Sayur asem is a sour tamarind soup that reminded me a lot of Filipino sinigang or a number of southern Thai sour soups, because it was very sour from tamarind. Known as a Sundanese and Betawi dish in Western Java, sayur asem is a sour tamarind soup, sometimes prepared with meat stock or fish stock, that can include a mixture of different vegetables like corn, chayote, and water morning glory.
Living and eating in Thailand, I’m a huge lover of sour soups, and when I had my first spoonful of sayur asem, I immediately knew it was my kind of the dish. It’s one of those sour soups that makes you almost squint when you sip it because it’s so sour.
Where: Warung Mak Dower serves fantastic Betawi dishes in Jakarta. Address: Jl. Pemuda No. 72, Rawamangun, Jakarta; Open hours: 9 am – 9 pm daily; Prices: 140,800 IDR for a full spread of dishes.
