Comprising of more than 16,000 islands,
Indonesia could not but also have
thousands of delicious dishes to try, hence Indonesian cuisine is one of the top reason you should plan to travel in this tropical archipelago.
Indonesian Food CultureThe friendly people of Indonesia belong to multicultural, multilingual and multi-ethnic groups, as thus creating a
diverse and colourful food culture. Indonesian cuisine is influenced mainly by the food cultures of
Chinese,
European,
Middle Eastern, and
Indian, while the indigenous culture also plays an important role to the local food tradition of every island and city.
Nowadays, Indonesia has one of the world’s greatest cuisines and is especially characterized by its intense flavour and its great variety of dishes. The country’s equatorial climate provides the perfect weather conditions for cultivating
rice, soybeans and spices, which are also the main staple food ingredients that you will find almost in every dish.
Coconut milk and
chicken are also basic food components, while the clear waters that surround the Indonesian islands could not but also offer an abundance of excellent
fish and
seafood.
Where and What to eat in IndonesiaWith so many thousands of islands to visit, keep in mind that only 8000 of those are inhabited. On the populated areas, you will find restaurants which in Indonesia are known as “
rumah makan” while less formal places to eat are the so-called “
warung”, small family-owned eateries very commonly found.
The local eateries
warung are the best places to look for especially if you are craving to taste the regional specialities, like the roasted pig babi guling in
Ubud,
Bali. Moreover, having a lunch or dinner in a Warung is much affordable since tourist restaurants tend to charge at least three times as much for the same meal.
After all, wherever you choose to travel, when dining in Indonesia, you are typically going to have a separate plate first filled with steamed rice, following a mix of vegetables, meat or seafood with other contrasting flavours on the side. The base of Indonesian dishes is rice (“nasi”) while local spices and chilli peppers give special and unique flavour to food. However, despite the use of spices and peppers, Indonesian food is not very hot or spicy.
Some of the most popular dishes to try in Indonesia are Nasi Goreng, fried rice with spices, and Gado-Gado, stir-fried vegetables topped with peanut sauce. While the official national dish of Indonesia is Tumpeng, a cone-shaped rice dish with several types of side dishes around it.
Smart tip:
The island of
Bali is the most popular tourist destination of Indonesia attracting many travellers looking to immerse in its beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, and delicious food. Bali is a Hindu Island as thus it is also the best place to taste pork dishes since Indonesia is a Muslim country making it really difficult such dishes outside Bali. Apart from tasty regional dishes, Bali has a plethora of restaurants serving western and international flavours as well as world-known fast food chains.
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