 |
Plecing Gonda: A Fresh and Luscious
Country Style Vegetable |
Plecing Gonda is one of the typical vegetable
servings owned by Balinese society. This vegetable is very close to the peasant
life in rural areas. Aside from being easy to get the ingredient, the making is
also easy. Simply prepare the seasoning comprising the garlic, chili, large
chili, tomato, shrimp paste, lime and salt to taste, you will get a delicious Plecing Gonda vegetable.
Process of the
making is not too complicated. Ingredient of gonda stalk should be boiled until cooked, or to taste. Then, all
seasoning ingredients are cleaned and finely ground on stone mortar or the
like. Stir fry the seasoning, except for the lime. Well, mix the boiled gonda with the seasoning prepared. To
give a typical flavor in the serving, do not forget to give grated lime.
Gonda plant is closely related to the
farmer’s life in Bali. As a matter of fact, it
grows as weeds, but farmers in Bali then take
advantage of it as a daily vegetable. Gonda is planted among the paddy plants
so it does not require a large area. After twenty to twenty-five days old, it
is ready to harvest. This green plant does not need severe maintenance by spraying
it with chemicals. By doing so, it will be free from insecticide and safe to
consume.
Farmers
who have completed their work in rice field will usually come home with some bunches
of gonda stalk. It is then processed
as above, then enjoyed together with family in the evening cheerfully. One of
the famer in Jembrana Regency, Ketut Sami, said that the vegetable is
relatively easy to be developed. It doesn’t need special treatment and it can
be marketed anywhere such as traditional market or supermarket.
Sami
explained that the entire field is planted with gonda. “We only need 15 days to harvest the plant and the process
of planting it also doesn’t need much work. Gonda
is also very suitable for the rainy season and before we could plant rice,”
he added. He said that the water which is available during the rainy season
made it easier to plant gonda. He
also explained that the marketing of the product is very easy because the
vegetable is demanded by the customers.
The
food is well known in Tabanan Regency. Even many vegetables available in the
area, but gonad still one of the favorite dish in the regency. The Gonda produce by the farmer in Tabanan
has special characteristic compare to the other area. The gonda in Tabanan is tenderer so it doesn’t need many spices. Gonda is not only suitable for common
rice but also can accompany other dishes such as fish or chicken. Gonda lover said that they fond of the
vegetables because it can be made into many kind of foods. It is delicious and
filled with nutrition.
Holidays
in Bali feels incomplete if not accompanied by
a culinary tour, tourists could try different types of foods that are only
available in Bali. Bali
is not only unique in natural beauty, art, culture and hospitality, but the
Balinese also has typical food is on this island, from luxury to simple, from
international cuisine to traditional Balinese cuisine. Bali has many unique
dishes that could become the attraction for tourists who come to the island. It
could become an alternative for the tourists who are looking for different side
of Bali.
If the government could promote the dishes
properly, it could give good impact on the development of tourism in Bali. The government could develop culinary tourism where
it is promoting the food or event restaurants throughout the island. (BTN/015)
