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Beras kencur
Rice and ginger drink
Beras kencur: Javanese rice and aromatic-ginger drink with palm sugar
The other half of the jamu seller's basket, beras kencur is milky-white and gently sweet, made from soaked rice blended with kencur, a peppery, camphor-scented relative of ginger, then strained into palm sugar syrup. Javanese children are often given it as their first taste of jamu, and adults drink it mid-morning. Kencur (sometimes sold as aromatic ginger or sand ginger) is found fresh or frozen in Asian shops. Chef's tip: use only a little kencur at first; too much makes the drink medicinal and soapy rather than fresh and spicy.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ oz white ricesoaked in water for 3 hours, drained
- 1 ⅜ oz kencur (aromatic ginger)scrubbed and sliced
- ⅜ in fresh gingersliced
- 2 ⅞ oz palm sugarchopped
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pandan leafknotted
- 3 ¾ cups water
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Simmer 2 ⅞ oz palm sugar, 1 pinch salt and 1 pandan leaf with 400 ml of 1 ¾ cups water until the sugar has dissolved, then cool.
6 minStep 2: Blend 1 ¾ oz white rice, 1 ⅜ oz kencur (aromatic ginger) and ⅜ in fresh ginger with the remaining 2 cups water for 2 minutes until smooth and milky.
2 minStep 3: Strain through muslin, squeezing hard; discard the pulp.
Step 4: Mix the rice liquid with the cooled syrup, discard the pandan and taste; it should be sweet, earthy and warming. Chill and shake before serving. Drink within 2 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 31 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does beras kencur take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of white rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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