Located within ten degrees south of the equator and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Bali is a well-known tourist spot in the world. Thousands of tourists spend their vacation in Bali experiencing its exotic culture, natural beauty, and warm weather from all over the world. With its rich natural resources and complex cultural inheritance, Bali has a lot for the world to explore. One thing you don’t want to miss is the food. Often, it’s through doing what the locals do that you can really comprehend their culture. Let’s set off on this exciting trip to Bali Indonesia with Acanela by learning about Indonesian food.
Bebek Betutu
Bebek is duck in Indonesian. Duck is one of Indonesians’ favorite types of meat. They eat duck in various ways. Smoked, steamed, and roasted duck are all common. Sometimes, they steam it first and then roast it. Bebek Betutu is the must-try in Bali. The dish is served as a whole duck filled with stuffing and Indonesian spice. A good chef will take eight to ten hours to cook this dish. The process is complex and full of exquisite spices, but the favor will never fail your expectations. You should definitely start this explosion from tasting a local Bebek.
Mie Goreng
Rice is the most common staple food in Indonesia. However, you should not miss out on this Indonesians’ citizen food, Mie Goreng. Mie Goreng means fried noodle. Those who are somehow familiar with Asian food might have seen Mie Goreng while shopping in an Asian Market. It often comes as an instant noodle in stores, but the real Mie Goreng in Indonesia is ten times better than the ones you can find in an Asian Market. Its texture is smooth and a little crunchy, and it helps you catch all the flavors of the juice, meat, and vegetable served with.
Nasi Goreng
Instead of noodles, Nasi Goreng is fried rice. It’s literally the most common staple food in Indonesia. Indonesians can eat fried rice for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and as a night meal. Fried rice may not seem exotic to you, but the fried rice in Indonesia is not the fried rice you can make in your kitchen. First, the rice of a tropical area is different from rice of other climates. Second, Indonesia has been influenced by people from different countries, such as China, India, and some other Asian countries. Considering these factors, you should really give Nasi Goreng a try.
Pisang Goreng
Another fried food? Yes, you are right. However, this one is not a staple food but a dessert. Pisang Goreng, fried banana, is every tourists’ and locals’ favorite dessert. Banana in Bali comes with all kinds of sizes and degrees of sweetness. You can Pisang Goreng with vanilla ice cream or palm sugar syrup at fancy restaurants, or simply bought it from roadside stalls. Pisang Goreng does not only have the tropical sweetness from the banana itself, but it also has fragrant aroma resulted from the coating batter made of coconut milk and rice flour. To claim you have been to Bali, you have to try Pisang Goreng.
Babi Guling
Babi Guling, or Balinese roasted pig, is the most famous festival food in Bali. However, you can have it in the restaurant every day of the year now. The whole pig is rolled over a fire and then served with various types of local spices. Both the fresh pig and the exotic spice contribute to its fame and level of enjoyment. The Crispy and slightly tender pork skin is my favorite part of the dish. Indulge yourself in this rice Balinese flavor.
Gado-Gado
After trying the most famous Indonesian main dish, you should try the most famous Indonesian salad. If you are a vegetarian, this will be the top choice for you, but it’s also good for everyone. The base of Gado Gado is peanut sauce, and it’s also the essence. People eat it with all kinds of vegetables, but it’s commonly made of fried tofu, fried tempe, sliced cucumbers, bean sprouts, kidney beans, and sometimes boiled eggs. You can eat it as an appetizer or ease greasy feelings your mouth after big meals.
Sate
Sate, or satay in Malaysian, is a common street food you can find virtually everywhere in Indonesia. It’s a kind of grilled skewered meat. The meat can be chicken, pork, beef, goat, and even rabbit. Although there are numerous types of sates, It’s usually marinated with coconut and has a blend of sweet, savory, and spicy taste. Sate is generally cheap, so you may try a different kind of sate each day.
Nasi Campur
Nasi Campur is a sum of Indonesian food. If your friends ask you what Indonesian food is like, you can perfectly explain to them after having Nasi Campur. It means mixed rice and usually comes as a mound of rice with choices of Balinese vegetables and side dishes. There is no single correct combination. You should just give it a try and be amazed at how mixed food can be so delicious.
Laklak
You probably want some simple and normal food after trying so many types of exciting Indonesian food. Laklak is a traditional Indonesian cake. It’s made of rice flour, coconut milk, and suji leaf. It’s the best snack for your relaxing afternoon or soothing morning. Unlike most Indonesian food, it does not have mixed flavors, but It’s simple and elegant.
With all these, you are probably ready to pack your bag and empty your stomach for this amazing tourist resort. Besides these nine must-try Indonesian food, you should also wander around Bali streets and explore Indonesian culture with your taste buds. Plan with Acanela and get the most rewarding trip experience for yourself.
Post written by Jack Chiu