Rendang

Rendang is an Indonesian meat dish which originated among the Minangkabau people in West Sumatra. The dish is famous for its spiciness and a long cooking procedure. It is often compared to Indian curry because of its consistency and unique flavors.

The theory about how rendang was invented claims that the generous use of spices and long cooking hours were employed to preserve the meat in hot and tropical climates, such as Indonesian, so unsurprisingly, the need to preserve meat for a longer period appeared among the Minangkabau people.

They were mainly traders who underwent long journeys and needed food which could stay fresh for weeks. However, the dish has a more symbolic meaning to them, because the main four ingredients used in rendang represent the Minangkabau society: the meat symbolizes leaders, coconut is a symbol of intellectuals, chili represents religious leadership, and other spices signify the rest of society.

Today, rendang has surpassed Indonesian borders and has a reputation as one of the most delicious dishes in the world.