Roti bakar

In today's world, Roti bakar plays a fundamental role in our society. Over time, Roti bakar has become an essential element in our lives, greatly impacting our daily lives. Whether on a personal, professional or social level, Roti bakar has managed to influence the way we think, act and relate to the world around us. In this article, we will explore the importance of Roti bakar and its relevance in various aspects of our daily lives. From its impact on health to its influence on the global economy, Roti bakar is a topic we cannot ignore.

Roti bakar
Roti bakar: butter on the left, peanut butter and kaya on the right
Alternative namesRoti kahwin[1]
TypeToast
Place of originDutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia)[2]
Region or stateMaritime Southeast Asia
Associated cuisineBrunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Roti bakar ("grilled bread" in Indonesian and Malay), also known as roti kahwin, is a type of toast bread in maritime Southeast Asia, usually prepared with grilled white bread. The dish is a popular breakfast food as well as tea time snack in countries like Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Roti bakar was formerly grilled or toasted over charcoal, though this practice has dwindled with the advent of sandwich presses.[1]

Common spreads for roti bakar include sugar, margarine, butter, cheese, peanut butter, chocolate spread and kaya.

Variants

Indonesia

Modern variant of Indonesian roti bakar

In Indonesia, roti bakar is usually prepared as a sandwich of grilled white bread with a filling, consumed both as a light breakfast and a common street food. Roti bakar was developed during the era of Dutch colonial rule as a practical way to consume day-old bread; it was typically served with butter, condensed milk, or Dutch cheeses.[2] After Indonesian independence, roti bakar became ubiquitous throughout Indonesia, as consumption of toast became a matter of taste rather than frugality.[2]

Chocolate flavored roti bakar

Many flavors have been developed for modern tastes, such as hagelslag, crushed Oreo biscuits, or chocolate syrup.[2]

Malaysia and Singapore

In Malaysia, coconut jam and cold butter are a popular combination to spread on roti bakar.[3] This may be the inspiration for the Singaporean kaya toast which was created by Hainanese immigrants.[4][5][6]

The city of Ipoh in Perak is known for its kopitiam establishments, where roti bakar accompanied with local tea or coffee beverages and a serving of half boiled eggs is a staple order during morning or afternoon tea.[7][8]

A variation on roti bakar is roti titab, a thick warm toast with kaya spread onto all four corners and topped with a half-boiled egg.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Latip, Khalid (March 30, 2021). "Kopi giling dan roti bakar kayu arang tarikan ke Sarikei". BH Online (in Malay).
  2. ^ a b c d Senja, Anggita (October 11, 2018). "Sejarah Roti Bakar di Indonesia, Awalnya dari Roti yang Tak Segar". travel.kompas.com (in Indonesian).
  3. ^ Mah, Kenny (January 5, 2021). "From mocha to matcha, there's a bagel for every taste at this Seri Kembangan café". Malay Mail. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Kyo Pang. "Kaya Toast". New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "10 Traditional & Hipster Kopitiams In Klang Valley To Satisfy Your Roti Bakar Cravings". Says. May 10, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Katherine Sacks (February 28, 2017). "Kaya Toast: The Story of One of Malaysia's Best Breakfasts". Epicurious. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Mah, Kenny (January 7, 2021). "'Roti bakar' and 'tau foo fa': How the simple pleasures of Ipoh never change". Malay Mail. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  8. ^ Mah, Kenny (November 5, 2020). "How specialty coffee is quietly thriving in Ipoh, even without tourists". Malay Mail. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  9. ^ Zul, Zuliantie (June 2, 2018). "A toasty affair in Kota Baru". New Straits Times. Retrieved March 30, 2021.