Bubur Manado (Manadonese Porridge)

This delightful dish, the regional specialty of the city of Manado, is also called Tinutuan. All Manadonese claim that the dish improves health and vitality.  It is one of the three things Manado is famous for... The Three B's:  Bubur, Bibir, Bunaken!  (Their porridge, the lips (of their women, thought to be some of the most beautiful in Indonesia), and the island paradise of Bunaken).

This is definitely NOT your typical porridge... Tinutuan is more like a hearty vegetable stew than porridge. It is made with rice, pumpkin or squash, sweet potatoes, corn, greens (like cassava leaves, spinach & kale), lemongrass, tumeric, scallions, and of course, chilies!  And, true to the coast, it is usually served with fried salted fish.

As it was described to me, the word 'tinutuan' really means 'mish-mash'... a bunch of random things all thrown together into the same pot, boiled down and mixed around, the result being a wondrous new entity that come out delicious, and HEALTHY!  The Manadonese feel the same way about their city, which is why their slogan is "Manado, kota TINUTUAN" (Manado, the Tinutuan City).

I really miss this treat - it was one of the staples of my diet in Manado.