Getting to Know Lekun:
The Taste and Tradition of Sikka
Hello, my name is Marissa.
Today, I'd like to share with you how to make lekun, so that we can get to know more about the traditional cuisine of our region.
Lekun is a traditional cake from Sikka Regency. It is made from a mixture of black and white rice, ground into flour, then placed inside young bamboo and roasted over fire. Lekun is not just food, it is usually served during traditional ceremonies, such as engagements, the giving of belis(dowry), and weddings.
Before we move on to the cooking process, let's first prepare the ingredients and tools we will need.
Ingredients and tools:
A Mixture of 1kg of black rice flour and 1/2 kg of white flour
4 teaspoons of sugar
One teaspoon of vanilla
1 1/2 liters of coconut milk
4 pieces of young bamboo that have been cleaned
1 glass water
Steps for making Lekun
After all the ingredients and tools are ready, we can start making lekun with the following steps
1. Prepare the sugar solution by dissolving the sugar in one glass of water, then cook until it boils.
2. Mix the coconut milk, sugar solution, and vanilla together, then stir well.
(sugar, vanilla, and coconut milk mixture)
3. The coconut milk mixture is poured into the rice flour and stirred until blended
Lekun Mixture
4. The Batter is poured into the young bamboo
(filling the batter into bamboo)
5. The bamboo filled with the batter is roasted until cooked
(Roasting bamboo)
6. After being cooked, lekun is ready to be served.
Thus ends the process of making lekun. More than food, this cake is a symbol of tradition, togetherness, and respect in the Sikka community. Every bite carries a simple taste, yet holds deep cultural meaning that has been passed down from generation to generation. In various traditional ceremonies, lekun is served as a symbol of brotherhood and family bonds.
By getting to know lekun, we are not only tasting the unique culinary heritage of Sikka, but also embracing the warmth to togetherness while helping preserve the legacy of our ancestors sotthat it continues to live on and be known by future generations.