Palauan Bat Stew

Ingredients

• 2 lbs (900g) bat meat, cut into pieces 2 lbs (900g) bat meat, cut into pieces
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated 1 thumb-sized ginger, grated
• 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised 2 lemongrass stalks, bruised
• 2 cups (470ml) coconut milk 2 cups (470ml) coconut milk
• 2 cups (470ml) chicken or vegetable broth 2 cups (470ml) chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 taro roots, peeled and cubed 2 taro roots, peeled and cubed
• 1 cup (240ml) banana blossoms, sliced 1 cup (240ml) banana blossoms, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, diced 2 tomatoes, diced
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 350 kcal / 1465 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 20g, 15g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 15g, 5g
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   In a large pot, heat some oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Sauté until fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the bat meat to the pot and cook until browned on all sides.
3. 3.
   Pour in the coconut milk and chicken or vegetable broth. Stir in the lemongrass stalks.
4. 4.
   Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 1 hour, or until the bat meat is tender.
5. 5.
   Add the taro roots, banana blossoms, and diced tomatoes to the pot. Stir in the fish sauce, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. 6.
   Continue simmering for another 30 minutes, or until the taro roots are cooked through and the flavors have melded together.
7. 7.
   Remove the lemongrass stalks before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Bat meat — Ensure that the bat meat is fresh and properly cleaned before using it in the recipe. If bat meat is not available, you can substitute it with chicken or pork.
• Taro root — When peeling and cutting the taro root, make sure to wear gloves as it can cause skin irritation for some individuals.
• Banana blossoms — To prevent discoloration, soak the sliced banana blossoms in water with a squeeze of lemon juice before adding them to the stew.

Tips & Tricks

• If you prefer a spicier stew, add some chopped chili peppers or a dash of hot sauce.
• Serve the Palauan Bat Stew with steamed rice or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.
• For a thicker stew, you can mash some of the cooked taro roots and stir them back into the pot.

Serving advice

Serve the Palauan Bat Stew hot in individual bowls. Garnish with fresh cilantro for added freshness and aroma. Accompany the stew with steamed rice or crusty bread.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, place a lemongrass stalk on top of each bowl of stew as a decorative element. Serve the stew in colorful ceramic bowls to showcase the vibrant colors of the ingredients.