Lontong Raya

Ingredients:
5 banana leaves
6 tins (750g) uncooked rice (use empty condensed milk tins as measuring cups)
1 tablespoon salt
2 pandan leaves (hold them together and tie a knot in the middle)
Water
*Lontong moulds (or long, hollow metal cylinders will do)

Method:

1. Clean banana leaves and wipe dry. Scald to soften.
2. Wash the rice and drain the water.
3. Line each mould with a cleaned sheet of banana leaf, overlapping the edges a little.
4. Fill each mould with 1 1/2 tins of washed uncooked rice (the rice should cover exactly half of the length of the mould so adjust the amount when necessary).
5. Secure cover and drop lonton into boiling water in a pot big enough to hold 4 rolls of lontong. Sprinkle salt, and drop pandan leaves into boiling water. Cover.
6. Check water and fire constantly. Boil for 5-6 hours.
7. Remove from pot and leave the rolls of lontong to cool.
8. Peel banana leaves from lontong and cut to desired serving size.



*If you are unable to obtain Lontong moulds, try to get hold of a few hollow metal cylinders, with a length of about 12 inches and a diameter of about 4 inches. Clean and trim the banana leaves and line the inside of the cylinders with the leaves. Try to trim the leaves only a little so that one sheet of leaf can line the entire cylinder with the edges overlapping a little. You'll also need to cover one end of the cylinder while you fill it with rice then you'll have to secure the other end as well.