I was curious about a traditional dish. It's called "SOTO GERABAH" (English: Earthenware soup). It's a soup dish usually filled with rice or rice noodles.
In Indonesia, there are many variations of soto. The main differences are usually the broth and the fillings.
Early this morning, I walked for physical exercise. I didn't have breakfast first, as I'm used to having breakfast after exercise. I felt unwell if I ate breakfast before walking.
So, after walking about 3 km, I found a restaurant that was quite busy as I passed by. There was a sign "SOTO GERABAH" (English: Earthenware soup) in front of the cafe. So, I was curious.
The cafe was refreshing because I love plants. They decorated the place with plants.
The dining area is simple but clean, with a nice seating arrangement.
I focused on the hanging plants. Besides cooling the place, they also help reduce the light entering the cafe. Very good 😊
I ordered a portion of earthenware soto. "Earthenware" refers to the serving bowl made of clay. Indeed, in this area, even the cooking pan is made of clay.
They say serving the soto in an earthenware bowl helps the soup retain its heat longer. Indeed, this soto is delicious when eaten hot, but not too hot.
The soto I ordered consisted of rice, sliced meat, diced potatoes, diced tomatoes, and spring onions. The soto I ordered was the Betawi style, not the clear soup.
I added lime juice. I also added hot chili sauce. Yes, lime and hot chili sauce are Indonesian favorites for soto.
Meanwhile, this soto soup contains thin coconut milk, but not thick coconut milk. In general, soto is clear without coconut milk. The thin coconut milk adds an authentic savory flavor. ❤️ Coconut milk is only used in Soto Betawi, not Soto Ayam or Soto Daging with clear soup.
Well, this place also serves other dishes like soto ayam (a soup containing sliced chicken), soto daging (a dish like the one I ordered, with thin coconut milk in the broth).
My curiosity has been answered. Soto gerahan is a decent meal. ❤️ For $0.80, it's delicious and satisfying. ❤️
If I'm traveling in the same direction again, I'll stop by this place again. For sure. ❤️🌸
Perhaps in your area there's a traditional soup served in a unique serving dish? What kind of flavor makes you remember it?
Best Regards,
Anggrek Lestari
Anggrek Lestari is an Indonesian fiction writer who has published two major books. Now She is a full-time content creator. She has a goal to share life, poem, and food content that makes others happy and can get inspiration.
Contact Person: authoranggreklestari@gmail.com
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