6 Clear Vegetable Sour Recipes, A Fresh and Delicious Choice for Lunch

Clear vegetable sour is one of the typical dishes of Indonesia. This vegetable dish always successfully whets the appetite. With a fresh clear broth and a distinctive sour taste, this dish is suitable to be enjoyed at any time. Clear vegetable sour recipes are always sought after by those who want to enjoy a delicious and refreshing lunch.

Now, sour vegetable recipes are becoming more varied. There are various variations, ranging from traditional village flavors to modern innovations with added beef. All these recipes are delicious and fresh, making them very suitable for lunch. Curious and want to try it?

Here are 6 recipes containing practical steps and complete ingredients to make various types of clear vegetable sour dishes that are guaranteed to be delicious and fresh.

1. Clear Vegetable Asem Recipe from the Village

Clear Tamarind Vegetable Recipe from the Village (credit: flickr)

Vegetable asem from the village is known for its simplicity yet remains rich in flavor. This recipe uses ingredients that are easy to find in traditional markets. Here is a guide to the clear vegetable asem recipe from the village that is sure to be delicious:

Ingredients:

• 1 piece of chayote, peeled and diced

• 5 long beans, cut into long pieces

• 2 sheets of cabbage, chopped

• 1 bunch of water spinach

Whole Spices:

• 1 piece of galangal

• 1 leaf of bay leaf

• 3 tamarind pods

• 1 green tomato

• 3 cloves of garlic

• 5 shallots

• Salt and sugar to taste

How to Make:

1. Boil water until it boils, then add corn and peanuts.

2. Add whole spices such as galangal, bay leaf, and green tomato.

3. Add salt and sugar to taste, then stir well.

4. When the broth has boiled and changed color, add young jackfruit, long beans, melinjo leaves, and cabbage.

5. Cook until the vegetables are tender. Taste it, and if it's just right, lift it off the heat.

6. Serve while warm with white rice.

2. Clear Tamarind Vegetable Recipe from East Java

The typical tamarind vegetable from East Java has a fresh sour taste derived from starfruit. This dish is perfect to complement your lunch. Here’s a guide to the clear tamarind vegetable recipe from East Java that you can try:

Ingredients:

• 5 long beans, cut into pieces

• 2 krai cucumbers

• 1 bunch of water spinach, cut into pieces

• 1 handful of soybean sprouts

• 1/2 corn, cut into pieces

Sliced Spices:

• 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

• 4 shallots, thinly sliced

• 1 piece of galangal, crushed

• 2 starfruits, cut into pieces

• 2 tamarind pods

Instructions:

1. Boil water until it boils, then add the corn and cook until it changes color.

2. Add the long beans, krai cucumbers, and soybean sprouts.

3. When the vegetables start to wilt, add the water spinach and all the sliced spices.

4. Add sugar and salt to taste, then stir well.

5. Cook until done and adjust the taste. Once it’s right, remove from heat.

6. Serve with warm rice and your favorite side dishes.

3. Clear Vegetable Asem Recipe from Central Java

Recipe for Clear Asem Vegetable from Central Java (credit: flickr)

The taste of vegetable asem from Central Java tends to be lighter with a distinctive aroma of bay leaves and galangal. Here is a guide to the clear vegetable asem recipe typical of Central Java that is just as good as that from East Java:

Ingredients:

• 1 piece of chayote, peeled and cut into small pieces

• 1 sweet corn, cut into 5 pieces

• 5 long beans, cut long

• Enough melinjo leaves

Seasoning:

• 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

• 4 shallots, thinly sliced

• Salt, sugar, and flavoring to taste

• 2 cm galangal, crushed

• 3 pieces of bay leaves

• 1 liter of water

Instructions:

1. Wash all the vegetables thoroughly, then drain.

2. Boil the water, then add the chayote, shallots, and garlic.

3. Add salt, sugar, flavoring, bay leaves, and galangal.

4. When the broth starts to smell fragrant, add the melinjo leaves, corn, and long beans.

5. Stir well, then cook until the vegetables are tender. Adjust the taste.

6. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.

4. Recipe for Clear Asem Vegetable from Sunda

Sunda asem vegetables have a spicier taste and are rich in spices. This recipe uses slightly more complex ingredients. Here is a guide to the typical clear asem vegetable recipe from Sunda that has a great taste:

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons peanuts

• 3 tablespoons melinjo

• 4 pieces of long beans, cut into pieces

• 1 sweet corn, cut into pieces

• 1 handful of melinjo leaves

• 1/2 chayote, diced

• Young jackfruit as needed, cut small and boiled

Whole Spices:

• 1 piece of galangal, crushed

• 2 tamarind pods, steeped in hot water

Ground Spices:

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 5 shallots

• 2 large red chilies

• 2 teaspoons shrimp paste, fried briefly

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• Salt and sugar to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil water until it boils, then add peanuts, chayote, melinjo, and corn.

2. Add the ground spices and galangal.

3. Add long beans, boiled jackfruit, and melinjo leaves.

4. Add salt and sugar, then stir well.

5. Adjust the taste. If it’s right, remove from heat.

5. Fresh Clear Sour Vegetable Soup Recipe

Fresh Clear Asem Vegetable Soup Recipe (credit: flickr)

Sour vegetables with this fresh clear broth are perfect for your daily menu. The ingredients are simple and easy to find. Here’s a guide to a simple yet irresistible fresh clear sour vegetable recipe:

Ingredients:

• Sweet corn

• Purple eggplant

• Long beans

• Chayote

• Melinjo

• Starfruit

• Melinjo leaves

How to Make:

1. Wash all the ingredients until clean, then cut them to your liking.

2. Boil water until it boils, then add the sweet corn pieces.

3. Add the purple eggplant, long beans, and chayote into the pot.

4. Add melinjo, starfruit, and melinjo leaves.

5. Cook until all ingredients are cooked but still crunchy.

6. Add palm sugar, tamarind water, and salt to taste.

7. Stir well and cook briefly. Remove and serve.

6. Clear Asem Vegetable Soup with Beef Recipe

This creative asem vegetable recipe combines the fresh taste of asem vegetables with the savory flavor of beef. Perfect for those of you who want a special menu. Here’s a guide to the clear asem vegetable soup recipe with beef that is guaranteed to be delicious:

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of beef, diced

• 100 grams of long beans, cut into pieces

• 100 grams of chayote, diced

• 1 sweet corn, cut into pieces

• 3 bay leaves

• 2 lime leaves

• 2 tablespoons of palm sugar, finely grated

• 2 teaspoons of tamarind, dissolved in a little water

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil the beef in boiling water until tender, then drain.

2. Sauté the bay leaves and lime leaves until fragrant, then add the beef.

3. Add enough water, then let it boil.

4. Add the long beans, chayote, and sweet corn.

5. Add salt, palm sugar, and the tamarind solution. Stir well.

6. Adjust the taste, then remove from heat. Serve warm.

Those are some delicious and fresh asem vegetable recipes. Try it now. If not now, when else?

(kpl/psp)