1 Sate Varieties
Sate (or ‚satay‚) are marinated, skewered and grilled meats, served with spicy sauce, and may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, fish, tofu, eggs or minced blends. Bali‚s own variant is sate lilit, made from minced beef, chicken, fish, pork, or even turtle meat, which is then mixed with coconut, coconut milk, and a rich blend of vegetables and spices.
2 Nasi Ayam and Nasi Campur
Bali‚s own take on ‚chicken rice‚, nasi ayam and nasi campur can be found served at many warungs (small eateries) and restaurants throughout the island. The dish is mainly white rice served with many different elements of Balinese delights, from a bit of babi buling or betutu as the main meats, together with mixed vegetables and a dab of the iconic spicy hot .
3 Bebek and Ayam Betutu
Betutu is an iconic Balinese favourite, consisting of a whole chicken or duck stuffed with traditional spices, wrapped in banana leaves, then enveloped tight in banana trunk bark before it‚s baked or buried in a coal fire for 6 to 7 hours. The result is a rich and juicy, succulent feast with all meat easily separated from bones.
4 Babi Guling
Babi guling is an all-time favourite, consisting of spit-roast pig stuffed with rich traditional spices and vegetable mixes such as cassava leaves, slowly ‚rolled‚ over (hence its name, guling means ‚to roll‚) a coal fire. The crisp brown skins are prized, while the meat is a tender and juicy treat.
5 Tahu and Tempe
Among the most versatile of food items, tahu (tofu) and tempe come in various preparations, some as savory snacks, and some as accompaniments and even main course dishes. These soy bean curds may be fried, stuffed and battered.Many Indonesian dishes, especially those that have the main portions of rice, include tempe crackers, while the most favourite tahu snack are the stuffed and fried versions which usually include a mixture similar to spring rolls.
6 Jimbaran Seafood
The line-up of beachside cafs on Muaya beach in Jimbaran Bay typically serves grilled fresh caught seafood, ranging from shrimp, clams, crabs, calamari, lobsters and a wide assortment of fish.‚ But in terms of taste, the secret lies in each of the caf owner‚s recipes of barbecue sauce and condiments ‚ usually in the form of homemade sambal, which has collectively become known as ‚sambal seafood ‚ Jimbaran style‚.
7 Pepes and Tum
Pepes is an Indonesian Sundanese cooking method using banana-leaf as food wrappings. The small package is sewed with thin bamboo sticks at both ends, and either steam-cooked, boiled or grilled. It is most commonly used to prepare fish as ‚pepes ikan‚ or meat, chicken, tofu or vegetables.
8 Lawar
Lawar is a traditional mix containing fine chopped meat, vegetables, grated coconut and spices. Sometimes, and in some areas, lawar is prepared using fresh blood mixed with the meat and spices to strengthen the flavour.Lawar are usually served immediately after preparation as it cannot be kept long. There are two main types of lawar, white and red. The white version usually does not contain any meats or blood.
9 Traditional Cakes and Desserts
Traditional cakes are collectively referred to as jajanan pasar (traditional market cakes), originally used to accompany ceremonial offerings, but now have found their way to the markets as daily coffee time favourites. The varieties abound, but the ingredients usually include rice flour, glutinous rice, sugar, coconut and tropical fruits.
10 Nasi Goreng
Nasi Goreng is Indonesia’s fried rice, one of the nation’s most notable dishes. Nasi Goreng is pre-steamed rice stir-fried with a combination of meats and vegetables, ranging from scrambled eggs, diced beef, strips of chicken, shrimp, anchovies, lamb, crab, green peas, onions, shallots and a blend of‚ sweet soy sauce or‚ kecap manis‚ and hot chili sauce.