Sri Owen's Indonesian Food

Regarded as one of the leading authorities on Indonesian Food, Sri is an internationally renowned author, lecturer and cook. Having moved to Britain in 1964, she is now regarded as one of the 'grand dames' of the British food scene.

The first thing that struck me about Sri Owen's Indonesian Food was the striking purple and gold cover, which had an air of opulence to it. Inside this gorgeous cookbook, you'll find 120 mouth-watering Indonesian recipes.

All of the recipes within the cookbook are accompanied by Sri's vivid stories, highlighting the inspiration behind each recipe. Sri also shares the cultural rituals and significance behind the recipes, which helps to provide context with how the dishes would have been enjoyed traditionally. One such tradition Sri mentioned that I found particularly interesting was regarding Javanese chicken soup, which Indonesians often serve  with other dishes at every meal, to be enjoyed as a nourishing alternative to drinking water, tea or other beverages.

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© Gus Filgate

Learn to master classic Indonesian recipes with ease

While many people feel that mastering Indonesian recipes can be daunting, Sri provides easy-to-follow instructions to ensure that relative cooking novices (myself included), can recreate the recipes with ease.

While Sri's family used to prepare their dishes using round-bottomed earthenware pots supported on small piles of bricks over wood fires or charcoal, today Sri makes do with a wok or casserole dish, according to what's most fit for purpose.  

One thing that may be challenging for some of the recipes featured within the cookbook may be locating some of the more unique ingredients, however, Sri provides alternatives that most people should be able to locate via a combination of visiting speciality food shops and one's local supermarket.

Reignite your passion for international travel and cuisine

Being a keen traveller from a small town in America, I related to Sri, who was from a small town but despite this, feels that she is a city person at heart. Sri's favourite cities in the world are London and Venice, each of which she admires for its ability to reinvent itself as well as for its cuisine. Sri believes that as an Indonesian food lover who has chosen to live in Britain, her mission is to inspire a passion in others for Indonesian food.  I think it's safe to say that she has at least one new convert.

Sri Owen's Indonesian Food is published by Pavilion Books and is available from Amazon.co.uk for £26.59 (hardcover).

A.A. Miln