Brilio.net - Kolang kaling comes from the seeds of the aren tree and is often used as an ingredient in various traditional dishes, especially during the fasting month. Its fresh taste and chewy texture make it popular as a mixture of fruit ice or sweets . However, the processing of kolang kaling often leaves a fairly pungent sour smell, which can reduce the pleasure when consuming it.
The sour smell of palm fruit is caused by the natural acid content, which is formed during the fermentation process after the fruit is harvested. The fermentation process is carried out to remove the attached sap, but the sour smell can still remain even after being washed many times. This smell is not harmful, but it can reduce the freshness of the taste of palm fruit.
Generally, some people will process kolang kaling by soaking it in rice washing water. This process is believed to be able to remove the pungent sour smell of kolang kaling. In addition to soaking, some also boil kolang kaling together with spices to remove the sour smell.
But besides that method, there is actually another trick that is no less effective. A YouTube user named Meutia Fitri Yahya once shared her trick through an uploaded video. According to her, this method is more effective than using rice washing water or just boiling it.
After further investigation, the trick to remove the sour smell of palm fruit is done by adding one ingredient. As reported by BrilioFood from YouTube Meutia Fitri Yahya on Thursday (19/9), the ingredient is rice flour. This ingredient can neutralize the pungent sour smell while removing the remaining slime from palm fruit.
The method is also quite easy. Prepare the palm fruit that has been washed clean. Then sprinkle enough rice flour. Stir until the rice flour is evenly mixed.
photo: YouTube/Meutia Fitri Yahya
Once done, add water until the palm fruit is submerged. Stir again while rubbing like washing rice. This is useful for removing the remaining mucus that is still attached to the palm fruit. Next, let the palm fruit sit overnight.
photo: YouTube/Meutia Fitri Yahya
This soaking process will make the sour smell completely disappear. Because basically, rice flour will neutralize the sour smell, just like using rice washing water. In addition to the smell, the mucus on the palm fruit can also be lost. So that the surface of the palm fruit will be increasingly dry.
photo: YouTube/Meutia Fitri Yahya
After soaking overnight, drain the palm fruit. Then wash it thoroughly by rubbing it. This will help remove any remaining mucus that is still attached. Now, the washed palm fruit is ready to be processed.
If you want to make sweets, you can boil it directly with sugar water. Or you can boil it with plain water if you want to use it as an additional ingredient for kolak and other desserts. After boiling, kolang kaling will be soft and more delicious to eat.