0 Lawar Nyawan the exotic honeycomb dish

If you happen to stroll through the culinary section of the Denpasar Festival, which will end on Dec. 31, you should not miss the chance to sample one of the rarest traditional Balinese foods: lawar nyawan. This lawar is made from an exotic ingredient, honeycomb. Lawar is a traditional dish here in Bali. Usually, it is made of chopped steamed vegetables (jackfruit, long beans, papaya), finely minced pork meat, chopped boiled pig skin, grated grilled coconut, a cup of raw or boiled blood, and base genep (minced seasonings, spices and herbs). 

All the ingredients are then mixed by hand bare ungloved hands. It is believed that it is the hands that determine whether the lawar is nyem (unsavory) or jaen (delicious). Warung Himalaya, the food stall that offers lawar nyawan, is run by Ida Bagus Sila and his wife Dayu Prita. Sila was a waiter on an international cruise ship, with an education in food and beverage, before he made the life-changing decision to open a food stall. Prita worked as ground staff for an airline before resigning to manage the food stall. 

Lawar nyawan uses honeycomb and bee larvae as its main ingredients. Sila does not use base genep in the mix. He said base genep was too strong and would easily eclipse the savory taste of the honeycomb and larvae. In place of base genep, Sila uses a simple mixture of shallots, onions, chili and galangal. Sila adds steamed bean sprouts, or fern tips, and slices of cucumber into the mixture between the honeycomb and spices. The stall also offers penyon nyawan, a dish made of grated, grilled coconut mixed with honeycomb and larvae, coconut milk and base genep. 

The resulting mix is then steamed. “Honeycomb and larvae are good for maintaining the health of the liver. Moreover, this dish is definitely much healthier than lawar made of pork,” Sila proclaimed. The only problem Sila has had is logistical in nature: It is very difficult to get a steady supply of honeycomb and larvae. He has to regularly travel to Badung and Klungkung to get this rare ingredient.

source : bali daily