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Sayur labu siam
Chayote and tofu coconut curry
Sayur labu siam: chayote, long beans and tofu in a light turmeric coconut gravy
On Lebaran morning in Java and Jakarta, sayur labu siam is the mild, soupy vegetable ladled over cut ketupat beside the richer opor and sambal goreng. Crisp-tender chayote, long beans and fried tofu simmer in a thin, pale-gold coconut broth fragrant with turmeric, galangal and salam leaf; it also makes an easy weeknight lontong sayur. This version is vegan, while many home cooks add a little terasi and dried shrimp to the spice paste. Chef's tip: let the broth simmer gently after the coconut milk goes in; a hard boil splits it into oily curds.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the spice paste
- 5 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
- 3 candlenutsor macadamia nuts
- ¾ in fresh turmericor 1 tsp ground turmeric
For the stew
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 ⅛ in galangalbruised
- 2 salam leaves (Indonesian bay leaves)or 1 bay leaf
- 1 stalk lemongrassbruised
- 2 cups water
- 2 chayote (labu siam)peeled, cut into matchsticks
- 3 ½ oz long beanscut into 4 cm lengths
- 7 oz fried tofucut into cubes
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk
- 1 tsp palm sugar
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Blend 5 shallots, 3 cloves garlic, 3 candlenuts, ¾ in fresh turmeric and 2 large red chillies with a splash of water to a smooth paste.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a pot over a medium heat and fry the paste with 1 ⅛ in galangal, 2 salam leaves (Indonesian bay leaves) and 1 stalk lemongrass until it is fragrant and the raw onion smell is gone.
5 minStep 3: Pour in 2 cups water and bring to the boil, then add 2 chayote (labu siam) and 3 ½ oz long beans and simmer until the chayote is just tender but still crunchy at the centre.
8 minStep 4: Add 7 oz fried tofu, 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, 1 tsp palm sugar and 1 ¼ tsp salt. Bring back to a gentle simmer, stirring so the coconut milk doesn't split, and cook until the broth is hot and lightly thickened.
6 minStep 5: Taste for salt and serve hot over ketupat, lontong or rice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 27 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sayur labu siam take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 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.
- What can I use instead of shallots?
- Half an onion per 2 shallots.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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