in

Indonesian Cuisine – These Are The Most Popular Dishes

What characterizes the Indonesian cuisine

Indonesian cuisine is characterized by intense spices such as coconut milk, but above all by rice.

  • Although Indonesian cuisine differs greatly from region to region, rice is the basic diet in all areas.
  • Fish, seafood, and vegetables are part of most dishes. Since Indonesia is Muslim, except for the small Hindu island of Bali, pork is not eaten. But a lot of chicken. For example in the national dish Ayam Goreng or in the form of state skewers.
  • Coconut milk is a common ingredient in many Indonesian dishes as a spice. Other spices are the terasi paste, which consists of fermented shrimp, or sambals, a very hot condiment. The sweet soy sauce kecap manis is also a popular ingredient in Indonesian dishes.

The most popular dishes in Indonesian cuisine

Nasi Goreng is now internationally known. But in addition to this classic, there are also other exciting dishes from Indonesian cuisine.

  • Nasi Goreng is probably the most famous dish in Indonesia. The national dish consists of fried rice with vegetables. Either chicken (nasi goreng ayam), lamb (nasi goreng kambing) or shrimp (nasi goreng udang) is mixed with it. A fried egg or some crab chips are often served with it.
  • Mie Goreng or Bami Goreng is a noodle dish. The fried noodles are served with vegetables, meat, or seafood.
  • Nasi Campur, on the other hand, is a rice dish. Here, rice and side dishes are served separately. Side dishes include tofu, chicken, vegetables, egg, chicken, shrimp, and more. The side dishes are often prepared in a spicy sauce.
  • Bakso is a popular soup in Indonesia. It consists of noodles, meatballs, and vegetables. There is also a sweet soy and sambal sauce. This dish is often offered as particularly cheap street food.
  • Sate are small grilled chicken skewers. The special thing about this preparation is the peanut sauce with which the meat is marinated. In addition, there is often a spicy side dish sauce in which the skewers can be dipped. On the island of Lombok, there are satay skewers with fish and beef.
  • As the name suggests, the Rijstafel is a legacy of the Dutch colonial era. Rice is also served at this feast. There are also various types of fish and meat, vegetable side dishes, and salads. All this is served with a kind of curry sauce.
Avatar photo

Written by John Myers

Professional Chef with 25 years of industry experience at the highest levels. Restaurant owner. Beverage Director with experience creating world-class nationally recognized cocktail programs. Food writer with a distinctive Chef-driven voice and point of view.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Make Your Own Cake Glaze: 3 Ingredients and Instructions

Low Acid Apples: 16 Really Mild Apple Varieties