The Menu For Indonesian Hajj Candidates In The Holy Land Is Diverse, Including Rendang And Yellow Rice

Lunch menu for Indonesian pilgrims in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday (14/6/2022) (ANTARA/Desi P)

JAKARTA - Indonesian pilgrims who will depart for the 2022 Hajj in the Holy Land get a variety of food menus. Including the taste of the Nusantara ranging from rendang to yellow rice.

"We serve a varied menu so that the congregation does not get bored. We serve it with Indonesian flavors as much as possible," said the cook at the Raghaeb catering kitchen, Sufiyanto in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 14.

Consumption served consists of three types, namely rice, side dishes, and vegetables. The menu served includes white rice and yellow rice with side dishes of chicken stew, grilled chicken, black pepper beef, fried catfish, minced meat omelet, and flour fried chicken to beef rendang.

Meanwhile, the vegetable menu includes stir-fried flattened corn carrots, stir-fried red chili chickpeas tempeh, and eggplant Balado to stir-fry zucchini.

Sufiyanto added that the food menu is also equipped with fruit that also varies every day such as bananas, pears, apples, bananas, dates, and oranges.

Raghaeb is one of a total of 31 catering companies to provide breakfast and lunch services for Indonesian pilgrims in Makkah.

According to Sufiyanto, the process for breakfast is prepared from 22.00 Arabia Standard Time (AST) while lunch is processed from 04.00 AST.

The catering supervisor from the Saudi Arabia Hajj Organizing Committee (PPIH), Rusna Purnama said consumption for the congregation was distributed two hours before mealtime and it was confirmed beforehand that food samples were sent to the Regional Work Office (Daker) and the sector to ensure food quality.

The owner of the Raghaeb catering, Ahmad Abdallah Quwair is committed to providing food for Indonesian pilgrims with a taste of the Nusantara. The taste of this Nusantara is in accordance with the agreement with the Indonesian government.

"We are committed to serving the pilgrims first, then profit is number 2," said Ahmad.

Indonesian Hajj pilgrims will receive 119 meals or consumption services. Meal times have been determined, namely three times a day, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Breakfast for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims is provided from 06.00 to 09.00 Arabia Standard Time (AST) and must be eaten by 11.00 AST at the latest.

Meanwhile, lunch is provided at 12.00 to 15.00 AST and must be consumed at the latest at 17.00 AST.

Meanwhile, dinner is provided from 18.00 to 21.00 AST and must be eaten at the latest at 23.00 AST.

Based on observations in the catering kitchen, which has been serving pilgrims in Mecca since 2015, it has complete kitchen facilities and can process large amounts of food because the cooking utensils used are large, ranging from frying pans, pans, and others.

The kitchen is also equipped with warehouses for storing raw materials, such as spices, rice, cooking oil, and cold rooms for beef and chicken at a temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius, so that the quality is maintained.