Culinary delights in Indonesia: my 20 favorites!
Indonesian cuisine is known for its rich and varied flavors, stemming from the various influences of the indigenous people and the many traders, immigrants and settlers who have come to the country over the centuries. The cuisine is heavily influenced by Chinese, Indian, Arab and European cuisines, yet has developed its own character and unique flavor.
A feature of Indonesian cuisine is the use of herbs and spices, such as ginger, garlic, lemongrass, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, cloves and turmeric, among others. These give dishes their typical flavor and aroma. In addition, Indonesians also like sweet, as almost all of their dishes contain some sugar!
The starting point
Rice is the main ingredient in many of the dishes of Indonesian cuisine. There are also many different types of meat (depending on the religion of the island you are visiting), fish and vegetables that are used in the dishes. Coconut milk, tamarind and peanuts are also widely used in the dishes.
Another characteristic of Indonesian cuisine is the use of herbs and spices, such as ginger, garlic, lemongrass, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, cloves and turmeric, among others.
These give dishes their typical flavor and aroma. In addition, Indonesians also like sweet, as almost all of their dishes contain some sugar!
Sambal
Besides rice, Sambal is another essential part of Indonesian cuisine. This spicy sauce is served with almost every meal. It gives dishes such as for example a spicy kick and a deeper flavor dimension. In Indonesia, sambal oelek is a classic, often used as a dip for satay, for example. Another variant is sambal matah, a sambal made from finely chopped chili peppers, onion and lime (often served with fish dishes).
Just be careful with the amount of sambal! From experience, I have learned that Indonesians love spicy food. A shame when too much sambal makes you lose the flavor of the food.
Balinese rice fields are a work of art in themselves. Before a bowl of rice is served, quite a bit of work goes into it.
My 20 favorites from Indonesian cuisine!
From the savory spices of Nasi Goreng to the sweet and sticky texture of Gudeg, Indonesian food is an adventure that will tantalize your taste buds. Lose yourself in the flavors of otak otak, for example, a grilled fish in banana leaf, and finish with the irresistible sweetness of martabak manis. The diversity of Indonesian cuisine will surprise and fascinate you again and again.
1. Nasi Goreng (Java & Bali)
The classic among Indonesian classics: Nasi Goreng. This well-known rice dish can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is popular among locals. Fried rice with vegetables, egg and often shrimp or meat (due to Hinduism, you will hardly find any beef on Bali and due to Islam you will not find Nasi with pork on Java). A classic Indonesian dish you can find in almost any Warung.
As a vegetable lover, I find it no punishment to eat an extra portion of vegetables for the daily dose of vitamins. With Nasi Goreng for dinner, I often ordered another plate of grilled vegetables.
Did you know that a "good" Nasi contains about 30 different herbs and spices?
2. Cap Cay (Java & Bali)
I ate Cap Cay (grilled vegetables) regularly since I usually ordered a plate of vegetables with my food. The vegetables include carrots, cabbage, bell bell pepper, mushrooms and bean sprouts.
Often seasoned with spices and sauces such as fish or soy sauce, garlic and pepper (and if that's not spicy enough sambal). You can also have it with meat or fish (and rice) for a complete meal!
3. Lumpia (Java & Bali)
The spring roll (Indonesian 'Lumpia') comes in countless variations, where you can find a stall selling this deep-fried delicacy in almost every street food market.My favorite address is in Yogyakarta!
Located on the famous Malioboro shopping street is the Lumpia Samijaya stall. Stuffed with chicken, vegetables and quail eggs. Tasty garlic and a little green pepper on the side, delicious!
4. Nasi Campur (Bali)
A traditional Indonesian dish that literally means "mixed rice." It consists of a bowl of steamed white rice with various side dishes and toppings, which often vary by region. In Bali, however, Nasi Campur has a special place in culinary culture and is often referred to as "Nasi Campur Bali."
A plate of Nasi Campur consists of a bowl of warm white rice with various side dishes and toppings, which usually include fried chicken, pork or beef, satay, vegetables, egg, sambal, and fried tempeh or tofu. Exactly what I love: a little bit of everything, so you have different flavors in a dish. Often different kinds of sambal and spices are also used to add extra flavor to the dish.
Tip: Ubud Shanti Warung (between the rice fields)
I wasn't the only one who thought the plate of food looked good!
5. Gudeg (Yogyakarta, Java)
Gudeg is a popular dish among locals and is considered one of Yogyakarta's iconic dishes. It is stewed jackfruit served with rice, egg and chicken (ayam) or beef (krecek), among other things. I liked it so much that I ate it 3 times during my stay in Yogyakarta.
Tip: In Yogyakarta, there is a street with almost only gudeg restaurants. For this, go to Wijilan street, where I recommend you stop at Gudeg Yu Djum Wijilan 167.
6. Bakso (Java & Bali)
Bakso is a popular Indonesian meatball soup made from beef meatballs. These meatballs are cooked in a chicken or beef broth and served with noodles, vegetables and fried onions. Bakso is often served as a quick and nutritious meal at street stalls and is a favorite among locals.
The dish originated in Java (Malang), but is now also served in Bali at various street food markets.
Tip: Bakso Tutus Sukun (Malang)
7. Nasi Rendang (Java & Bali)
My personal favorite: nasi rendang! A slow-cooked meat dish in a rich, spicy sauce of spices and coconut milk. Available at a padang warung, where from outside in the display case you see countless aluminum trays with curries, vegetables and meat/fish dishes. It doesn't always look inviting, by the way, but I haven't gone out disappointed once.
Very easy to order and served with a portion of rice in no time. Also very popular among locals to score a quick meal or to pick it up and eat it at home.
8. Sate (Java & Bali)
The classic sate variety from Indonesian cuisine is a peanut sauce with grilled pieces of chicken on a stick; served with a portion of white rice or as a street food snack. A Balinese variant is the sate liwet, a sate made from ground fish, chicken or pork mixed with spices, lemongrass and coconut.
Tip: ‘D Padi Restaurant (among the rice fields in Sidemen)
9. Dragon fruit (Java & Bali)
Indonesia is also known for its exotic and delicious fruits. One of the best known is the Dragon fruit.The fruit is bright pink outside with green scales and white or pink inside with black seeds. It has a mildly sweet taste and is often eaten alone or in fruit salads. Personally my favorite fruit and I already miss it because we don't have it here in the Netherlands.
Especially at the more modern breakfast restaurants you will surely find a Dragon fruit smoothie, absolutely recommended for breakfast! Also at markets you will find plenty of Dragon fruit, ask them to cut it open for you and you can immediately enjoy this delicious piece of fruit.
10. Martabak Manis (Bandung & Jakarta, Java)
Indonesians love sweet (Manis). Perhaps it is partly because the Dutch introduced them to sprinkles? Martabak Manis is a traditional (sweet) dessert popular under various names in Indonesia, as well as in other Asian countries such as Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. The folded pancake is baked on a cast iron pan and is traditionally filled with peanuts, cheese (even more Dutch influence) and sprinkles.
Tip: Martabak San Francisco. Order a medium portion (€3.50 - IDR 52,000) if you want to enjoy this sweet treat again the following day, as they are hearty portions.
11. Serabi (Java & Bali)
We will stay in the sweet treat category for now. Serabi is a type of coconut pancake(s) that originated in Java, and is cooked in a cast iron pan.
Serabi is traditionally eaten for breakfast, but is now also a popular snack at street food markets, for example. The toppings range from chocolate to banana.
12. Nasi Liwet (Java & Bali)
Rice cooked in coconut milk, chicken broth and spices: Nasi Liwet. The toppings with this fragrant rice vary by restaurant, but often include chicken, tofu and/or tempeh. I did order an extra serving of vegetables, since I can't make ends meet with vitamins from 2 pieces of cucumber!
13. Es Buah (Yogyakarta, Java)
This shaved ice is served with pineapple, jackfruit, sawo (sapodilla), grass jelly and a sweet syrup. A sweet, above all refreshing combo for a hot day!
Tip: At Es Buah PK you can also go for a tasty bowl of Bakso, after which you can order a bowl of Es Buah for dessert. For IDR 25,000 (€1.60) a more than complete meal, what more could you want?
14. Otak Otak (Jakarta, Java)
Directly translated as "Brain Brain. Don't worry, it's not the brain of an animal you're about to eat. Otak Otak is a spiced fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over charcoal.
The fish meat is mixed with coconut milk and spices, and the banana leaf gives it a fresh taste. In Jakarta, this dish is served with a spicy peanut sauce and a glass of coconut drink is not to be missed. Locals like to add some extra sugar, but that's a little too much for me.
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Tip: Otak Otak Binatu An (near the National Museum)
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Cost: IDR 155,000, including 1 glass of coconut drink and 1 serving of white rice
15. Gado Gado (Java & Bali)
A classic of Indonesian cuisine! The ingredients of Gado Gado can vary depending on the region, but the dish usually includes vegetables such as lettuce, green beans, bean sprouts and carrots, as well as boiled potatoes and tofu.
The egg is usually hard-boiled, but can also be fried as an omelet and then sliced into strips. The peanut sauce is prepared with peanut butter, palm sugar and tamarind, among other ingredients. The dish is topped off with crackers for extra crunch.
16. Mie Goreng (Java & Bali)
Another Indonesian classic! Basically exactly the same as Nasi Goreng, only the main ingredient is rice noodles instead of white rice. The popular noodle dish is often served as lunch or dinner, but can also be eaten for breakfast.
The noodles are stir-fried with vegetables, egg, chicken, shrimp or meat and spices such as garlic, and chili peppers. Often the dish is flavored with ketjap manis (sweet soy sauce) and sambal (spicy sauce).
17. Kopi Joss (Yogyakarta, Java)
What starts out as an ordinary cup of Javanese ground coffee ends up with a burning red charcoal cube in it. The bubbling and crackling of the charcoal while serving is very soothing! The charcoal neutralizes the strong coffee flavor, and also has a healthy effect on stomach acid. Win-win!
Tip: On Jalan Malioboro in Yogyakarta, you will find several Lesehans after sunset where you can enjoy a cup of Kopi Joss.
18. Tahu Campur (Malang, Java)
Tahu Campur is a popular street food dish in Malang. It is a noodle soup consisting of tofu, vegetables and noodles in a broth. It is often served with a spicy sauce and crackers. Delicious for breakfast or lunch!
Tip: Near the Pasar Besar Malang, there was a delicious street food stall. I don't know if it always stays at this regular spot, but here I had a delicious bowl of Tahu Campur for €1.00.
19. Es Cin Cau (Malang, Java)
While eating the Tahu Campur, I got talking to locals. They recommended to me as "dessert" a glass of Es Cin Cau, made by the neighbor's stall. It is made from green grass jelly, milk and sugar. The local rule of thumb is: if it's not sweet, it's not a good Es Cin Cau either. It has a really refreshing taste and is ideal to have after finishing a meal.
I paid only €0.25 for a glass!
20. Lupis (Yogyakarta, Java)
In Netflix's Streetfood episode, Ms. Mbah Satinem's Lupis came up. This episode is highly recommended, as it shows the passion with which she works daily to make the best Lupis. Getting up in the middle of the night is a habit, which makes you appreciate the food if only more.
Lupis is a traditional Indonesian dessert made from sticky rice that is steamed and then served with coconut and brown sugar. It has a unique texture and a subtle flavor of pandan leaves, which are often used to flavor the dish and give it a green color.
Mbah Satinem's stall is open from 05:30 to 09:00, so due to its popularity, you will have to get there early. You can also ask in your ho(s)tel if they know another good address, I was lucky that at my hostel the employee lived next door to a store. She was kind enough to bring me a bowl, for only €0.65!
Bonus: Family dinner during a unique Homestay!
One of my highlights during my trip through Indonesia was a 2-day Homestay with a local family in Gadungan, Bali. Both culturally and culinarily. The host has been a chef in a hotel for many years and teaches college cooking classes one day a week. Together with his wife, they make the most delicious dishes of Balinese cuisine, such as Mie Goreng, Gado Gado, Yellow Curry and sweet breakfast pancakes with a nice cup of Balinese coffee.
You'll even learn how to eat the rice by hand like many locals!
Homestay in Bali: a truly authentic experience!
