 Unopened bunch of cooked ketupat on a plate. | |
| Alternative names | Kupat, tupat, topat, tipat |
|---|---|
| Course | Main course |
| Place of origin | Indonesia[1][2] |
| Region or state | Java[3] |
| Serving temperature | Hot or room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Rice cooked inside of a pouch made from woven young palm leaves |
| Variations | Ketupat pulut, ketupat daun palas (Malay), lepet |
| 1 bowl of ketupat sayur has approximately 93[4] | |
Ketupat (Malay), orkupat (inJavanese andSundanese), ortipat (inBalinese)[5] is aJavaneserice cake packed inside a diamond-shaped container of wovenpalm leaf pouch.[6] Originating inIndonesia, it is also found inBrunei,Malaysia,Singapore, southernPhilippines, southernThailand,Cambodia andLaos. It is commonly described as "packed rice", although there are other types of similar packed rice such aslontong andbakchang.
Ketupat is cut open until its skin (woven palm leaf) is totally removed. The inner rice cake is then cut into pieces and served as a staple food in place of plainsteamed rice. It is usually eaten withrendang,opor ayam,sayur labu (chayote soup), orsambal goreng hati (liver in sambal), or served as an accompaniment tosatay (chicken or red meat in skewers) orgado-gado (mixed vegetables with peanut sauce). Ketupat is also the main element of certain dishes, such asketupat sayur (ketupat in chayote soup with tofu and boiled egg) andkupat tahu (ketupat and tofu in peanut sauce).
Ketupat is related to similar dishes in otherrice-farmingAustronesian cultures, like theFilipinopusô or Patupat, although the latter is not restricted to diamond shapes and traditionally come in various intricately woven designs ranging from star-like to animal-shaped.[7] Anoctahedron-shaped version calledkatupat was also found in pre-colonialGuam and theMariana Islands, before the ancient rice cultivation in the island was replaced bymaize brought by the Spanish.[8][9]
The use of woven young palm leaves (janur) fronds as a pouch to cook food is widespread inMaritime Southeast Asia, fromJava, Indonesia to Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. Ketupat is made fromrice that has been wrapped in a wovenpalm leaf pouch and boiled. As the rice cooks, the grains expand to fill the pouch, and the rice becomes compressed. This cooking method gives theketupat its characteristic form and texture of a rice cake.
The oldest manuscript mentioning ketupat is found in theKakawin Ramayana, written in the 9th century during the reign ofKing Balitung, the era of theMataram kingdom. In this manuscript, ketupat is calledkupatay, which is in the same row as the names of other foods. After that, the termkupat was found in several later manuscripts from different kingdoms; as in theKakawin Kresnayana during theKediri Kingdom in the 12th century, then in theKakawin Subadra Wiwaha andKidungSri Tanjung during theMajapahit Kingdom in the 14th to 15th centuries CE. The name of ketupat in these manuscripts is written askupat.[10]
Despite its current association with Muslim festival oflebaran, ketupat is also known in non-Muslim communities, such asHinduBalinese,[11] JavaneseKejawen beliefs, and people of the Philippines, which suggested that the weaving of coconut fronds has pre-Islamic origin. It was linked to the local Hindu ritual on veneratingDewi Sri,[12] the Javanese goddess of rice.[13] The Balinese Hindus still weaved theCili fronds effigy of Dewi Sri as an offering, as well as weavingtipat fronds duringKuninganBalinese Hindu holy day.[11] InBali and Java, ketupat has also been used assajen (an offering for deceasedancestors) for centuries.[12] People that adhere to ancestral beliefs e.g. Kejawen andSunda Wiwitan would hang a bunch ofketupat (usuallybanten style) at the door as an offering to treat the ancestral spirits which believed sometimes would return to mortal world to visit their descendants. This Javanese belief on providing offerings for visiting ancestral spirits is somewhat akin to the Hindu Balinese Galungan-Kuningan festival.
According to Central Javanese tradition, ketupat was first introduced by a Javanese theologian namedSunan Kalijaga, an important figure for Muslims in Java. In Java and most of Indonesia, ketupat is linked to Islamic tradition oflebaran (Eid ul-Fitr).[6] The earliest connection of ketupat with Islamiclebaran tradition is believed to be originated in 15th-centurySultanate of Demak.[13][2][14]
According to Javanese traditions, the Indonesianlebaran tradition was first started whenSunan Bonang, one of the Wali Songo ofTuban in 15th-century Java, called for the Muslims to elevate the perfection of their Ramadhan fast by asking forgiveness and forgiving others' wrongdoings.[15] The tradition on preparing and consuming ketupat orkupat inJavanese language during lebaran was introduced by Raden Mas Sahid orSunan Kalijaga,[16] one ofWali Songo (nine Muslim saints) that spread Islam in Java. Sunan Kalijaga introduced thelebaran ketupat ritual on 8Shawwal, a week after Eid ul-Fitr and a day after a six-day Shawwal fast. It is believed that it contains appropriate symbolism;kupat meansngaku lepat or "admitting one's mistakes" inJavanese language,[15] in accordance to asking for forgiveness tradition during lebaran. The crossed weaving of palm leaves symbolises mistakes and sins committed by human beings, and the inner whitish rice cake symbolises purity and deliverance from sins after observingRamadhan fast, prayer and rituals.[16]
Other than Java, the tradition of consuming ketupat during Eid ul-Fitr also can be found throughout Indonesia, from Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara, and also neighboring countries, including Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.[1]
Local stories passed down through the generations have attributed the creation of this style of rice preparation to the seafarers' need to keep cooked rice from spoiling during long sea voyages.[12] The coco leaves used in wrapping the rice are always shaped into a triangular or diamond form and stored hanging in bunches in the open air. The shape of the package facilitates moisture to drip away from the cooked rice while the coco leaves allow the rice to be aerated and, at the same time, prevent flies and insects from touching it.
In various places in Indonesia, there is a ceremony calledLebaran Ketupat, which is observed after the conclusion of anextra six days of fasting followingIdul Fitri.[6] InLombok,West Nusa Tenggara, thousands of Muslims celebratedLebaran Ketupat—orLebaran Topat as it is locally called—by visiting the graves of Muslim ulamas before partaking in communal ceremonial activities, which includes music performances, ketupat cooking competitions, to shared meals where ketupat was served as the main dish. Side dishes at the events varied, ranging fromplecing kangkung (stir-fried water spinach) to the local dish ofAyam Taliwang.[6]
InCentral Java,Lebaran Ketupat is calledBada Kupat, and was celebrated by cooking and serving ketupat andlepet (steamed sticky rice cooked in plaited palm leaves) in Semarang. In Colo,Kudus Regency, a parade ofgunungan (cone-shape offering) made of ketupat,lepet and other food items on the slope ofMount Muria near the grave of noted Muslim preacherSunan Muria, was held to celebrateBada Kupat, while on the slope ofMount Merapi inBoyolali Regency, the celebration featured a parade of livestock decorated with ketupat.[6]
AmongHindu communities inBali andBanyuwangi in East Java, ketupat is part of the offering and ritual of Kuningan festive celebration to conclude theGalungan holy days. During Galungan, Hindu families create and erect apenjor pole made ofjanur (young palm leaves), and then make some offerings to thePura. Ten days after Galungan, the ceremony of Kuningan is observed to conclude the religious holy days. To celebrate Kuningan, Balinese Hindu families maketipat or ketupat first as an offering, and then they consume some ketupat afterwards.[11]
There are some striking similarities between Javanese MuslimLebaran and Balinese HinduGalungan-Kuningan holy days, of which ketupat is one. For example, the families pay a visit to the grave of their family or ancestors prior of observing the holy day, and they consume ketupat to conclude the religious festival.[11] Although today in contemporary Indonesia, ketupat is strongly associated with Muslim celebration of Idul Fitri, this parallel phenomenon suggested the pre-Islamic native origin of ketupat, asNative Indonesian ways to shows gratitude and to celebrate festivities by making and consuming certain kind of food.[11]
There are many varieties ofketupat, with two of the more common ones beingketupat nasi andketupat pulut.Ketupat nasi is made from common white rice and is wrapped in a square shape withcoconut palm leaves whileketupat pulut is made fromglutinous rice is usually wrapped in a triangular shape using the leaves of thedaun palas fan palm (Licuala).Ketupat pulut is also calledketupat daun palas in Malaysia, primarily found in northernMalay Peninsula and among theMalay community ofsouthern Thailand. Usually, ketupat pouches are made fromjanur or young palm leaves fronds. However, inKalimantan,nipah leaves might be used and woven into ketupat as well.[17]
Ketupat is also traditionally served by Indonesian andMalays at open houses on festive occasions such aslebaran orIdul Fitri (Hari Raya Aidilfitri). During Idul Fitri in Indonesia,ketupat is often served with eitheropor ayam (chicken incoconut milk), chicken or beefcurry,rendang,sambal goreng ati (spicy beef liver),krechek (buffalo or beef skin dish), orsayur labu Siam (chayote soup). Ketupat orlontong is also used as a replacement for plain steamed rice ingado-gado,karedok, orpecel.
Other than replacing steamed rice orlontong in certain dishes, such as satay,gado-gado, andketoprak, ketupat is also forming the essential part of other derivative dishes with certain recipes developed from it.
InSemarang metropolitan area, there is a dish calledketupat orkupat jembut. The ketupat is added with boiled bean sprouts, boiled cabbage, and grated coconut and looks like female genitalia.[18] The wordsjembut means pubic hair inJavanese.
ABanjar cuisine of ketupat with baked fish in coconut milk soup. It originated fromKandangan,South Hulu Sungai Regency.[19]
Ketupat is prepared by boiling it in a mixture of water and ash from burnt coconut fronds.Ketupat landan which looks red, is a specialty ketupat fromBanjarnegara Regency,Central Java.[20]
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One of the popular street foods in Indonesian cities isKetupat sayur which literary means "ketupat in vegetables soup".Ketupat sayur is known in two popular versions; theBetawi version fromJakarta andkatupek sayua thePadang version from West Sumatra. Ketupat sayur is popular as a breakfast fare inJakarta andPadang. It consist of ketupat served with slicedlabu siam (chayote) and unripejackfruitgulai in thin and spicycoconut milk soup, topped with cookedtofu andtelur pindang (spiced boiled egg), andkrupuk crackers. The Padang orMinangkabau version might be served with additional dishes, such asegg balado,rendang and variousgulai. Iflontong was used in the identical recipe, it is calledlontong sayur instead.
Ketupat also used as main ingredient inSundanese andJavanese dishkupat tahu, which is ketupat,tahu goreng (friedtofu), and bean sprouts served inpeanut sauce topped with crispykrupuk crackers. Popular variants ofkupat tahu includesKupat tahu Kuningan fromKuningan Regency inWest Java,Kupat Tahu Padalarang fromPadalarang, West Bandung,Kupat Tahu Bandung inBandung,[21]Kupat Tahu Bumiayu fromBrebes Regency,[22] andKupat Tahu Magelang fromMagelang Regency, Central Java.
ItsBalinese version is calledtipat cantok, which is sliced ketupat with boiled or blanched vegetables;asparagus bean,water spinach,bean sprout,cucumber, and fried tofu mixed inpeanut sauce which is made from ground fried peanuts, garlic,chili pepper, salt andtauco fermented soy paste.[5] The peanut sauce might be mild or hot and spicy, depending on the addition ofchili pepper. It is one of a few Balinesevegetarian dishes. Tipat cantok is akin to Javanesepecel and Jakartangado-gado.
InHindu-majorityBali, ketupat is used as one of the temple offerings.[11] In Java, among the traditional Muslimabangan community, the woven empty or uncooked ketupat skin is often hung as anamulet to symbolise wealth and prosperity.
Because in Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Thailand, Singapore and Brunei, ketupat is strongly linked to Islamic Eid ul-Fitr, it is also used there as decorations. The empty ketupat skin woven from colourful ribbons are used as decorations to signify this festive occasion, in the same fashions as bells to signifyChristmas. Colorful ribbon ketupat are often used to decorate shopping malls, offices or as decorations of gift parcels.
In thePhilippines, similar rice pouches are known aspuso (literally "heart") and had their origins from pre-colonialanimistic ritual offerings as recorded by Spanish historians. Unlikeketupat, however, they are not restricted to diamond shapes and can come in a wide variety of weaving styles (including bird and other animal forms) which still survive among variousethnic groups in the Philippines today.Ketupat are also woven differently; the leaf base and the loose leaf strands do not exit at the same point, as in most Filipinopuso.Ketupat somewhat resemble thetamu pinad version amongMuslim Filipinos the most, which are shaped like a flattened diamond, although they are also woven differently.Patupat, a delicacy common in thenorthern provinces of the Philippines, despite having the same form, is cooked differently. Patupat is cooked insugarcane juice.[7]
InCambodia, a similar dish of pounded sticky rice wrapped in a pentagonal woven palm leaf is calledkatom (កាតំ) inKhmer. It is a non-traditional variant ofnum kom which uses banana leaves instead of palm.[23][24] In Indonesia, similar dish of compressed rice in leaf container includeslepet,lontong,lemper,arem-arem andbacang.
InChina, there is a similar dish calledlap (苙) that is a local speciality of the island ofHainan.[25] Hainaneselap is usually bigger in size than Indonesia'sketupat.Lap skin might be woven into pillow-shaped or triangular, the sticky rice is filled with pork belly. Outside China,lap can also can be found in Port Dickson in Malaysia and Singapore.[26]
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