Page 18 - EBOOK_81 Homestyle Recipes With The True Taste Of Indonesia

Useful Tools and Utensils

Having the right tools for the job makes cooking a joy. Here are some items that I think
make the whole Indonesian cooking experience easier, more enjoyable, and produce
tastier results. Typically, Indonesian kitchens are simply outfitted, but it's difficult to
argue that some modern conveniences can save time and hassle without affecting the
quality of the food.

Asian Butcher Knife/Cleaver As cliché as it might sound, it’s true that a dull knife is far more dangerous
than a sharp one. I have experienced this myself, cutting my fingers in nasty accidents due to dull, low quality knives.
I’m forever loyal to my Asian butcher knife with its huge rectangular shape and seemingly invincible steel heft. I
know some of you may not be familiar or comfortable with this type of large knife but once you get used to its size
and weight, you’ll find it to be an extremely versatile and useful tool. I use this for everything from mincing garlic to
cutting vegetables and chopping through all types of meats with bones. These knives can be purchased inexpensively
at Asian grocery stores.

Asian Strainers There are many types of these strainers, the good ones feature some type of mesh-looking
wire material in a rounded shape with a long wooden handle attached. Asian strainers are great for picking up
noodles, vegetables, and anything you’re either boiling or deep-frying that need to be drained. Make sure to purchase
one with a long handle; it will save your skin from potential hazards while removing whatever you’re cooking from
its liquid. This tool beats using tongs for picking up noodles or something like shrimp chips where you’re cooking a
large quantity and need to drain them quickly. Certain recipe such as the Iced Coconut Cream with Jellies (page
114) require a particular kind of strainer which can be difficult to find in Western countries. The closest tool would
be the ladle strainer, which looks just like a regular metal ladle but has small round holes.