parut
2. Kemudian kisar kasar kelapa parut
3. Panaskan kuali dan lebur semua bahan kisar
4. Masukkan lada kisar
5. Kacau rata dan masukkan air dr bekas blender
6. Kemudian masukkan daging
7. Biar hingga mendidih
8. Masukkan 1 kotak santan ayam brand 200ml
9. Kacau rata
10. Masukkan asam keping
11. Masukkan gula melaka
12. Perasakan dgn garam secukupnya
13. Sentiasa kacau & masak dgn api sederhana
14. Masak hingga kuah kering
15. Sentiasa kacau untuk elak hangit di bahagian bawah
16. Masukkan hirisan daun kunyit
17. Masak hingga kuah kering & tekstur seperti serunding
18. Utk dapatkan tekstur kering masa masak lebih kurang selama 1 jam lebih
19. Siap utk dihidang, tabur hirisan daun kunyit lagi di atasnya
20. Sedap dimakan dgn ketupat, lemang, nasi putih, jemput-jemput atau roti canai. Selamat mencuba

So who is the winner of the Great Rendang Debate? That is for you to decide – whip up these three heritage recipes and make your favorite The One this Raya.

Try out the convenience of the new easy open Ayam Brand Santan 200ml and participate in the Ayam Brand Masak dan Menang contest. Simply whip up your rendang or other dishes using Ayam Brand Coconut milk, take a pix and upload to your Facebook or Instagram account and use the hashtag #santanayambrand to be in the running for all-in-one cooker prizes worth up to RM17,200 from innochef! For details visit https://www.ayambrand.com.my/masakdanmenang

Find all these recipes and more at www.ayambrand.com.my .