Dodol
Encyclopedia
Dodol is a toffee-like sweet food delicacy popular in Indonesia
, Malaysia, Philippines
especially in the Ilocos Region
in Luzon
and in the Lanao provinces of Mindanao
, Singapore
, Sri Lanka
and Burma, where it is called mont kalama. It is also popular among the Roman Catholics from the west coastal Indian
state of Goa
. It is common fare on the streets of Zanzibar
sold as halva
. It is made with coconut milk
, jaggery
, and rice flour
, and is sticky, thick and sweet. It normally takes up to 8–9 hours to cook dodol. From the start till the end of the cooking process, the dodol must be constantly stirred in a big wok. Pausing in between would cause the dodol to burn and that will spoil the taste and aroma. The dodol is completely cooked is when it is firm, and doesn't stick to your fingers when you touch it.
In Muslim majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, dodol is commonly served during festivals such as Eid ul-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha as sweet treats for children. The town of Garut
in West Java
is the main production center of dodol in Indonesia. There are many flavours of dodol available including a durian
flavor, which is called "lempuk" available in Asian food stores. In Malaysia, its is quite popular amongst the eastern states such Kelantan
and Terengganu
, while in Indonesia durian dodol is popular in Medan
and other Sumatran cities.
Dodol has also made its way to some middle eastern countries including Iran, where it is very common and normally preferred by women. Though Dodol is proven to be fattening, it is used as a facemask
and skin mask by some.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
especially in the Ilocos Region
Ilocos Region
The Ilocos region or Region I is a Region of the Philippines and is located in the northwest of Luzon. It borders to the east the regions of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley and to the south the region of Central Luzon...
in Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and in the Lanao provinces of Mindanao
Mindanao
Mindanao is the second largest and easternmost island in the Philippines. It is also the name of one of the three island groups in the country, which consists of the island of Mindanao and smaller surrounding islands. The other two are Luzon and the Visayas. The island of Mindanao is called The...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
and Burma, where it is called mont kalama. It is also popular among the Roman Catholics from the west coastal Indian
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
state of Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. It is common fare on the streets of Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
sold as halva
Halva
Halva refers to many types of dense, sweet confections, served across the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Malta and the Jewish world.The term halva ,...
. It is made with coconut milk
Coconut milk
Coconut milk is the water that comes from the grated meat of a coconut. The colour and rich taste of the milk can be attributed to the high oil content. In many parts of the world, the term coconut milk is also used to refer to coconut water, the naturally occurring liquid found inside the hollow...
, jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
, and rice flour
Rice flour
Rice flour is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye....
, and is sticky, thick and sweet. It normally takes up to 8–9 hours to cook dodol. From the start till the end of the cooking process, the dodol must be constantly stirred in a big wok. Pausing in between would cause the dodol to burn and that will spoil the taste and aroma. The dodol is completely cooked is when it is firm, and doesn't stick to your fingers when you touch it.
In Muslim majority countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, dodol is commonly served during festivals such as Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Fitr, Id-ul-Fitr, or Id al-Fitr , often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting . Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity," while Fiṭr means "breaking the fast"...
and Eid al-Adha as sweet treats for children. The town of Garut
Garut
Garut is a town in the West Java province of Indonesia and is the capital of the Garut Regency. It is located about 75 km to the southeast of the major city of Bandung.-History:...
in West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
is the main production center of dodol in Indonesia. There are many flavours of dodol available including a durian
Durian
The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...
flavor, which is called "lempuk" available in Asian food stores. In Malaysia, its is quite popular amongst the eastern states such Kelantan
Kelantan
Kelantan is a state of Malaysia. The capital and royal seat is Kota Bharu. The Arabic honorific of the state is Darul Naim, ....
and Terengganu
Terengganu
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
, while in Indonesia durian dodol is popular in Medan
Medan
- Demography :The city is Indonesia's fourth most populous after Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, and Indonesia's largest city outside of Java island. Much of the population lies outside its city limits, especially in Deli Serdang....
and other Sumatran cities.
Dodol has also made its way to some middle eastern countries including Iran, where it is very common and normally preferred by women. Though Dodol is proven to be fattening, it is used as a facemask
Facial
A facial is a procedure involving a variety of skin treatments, including: steam, exfoliation, extraction, creams, lotions, facial masks, peels, and massage...
and skin mask by some.
Types of dodol
- Dodol garut: dodols produced in GarutGarutGarut is a town in the West Java province of Indonesia and is the capital of the Garut Regency. It is located about 75 km to the southeast of the major city of Bandung.-History:...
, a regency of West Java province, Indonesia. There are many variations of dodol garut. The most famous brands of dodol garut are 'Picnic' and 'Olympic'. - Dodol durian: dodol made from durianDurianThe durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...
- Dodol sirsak: dodol made from soursopSoursopThe Soursop is tripti broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America, Colombia and Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Soursop is also native to sub-Saharan African countries that lie within the tropics. Today, it is also grown in some areas...
- Dodol nangka: dodol made from jackfruitJackfruitThe jackfruit is a species of tree in the Artocarpus genus of the mulberry family . It is native to parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh, . The jackfruit tree is believed to be indigenous to the southwestern rain forests of India...
- Dodol apel Malang: dodol made from appleAppleThe apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
, specialty of MalangMalangMalang is the second largest city in East Java province, Indonesia. It has an ancient history dating back to the Mataram Kingdom. The city population at the 2010 Census was 819,708. During the period of Dutch colonization, it was a popular destination for European residents. The city is famous for...
city, East java. - Dodol China: Indonesian Chinese version of sweet Nian gaoNian gaoNiángāo, Year cake or Chinese New Year's cake is a food prepared from glutinous rice and consumed in Chinese cuisine. It is available in Asian supermarkets and from health food stores. While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year...
with rich coconut sugar - Dodol Betawi: Dodol of Betawi people, JakartaJakartaJakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, similar to Chinese dodol