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Owing to its strong flavours, vibrant and colourful dishes, the Indonesian cuisine has gained a worldwide recognition over a period of time. The country’s geographical diversity is well reflected in its cuisine which is believed to be armoured with over 5000 traditional recipes passed over generations, and preserved with love. With some of the most celebrated Indonesian dishes making an appearance in top food magazines, Michelin star restaurants as well as people’s choice awards in the recent years, Indonesian cuisine has gained the long overdue validation and attention that it has always been the most worthy of.Owing to its strong flavours, vibrant and colourful dishes, the Indonesian cuisine has gained a worldwide recognition over a period of time. The country’s geographical diversity is well reflected in its cuisine which is believed to be armoured with over 5000 traditional recipes passed over generations, and preserved with love. With some of the most celebrated Indonesian dishes making an appearance in top food magazines, Michelin star restaurants as well as people’s choice awards in the recent years, Indonesian cuisine has gained the long overdue validation and attention that it has always been the most worthy of.
So, if you are travelling to Indonesia anytime soon, it will be a shame to not take a dip in the ocean of flavourful, fragrant and appetizing world of Indonesian cuisine. Here are our top picks for the dishes that you must try in Indonesia:
Satay
Nobody who has ever dug into Indonesia’s culinary expertise is unacquainted with the humble Satay. The dish originated in the Java region but is ruling restaurants across Indonesia. In fact, some of the best versions of the dish can be found in the hawker centres, street stalls and local markets. Satay consists of skewered grilled meat cooked over coals and marinated in turmeric. The dish is served with rice cakes called ‘Ketupat’ and a mount-watering peanut sauce.
Beef Rendang
The rich and spicy Beef Rendang adds another feather to Indonesia’s culinary cap. Originating among the Minangkabau ethnic group of Indonesia in Padang and Sumatra, the dish is a denser version of the beef curry. It takes a long time to cook Beef Rendang but the result is a tender, moist and flavourful dish that is bound to leave your taste buds satiated.
Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng is warm and unassuming fried rice dish that is commonly eaten in Indonesia. The dish heroes rice and compliment them with a sweet soy sauce, shallots, garlic, tamarind and chilli. In some versions of the dish eggs, chicken or prawns are also added for rendering the dish more nutritious. Readily available in local markets as well as restaurants, the dish is all the rage in Indonesia and regions of Malaysia.
Martabak
Indonesia’s take on pancakes, Martabak dominates the street food scene in the country. Made with fried pancake flour, Martabak can be found in both sweet as well as savoury flavours. The savoury varieties come with the filling choices such as eggs, mutton, chicken and beef whereas the sweet versions of the dish are often accompanied by peanuts, chocolate, cheese and vanilla.
Nasi Uduk
Steamed rice cooked in coconut milk, clove, lemongrass, cinnamon, and pandan leaf; Nasi Uduk is an aromatic dish originating in the Jakarta region of Indonesia. The dish is served with the side of a fried chicken, tempe (soybean cake), shredded omelette, fried onion, anchovies and topped with sambal and emping, and remains a largely popular choice for lunch and dinner time meal.
Gudeg
Believed to have originated in Yogyakarta, Gudeg is a dish made from a combination of unripe jackfruit, palm sugar and coconut milk. The dish is given more depth of flavour with the addition of garlic, shallot, candlenut, coriander seed, galangal, bay leaves, and teak leaves. Found commonly across restaurants in Jakarta, Gudeg is also available in neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia.