Coconut & Sambal

Memories and mentorship take Lara Lee on an intriguing journey into Indonesia’s food. This piece of paradise, made up of 17,000 islands, is definitely where I would go to discover new tantalizing flavours. I would start with Lara’s fragrant chicken soup (soto ayam), do lots of exploring on the way whilst dousing everything with spoonfuls of sambal, and end with her coconut and pandan sponge cake (kue pandan dan kelapa) – Yotam OttolenghiIt is exquisite! – Drew BarrymoreLara Lee shares beautiful stories and the food of her Indonesian heritage. With delicious recipes that showcase the diverse tastes of traditional Indonesian food, this is truly a cookbook worth discovering – William WongsoI have travelled in Indonesia, a fascinating nation with an incredibly diverse yet barely known cuisine. It’s packed with flavour, tradition and stories. Lara brings to life the food of Indonesia through her grandmother Popo’s recipes with favourites that are absolutely delicious and easy to make. I, for one, will be making her peanut kerupuk again and again. – Peter GordonLara Lee has written a heartfelt homage to her Indonesian culinary heritage, with an exciting and panoramic selection of dishes and snacks from all over the archipelago. The clear instructions and lively descriptions make this lavishly flavoured cuisine both appealing and accessible. – Fuchsia DunlopI can only say how excited I am about a book which honours and distils the beautiful Indonesian cuisine and translates it for the contemporary cook. – Helen GohI urge you to follow Lara’s recipes and without a doubt, you will have an incredibly delicious Indonesian meal on your table every time. – Jeremy PangThis book will guide you through Indonesia’s wide and diverse food offerings one bite of a time, with a generous dollop of sambal! – Judy JooCoconut & Sambal by Lara Lee has got my mouth watering for the first time in ages – Samin NosratNot only does she have a vast knowledge of Indonesian food, her recipes are easy to use and deliver outstanding results. – Kay Plunkett-Hogge, author of BaanI am thrilled to see a young Asian chef … contributing delicious recipes to our growing knowledge of Asian cuisine! – Ken Hom, OBESo full of mouthwatering dishes that it’s been hard to choose what to cook first. The writing is warm and inviting, and the recipes accessible without sacrificing authenticity – ideal for a newcomer to Indonesian food like me. – Tim Anderson, author of Tokyo Stories and Japaneasy Alive with the fabulous flavours of Indonesia * Western Morning News *Her anecdotes are food for the soul, as are the recipes. This book is a gem * Delicious *Coconut and Sambal is as colourful as Lee’s grandmother’s kitchen, with both the food and photography offering an escape to the fishing villages of the Maluku islands, the food markets in Ubud and the street food stands of Jakarta * Caterer *If you’re wishing for distant shores, get a sense of the exotic rainforests, tropical seas and crowded markets of Indonesia by cooking up a storm with these tempting recipes * Top Sante Health and Beauty *

Lara Lee is an Indonesian and Australian chef and food writer. She trained at Leiths School of Food and Wine and now runs an event catering business called Kiwi and Roo, serving delicious food to high-profile guests including the royal family and the Australian prime minister; and at venues such as the Natural History Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts. She also holds supper clubs that celebrate her heritage with both Australian and Indonesian cuisine all over London. Coconut & Sambal is her first cookbook. @laraleefood