19Indonesia consists of 38 provinces, stretching from Aceh in the west all the way to Papua in the east. Each region boasts its own savory and delicious specialties that are worth trying—whether at a local specialty restaurant near you or by visiting the city of origin. If you're planning to explore Indonesia soon, here’s a list of traditional delights from 10 Indonesian provinces!
Slow-cooked for hours in aromatic spices and coconut milk, this meaty delight is likely something you already know and love. That’s because you can find rendang in nearly every Padang restaurant across the country. CNN Travel even ranked rendang as the number one dish on its World’s 50 Best Foods list back in 2017. Still, savoring authentic rendang straight from Padang, Bukittinggi, Padang Panjang, Pariaman, Payakumbuh, or other cities in West Sumatra is truly something special!
Pempek, much like rendang, is a traditional dish that’s widely known and often found outside its region of origin. This dish is made from finely ground fish meat mixed with sago flour and seasoned with various spices to enhance its flavor. Pempek comes in various types depending on its fillings—one popular variant is pempek kapal selam, which contains a whole boiled egg inside. Regardless of the variety, every pempek dish is served with a vinegar-based sauce that combines sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.
If you have a sweet tooth, gudeg is a traditional treat you won’t want to miss. Because this dish is made from young jackfruit (or gori) and slowly simmered for hours in a mixture of palm sugar and coconut milk over low heat. In its hometown, gudeg is usually served with a thick sauce, free-range chicken, eggs, tempeh, tofu, and spicy fried krecek.
The next Indonesian specialty you definitely have to try is betutu chicken. It's a Balinese specialty made from a whole chicken cooked with a blend of spices until the flavors deeply soak into the meat. If you want to taste authentic betutu chicken, don't forget to try it fresh during your trip to Bali!
Compared to the dishes mentioned above, juhu singkah might still be a lesser-known traditional dish. Quoting from CNN Indonesia, juhu singkah is a traditional dish of the Dayak people in Central Kalimantan. This dish is made from young rattan shoots cooked with coconut milk and special spices. Feeling curious? Give it a try when you visit Palangkaraya or nearby!
More from Kalimantan, Sambas spicy porridge is a traditional dish from the people of Pontianak and surrounding areas. This dish is made from rice, grated coconut, beef offal, chicken meat, chili, and various vegetables. A bowl of Sambas spicy porridge is usually served with anchovies, fried shallots, and peanuts. Yummy!
Moving a bit eastward in Indonesia, konro is a traditional dish from the Bugis people in Makassar and its surroundings. This beef rib dish comes in two versions: a soup with a rich, dark broth made from keluak nuts and a grilled version served with a spicy peanut sauce. If you're visiting Makassar, don't forget to stop by a local restaurant that serves konro!
The next dish on our list is tinutuan, also known as Manado porridge, from North Sulawesi. This porridge is made with a variety of vegetables, unlike the more common chicken porridge found in many parts of Indonesia. Tinutuan is usually made from rice, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, corn kernels, spinach, water spinach, and basil, then served with fried anchovies or roa fish prepared as a spicy sauce.
If you're a fan of Japanese sashimi, gohu fish might just become your new traditional favorite. Gohu fish is basically similar to sashimi—fresh raw fish marinated in lime juice and salt. Gohu fish is usually made from tuna or skipjack caught fresh from the waters of North Maluku. That's why, this dish is best enjoyed fresh when you visit Sofifi and its surroundings.
If you ever get the chance to set foot in Papua, papeda is one traditional dish you absolutely must try. It’s a signature Papuan delicacy and a true icon of Eastern Indonesian cuisine. Papeda is a sago porridge with a sticky, glue-like texture and a neutral flavor. A plate of papeda is usually served with yellow-spiced tuna or mackerel.
So, that wraps up our tasty tour of traditional dishes from ten provinces across Indonesia. Before planning your vacation to one of the provinces above, make sure to purchase Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia. Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia provides comprehensive protection for you and your family when traveling both domestically and abroad. This coverage includes benefits for accidents, medical expenses, and even travel inconveniences.
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