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Local Indonesian grocery/food source

Local Indonesian grocery/food source
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  • Local Indonesian grocery/food source

    Post #1 - July 19th, 2014, 8:52 am
    Post #1 - July 19th, 2014, 8:52 am Post #1 - July 19th, 2014, 8:52 am
    I've decided to try my hand at beef rendang again and sat down to compare recipes from several of my cookbooks. They don't vary enormously, though they do vary more than I expected. However, one item that all of them require is daun salam or salam leaves. I'm familiar with them but have no idea where to find them in Chicago. I have not had much luck at H-Mart or Vietnamese stores or even Golden Pacific. I imagine that there may be a small Indonesian store in a strip mall somewhere, unknown to me. Or something similar, but I haven't had any luck turning one up. I'd prefer to shop locally than to order online, but that may be my only choice. Any suggestions?
    Gypsy Boy

    "I am not a glutton--I am an explorer of food." (Erma Bombeck)
  • Post #2 - July 19th, 2014, 2:43 pm
    Post #2 - July 19th, 2014, 2:43 pm Post #2 - July 19th, 2014, 2:43 pm
    I looked up substitutes (Cook's Thesaurus) and learned that daun salam is also known as Indonesian bay leaf, and curry leaves or bay leaves are suggested substitutes, if you can't find duan salam. (But Spice Garden disagrees with the bay leaf suggestion.)

    Spicetrekekrs said salam leaves are used just like bay leaves, and mentions that they are odorless and only add flavor with long cooking.

    Spice Garden said they are often labeled "Indian Bay Leaf," so maybe if you look for that, instead of for duan salam, you might have more success. This site says curry leaf is a pretty good substitute, but do NOT use bay leaves, as they are too aromatic, and duan salam is extremely subtle.

    And, of course, there are people selling them on line. Such as: http://www.indomerchant.com/inbayleavdau.html

    Hope that helps.
    "All great change in America begins at the dinner table." Ronald Reagan

    http://midwestmaize.wordpress.com
  • Post #3 - January 3rd, 2015, 11:44 pm
    Post #3 - January 3rd, 2015, 11:44 pm Post #3 - January 3rd, 2015, 11:44 pm
    In case anyone is looking for salam leaves, I found them today at Golden Pacific (5363 N. Broadway). They have a small Indonesian section and sell the dried leaves in bags. They also had candle nuts, another ingredient I was looking for and is difficult to find at other Asian groceries.

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