This is the start of the week 2 post, yay! If last week I posted modern lifestyle now I would go with traditional. Here are 15 authentic Indonesian foods you must try anywhere in the world especially when you are coming to Indonesia. Be blessed with all those foods!
1. Sate Ayam/ Chicken Satay (Java)
Sate ayam is grilled skewered chicken covered by sweet peanut sauce and topped with fried shallots. The char from the traditional coal is the key flavour to this dish. Most of the street foods or restaurants serving satay also give choices such as chicken skin satay, mutton satay or pork satay.
2. Rendang Sapi/ Beef Rendang (Sumatra)
Beef rendang is slow-cooked beef in aromatic spice for a really long time until the coconut milk releases its own natural oil and the beef becomes tender. This can be found on any Padang restaurant in Indonesia or overseas. Beef rendang once been reviewed as the number 1 out of 50 most delicious food in the world by CNN http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/readers-choice-worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-012321. Sadly, this sometimes known as a dish from Malaysia which is quiet ashamed.
3. Soto Ayam (various regions in Indo)
Soto ayam is a spice-infused soup mostly turmeric, served with chicken strips, bee hoon, boiled egg and other condiments. In some regions they infused the soup it coconut milk to give richness and decent taste. This is a type of dish that I eat regularly.
4. Nasi Goreng (Indo takes on Chinese fried rice)
Probably most of you have eaten Chinese fried rice but Indonesian fried use sweet soy sauce as the main sauce. This food already well known by the world and considered as a national dish.
5. Cendol (South East Asia)
Cendol may be found in some places around South East Asia, which is a cold dessert. This is a shaved ice dessert served with coconut milk, green jelly, pandan and topped with gula Jawa (palm sugar). So aromatic and refreshing.
6. Rawon (Java)
If you are quiet adventurous then try this black soup! This one considered as a local delicacies because is taste umami and the blend of spices also served with stewed beef and some bean sprouts makes this dish complete. Don't be scared as this black colour comes naturally from a type plant called 'kluwek', and if you want to find more about kluwek then click the Wikipedia link here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangium_edule.
7. Bakmi ayam (Indo takes on Chinese noodles)
If you like Chinese noodles you will be interested in trying this bakmi ayam. A bowl of umami noodles, topped with chicken, vegetables and other condiments. Each restaurants or street food stalls serves different types of condiments according to their style.
8. Gado Gado (Java)
Gado-gado is a type of Indonesian vegetarian food, essentially a poached vegetable salad bathed in the country’s classic peanut sauce served with crackers, boiled egg, and lontong (rice cakes). Any vegan or non vegan should try this one.
9. Gudeg (Java)
Gudeg is certainly the signature of the royal city of Yogyakarta. The sweet jackfruit stew is boiled for hours in coconut milk and palm sugar, making the fruit so soft and tender it falls apart with little chewing.
10. Bakso/ Indo Meatballs
This savoury meatballs is the size of golf ball big served in clear soup, noodle or bee hoon, topped with various toppings. It is a popular street vendor dish because it's cheap but delicate.
11. Pempek (Sumatra)
Pempek is a popular dish comes from Palembang, South Sumatra and is commonly fried fish and tapioka cakes, various in size, shape and filling, served with sour vinegary sauce.
12. Martabak Manis (Indo)
Credit: la-lights
This is what make Indonesian people craving every single time. This is what we called heaven on earth. Thick buttery pancakes filled with processed cheese, crunchy peanuts, chocolate rice or anything (sometimes they even put Nutella or Ovomaltine spread) and sweetened condensed milk. So highly recommended.
13. Bebek guling Bali/ Balinese suckling pig (Bali)
Credit: adventurefoodie
When you are in Bali, of course people will ask you to try this famous Balinese suckling pig. Served with rice and other delicate condiments. Just by looking at the picture you can judge how good it is.
14. Nasi Padang (Padang)
Nasi Padang may commonly found in Singapore or Malaysia, but this is totally from Padang, Sumatra. It may be different from what you see there because the authentic one is you choose anything you want like rendang, curries, fried foods, vegetables, etc. Then you choose what sauce or condiments like green chilli you want to put on top for free. Most places also do this eating experience by showcasing all the food they have on the table and you choose what you wants. They only charge the food that you eaten.
15. Sop Buntut
Oxtail Soup slow cooked in beef stock and comes complete with steamed rice, pickles, lime and sambal. I'm telling you this dish is not cheap and the most famous one can be found in Hotel Borobudur or Sop Buntut Bogor Caf é.
These are only 15 out of thousands of authentic Indonesian dishes that you may try. Then book your ticket to Indonesia soon! All of the photos are not mine and credit as tagged. Tune in my future post for more 'guilty pleasure' you may find, no just kidding!
Ciao!
