Vegan Arem Arem

Delight your taste buds with Vegan Arem Arem, a plant-based twist on a beloved Indonesian snack! This savory delicacy features fragrant glutinous rice cooked in creamy coconut milk, carefully wrapped in aromatic banana leaves to lock in its rich flavors. Inside, you’ll discover a hearty filling of crumbled tofu, grated carrots, and chopped green beans, stir-fried with a medley of shallots, garlic, and a spicy hint of red chili. Enhanced with a splash of soy sauce and coconut oil, this nutritious and satisfying treat perfectly balances indulgence and wellness. Ideal as a grab-and-go snack or a unique appetizer, Vegan Arem Arem not only offers a nostalgic taste of traditional Indonesian cuisine but also caters beautifully to vegan and gluten-free diets.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:90 mins

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 500 grams glutinous rice
• 400 milliliters coconut milk
• 200 milliliters water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 pieces banana leaves
• 200 grams tofu, firm
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 100 grams green beans, chopped
• 3 pieces shallots, thinly sliced
• 2 pieces garlic cloves, minced
• 1 piece red chili, chopped
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the glutinous rice under cold water until the water runs clear.

Step 2

In a large pot, combine the rinsed rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Stir well.

Step 3

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is fully cooked and has absorbed all the liquid. This should take about 15-20 minutes. Once done, set aside to cool slightly.

Step 4

For the filling, heat the coconut oil in a pan over medium heat.

Step 5

Add shallots, garlic, and red chili. Sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 6

Add tofu by crumbling it into small pieces with your hands into the pan. Stir well.

Step 7

Add the grated carrot and chopped green beans, and stir-fry for another 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Step 8

Stir in the soy sauce and black pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and cook for another 2 minutes.

Step 9

Remove the pan from heat and allow the filling to cool slightly.

Step 10

Prepare the banana leaves by cutting them into approximately 20 cm x 25 cm rectangles and softening them by passing them over a low flame or blanching them briefly in hot water.

Step 11

On each piece of banana leaf, spread a thin layer of cooked rice (about 2-3 tablespoons) in the center. Flatten it slightly.

Step 12

Place about a tablespoon of the filling mixture onto the rice layer.

Step 13

Cover the filling with another layer of rice (about 2 tablespoons), pressing gently to encase the filling completely.

Step 14

Fold the banana leaf over the rice and filling to form a cylinder, then fold the edges inwards to secure.

Step 15

Repeat with the remaining rice and filling.

Step 16

Steam the wrapped arem-arem in a steamer for about 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.

Step 17

Remove from steamer and let cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2811.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1292.9

Total Fat 46.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4814.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 176.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.8g	0%
Total Sugars 40.8g
Protein 48.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1520.1mg	0%
Iron 8.9mg	0%
Potassium 1741.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 31.6%

Protein: 14.8%

Carbs: 53.6%