Minahasan cuisine

Minahasan cuisineorManado cuisineis the cooking tradition of theMinahasanpeople ofNorth Sulawesi,Indonesia. It is popularly known as "Manadonese cuisine" afterManado, the capital of the  province, although other cities in Northern Sulawesi, such asBitung,TomohonandTondano, are also known as Minahasan culinary hotspots. Manadonese cuisine is known for its rich variations inseafood, generous amount of spices, extra-hot condiments,exotic meats, and European-influenced cakes and pastries.
Popular Manadonese dishes includetinutuan(Manado-style vegetable and rice congee),cakalang fufu(smoked skipjack tuna), cakalang noodle,paniki(spiced fruitbat), chicken or various fish and seafood spiced inrica-ricaorwokuspices, chickentuturuga, andbrenebon.
Although not as popular and widely distributed asPadang foodandSundanese cuisine, there is increasing awareness of Manadonese cuisine in theIndonesian cuisinescene. Numbers of Manadonese restaurants are growing in Indonesian cities such asJakarta,Bandung,Medan,SurabayaandMakassar.
Manadonese cuisine is marked by a mixture of native and foreign influences. Native Minahasan cooking tradition relies heavily onseafoodas well as exoticbushmeats, and its heavy use of freshly chopped hot spices. It also demonstratesChineseandWesterninfluences (especiallyPortuguese/SpanishandDutch), most prominent insoups, cakes, andpastries.
Chicken andbeefare commonly consumed. A significant number of Minahasans areChristians; thehalaldietary law has thus not played an important role in the cuisine's development as it has for the Minahasans' Muslim neighbors on theSulawesiisland (theGorontalosandNorthern Malukupeople).Pork, wildboar, and evendog meatandbatare hence more ubiquitous in Manadonese cuisine compared to other culinary traditions in the Indonesian archipelago.
Manadonese cuisine is well known for its generous use of spices, sometimes making up more than half of the whole dish's ingredients. It has given the cuisine the reputation of being hot and spicy, often from the freshly choppedchili peppersadded in. Common spices used in Manadonese cuisine includelemongrass,kaffir lime leaves,lime juice,chili peppers,spring onions,shallots,garlic,clovesandcandlenut. Seafood, pork and chicken are often cooked in Manadonese signaturebumbu(spice blends), such asrica-ricaandwoku. Spicy condiments are also served as dipping sauce for seafood, such asdabu-dabuand sambal roa.
Among Indonesian ethnicities, Minahasans are well known for their affinities withEuropeanculture. A number of European-influenced cakes and pastries made their way into the Minahasan kitchen. The most notable probably isklappertaart(fromDutch language, lit.coconuttart). Another example is panada, aPortuguese-influencedpanadasimilar toempanadasand filled with spiced groundskipjack tuna.
TheMinahassa Peninsula– the northern arm ofSulawesi, a narrow peninsula that formed the North Sulawesi andGorontaloprovinces – is surrounded by seas on almost all sides. TheSulawesi Sea,Maluku Sea, andGulf of Tominihave been fished by the Minahasan people for generations, and seafood has thus become a staple diet in Manado. The harbor cities of Manado and Bitung are the center of the fishing industry in the area.
Various seafood such ascakalang(skipjack tuna),tude(mackerel),oci(larger mackerel),tuna,albacore,bobara(trevally),kakap(red snapper),kerapu(garoupa),tenggiri(wahoo),bawal(pomfret), shrimp, mussels and crabs are available in the marketplace, often being grilled on charcoal, and served indabu-dabu, cooked inwoku, inrica-rica, or in kuah asam soup.
Minahasan people are also known for theirbushmeatstradition. Before converting toChristianityin early 16th to 17th century, Minahasans wereanimists, and their practice on consuming almost every kind of animal still continued until this days.Rintek wuukor RW (lit. Minahasan: "fine hair") is euphemism ofdog meat. In Minahasan culture it is considered prestigious to consume rare and unusual meats. The marketplaces of the mountainous town ofTomohonandTondanoare notorious for selling various kinds of exotic bushmeats; from wild boar, fieldrats,patolasnake (python),frog legs,panikior fruit bats, and dog meat. Sometimes protected endangered animals such asyaki(Sulawesi black macaque),kuse(slow loris),tapirandanoaare illegally sold in marketplace as food.