Swikee
Encyclopedia
Swikee or Swike is a Chinese Indonesian frog leg
dish. The dish can be served as soup, deep fried or stir fried frog legs. Originally a Chinese dish, this dish is popular in Indonesia
. "Swikee" is originated from Hokkian dialect sui (water) and ke (chicken), which probably an euphemism
to refer frog
s as "water chicken". It is sometimes identified as a traditional food of Purwodadi
, a city in Central Java
. The main ingredient is frogs' legs (mainly from "green frogs") with the condiments of garlic
, ginger
and fermented soy paste (tauco
), salt, and pepper. Once it is served, fried garlic and chopped celery may be added. Swikee is usually served with plain white rice
.
The taste and texture of frog meat approximately between chicken and fish. They are often said to taste like chicken
because of their mild flavor, with a texture most similar to chicken
wings. However there was a slight fishiness that some might perceived that frog legs is also taste mildly like fish. Normally, the legs are the only part served in the soup, since the legs are the most meaty parts; the skin of the frogs may, however, also be dried under the sun, and fried as chips. The salted fried frogs skin has a unique taste incomparable with other types of chips.
Another type of frog cooking is "pepes kodok", frog cooked in pepes
method, where the frog legs and different condiments are wrapped in banana leaves and put in a fire until cooked. The taste of the meat is enrichen with a distinct aroma of burned banana leaves.
Frog-cooking is ubiquitous in Purwodadi Grobogan, where it is the local delicacy. It can also be found in the large cities of Indonesia, such as Jakarta
, Bandung
(where the most popular swikee restaurant chain is "Swikee Jatiwangi"), Yogyakarta, Semarang
or Surabaya
. Normally, a restaurant will use the name "Swikee Purwodadi" or "Swikee Jatiwangi" on its restaurant sign and menu.
Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of frog meat, exporting more than 5000 tonnes of frog meat each year, mostly to France, Belgium and Luxemburg. In the past, the frogs could be obtained from the wild, especially during the rainy seasons. Lately, there are more and more farms, who, due to the increased demand of raised frogs, especially from France.
(non-halal
) meat according to mainstream Islamic dietary laws. Frog meat fell under non-halal category on two prepositions; the meat to be consumed should not considered disgusting, and frog together with ant, bee, and sea birds are the animals that should not be killed by muslims. This frog legs haraam status had sparked the controversy in Demak
, where the official authority urged the swikee restaurant owners not to associate swikee with Demak city, since it will tarnish Demak image as the first Islamic city in Java, and also opposed by its inhabitants that mainly follow Safii school that forbade the consumption of frog.
Actually within Islamic dietary law there is some debates and differences about the consumption of frog legs. The mainstream Islamic madhhab
(school) of Safii, Hanafi
and Hanbali
strictly forbid the consumption of frog, however according to the school Maliki
consuming frog is allowed only on certain type of frogs; the green frog commonly found in ricefields, while other species especially with blistered skin is considered poisonous, unclean and disgusting and should not be consumed.
Environment activist urged the restriction on frog consumption — especially frogs harvested from the wild — because frog is an essential element of ecosystem. Conservationists warned that frogs could be going the same way as the cod, gastronomic demand is depleting regional populations to the point of no return. Like most of amphibian
s, frog with its thin and moist skin is sensitive to environmental changes and pollution. The population of amphibian is threaten and declining globally due to habitat degradation, environmental destruction and pollution.
Frog legs
Frogs' legs are one of the better-known delicacies of French and Cantonese cuisine. They are also eaten in other regions, such as Thailand, Vietnam, the region of Alentejo in Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, northwest Greece, and the Piemonte region in Italy, as well as the Southern regions of the...
dish. The dish can be served as soup, deep fried or stir fried frog legs. Originally a Chinese dish, this dish is popular in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. "Swikee" is originated from Hokkian dialect sui (water) and ke (chicken), which probably an euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
to refer frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s as "water chicken". It is sometimes identified as a traditional food of Purwodadi
Purwodadi Grobogan
Purwodadi Grobogan is a is capital and a district in Grobogan Regency, Central Java. It is located in the south east of Semarang, the capital of Central Java, Indonesia. I It is also well known for delicate tauco soya bean sauce and swikee....
, a city in Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
. The main ingredient is frogs' legs (mainly from "green frogs") with the condiments of garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, ginger
Ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the plant Zingiber officinale, consumed as a delicacy, medicine, or spice. It lends its name to its genus and family . Other notable members of this plant family are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal....
and fermented soy paste (tauco
Tauco
Tauco , is a paste made from preserved fermented soybeans in Chinese Indonesian cuisine. The name comes from the pronunciation in the Hokkian dialect and it is originated from China...
), salt, and pepper. Once it is served, fried garlic and chopped celery may be added. Swikee is usually served with plain white rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
.
The taste and texture of frog meat approximately between chicken and fish. They are often said to taste like chicken
Tastes like chicken
"Tastes like chicken" is a common declaration used when trying to describe the flavor of a food a listener has never tasted. The expression has been used so often that it has become somewhat of a cliché...
because of their mild flavor, with a texture most similar to chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
wings. However there was a slight fishiness that some might perceived that frog legs is also taste mildly like fish. Normally, the legs are the only part served in the soup, since the legs are the most meaty parts; the skin of the frogs may, however, also be dried under the sun, and fried as chips. The salted fried frogs skin has a unique taste incomparable with other types of chips.
Another type of frog cooking is "pepes kodok", frog cooked in pepes
Pepes
Pepes is an Indonesian cooking method using banana leaf as food wrappings. The banana-leaf package containing food is secured with lidi seumat , cooked on steam, in boiled water or grilled on charcoal...
method, where the frog legs and different condiments are wrapped in banana leaves and put in a fire until cooked. The taste of the meat is enrichen with a distinct aroma of burned banana leaves.
Frog-cooking is ubiquitous in Purwodadi Grobogan, where it is the local delicacy. It can also be found in the large cities of Indonesia, such as Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
(where the most popular swikee restaurant chain is "Swikee Jatiwangi"), Yogyakarta, Semarang
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
or Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
. Normally, a restaurant will use the name "Swikee Purwodadi" or "Swikee Jatiwangi" on its restaurant sign and menu.
Indonesia is the world's largest exporter of frog meat, exporting more than 5000 tonnes of frog meat each year, mostly to France, Belgium and Luxemburg. In the past, the frogs could be obtained from the wild, especially during the rainy seasons. Lately, there are more and more farms, who, due to the increased demand of raised frogs, especially from France.
Variations
Swikee can be served in soup or stir fried according to each sauces.- Swikee oh or Kodok oh, frog legs in fermented soybean sauce (taucoTaucoTauco , is a paste made from preserved fermented soybeans in Chinese Indonesian cuisine. The name comes from the pronunciation in the Hokkian dialect and it is originated from China...
) soup. - Swikee goreng mentega, stir fried frog legs in butter or margarine
- Swikee kecap, stir fried frog legs in sweet soy sauce
- Swikee saus tomat, stir fried frog legs in tomato sauceTomato sauceA tomato sauce is any of a very large number of sauces made primarily from tomatoes, usually to be served as part of a dish...
- Swikee asam manis, fried frog legs in sweet and sour sauce
- Swikee goreng tepung, deep fried battered frog legs
- Swikee goreng mayones, deep fried battered frog legs served with mayonnaiseMayonnaiseMayonnaise, , often abbreviated as mayo, is a sauce. It is a stable emulsion of oil, egg yolk and either vinegar or lemon juice, with many options for embellishment with other herbs and spices. Lecithin in the egg yolk is the emulsifier. Mayonnaise varies in color but is often white, cream, or pale...
- Pepes swikee, seasoned boneless frog legs cooked in banana leaf as pepesPepesPepes is an Indonesian cooking method using banana leaf as food wrappings. The banana-leaf package containing food is secured with lidi seumat , cooked on steam, in boiled water or grilled on charcoal...
, another variant is pepes telur kodok, the frog eggs cooked in banana leaf.
Issues
There is two main issues dealing with frog legs consumption in Indonesia, the religion and environmental issues. Frog meat is considered as haraamHaraam
Haraam is an Arabic term meaning "forbidden", or "sacred". In Islam it is used to refer to anything that is prohibited by the word of Allah in the Qur'an or the Hadith Qudsi. Haraam is the highest status of prohibition given to anything that would result in sin when a Muslim commits it...
(non-halal
Halal
Halal is a term designating any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. The term is used to designate food seen as permissible according to Islamic law...
) meat according to mainstream Islamic dietary laws. Frog meat fell under non-halal category on two prepositions; the meat to be consumed should not considered disgusting, and frog together with ant, bee, and sea birds are the animals that should not be killed by muslims. This frog legs haraam status had sparked the controversy in Demak
Demak
Demak is on the north coast of Central Java province, on the island of Java, Indonesia.* Demak, Indonesia - the modern-day large town.* Demak Sultanate - the sixteenth century sultanate.* Demak Regency - the modern-day regency around the town....
, where the official authority urged the swikee restaurant owners not to associate swikee with Demak city, since it will tarnish Demak image as the first Islamic city in Java, and also opposed by its inhabitants that mainly follow Safii school that forbade the consumption of frog.
Actually within Islamic dietary law there is some debates and differences about the consumption of frog legs. The mainstream Islamic madhhab
Madhhab
is a Muslim school of law or fiqh . In the first 150 years of Islam, there were many such "schools". In fact, several of the Sahābah, or contemporary "companions" of Muhammad, are credited with founding their own...
(school) of Safii, Hanafi
Hanafi
The Hanafi school is one of the four Madhhab in jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. The Hanafi madhhab is named after the Persian scholar Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Thābit , a Tabi‘i whose legal views were preserved primarily by his two most important disciples, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad al-Shaybani...
and Hanbali
Hanbali
The Hanbali school is one the schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. The jurisprudence school traces back to Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal but was institutionalized by his students. Hanbali jurisprudence is considered very strict and conservative, especially regarding questions of dogma...
strictly forbid the consumption of frog, however according to the school Maliki
Maliki
The ' madhhab is one of the schools of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. It is the second-largest of the four schools, followed by approximately 25% of Muslims, mostly in North Africa, West Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and in some parts of Saudi Arabia...
consuming frog is allowed only on certain type of frogs; the green frog commonly found in ricefields, while other species especially with blistered skin is considered poisonous, unclean and disgusting and should not be consumed.
Environment activist urged the restriction on frog consumption — especially frogs harvested from the wild — because frog is an essential element of ecosystem. Conservationists warned that frogs could be going the same way as the cod, gastronomic demand is depleting regional populations to the point of no return. Like most of amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s, frog with its thin and moist skin is sensitive to environmental changes and pollution. The population of amphibian is threaten and declining globally due to habitat degradation, environmental destruction and pollution.