Dodol, the nostalgic and evergreen Malay traditional delicacy, has been listed as one of the endangered heritage foods in Malaysia.
Better known as penganan by the Negri Sembilan community is a Hari Raya staple food, often served to family members, friends and guests.
Making the chewy and caramel-like sweet Malay traditional treat requires strength, consistency and a high degree of patience. It is no easy task as it requires meticulous and rigorous methods, and takes almost ten hours to cook.
Furthermore, the cooking process needs a special skill in controlling the heat, using a stirring and manual mixing technique and is cooked using a huge wok. It is traditionally cooked over firewood that will produce a special smoky aroma that creates a nostalgic and distinct flavour of dodol.
Beginning with a watery texture, the mixture has to be gently and continuously stirred until thickened. The process of stirring the mixture to get the dodol to just the right consistency is a test of patience for the ‘stirrer’ who would pass the baton to another, amid the blazing sun and burning firewood.
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