Flavours of Indonesia

Mumbai: When the aroma of broth-soaked noodles opens your hunger pangs, the creaminess of banana wrapped fish makes you love fish like never before, the combination of fiery curries and rice takes a permanent position in your weekly food menu than for sure you are a lover of Indonesian cuisine. 

Full of intense flavours and taste, Indonesian cuisine is one of the most vibrant and colourful cuisines in the world. 

The food in Indonesia varies from region to region and has been influenced by many cultures of various countries. 

Lavar Katchang/ Mixed Vegetarian Salad (Photo: Hotel Sofitel, Mumbai BKC)

The food in Sumatra Island has Indian and Middle Eastern influence while the Javanese cuisine has some hint of Chinese taste. Not many of us are aware, but many dishes in Indonesia and China are quite similar like Lumpia (spring rolls), Bakmi (noodles) and Bakso (meat/fish balls). 

The geographic and cultural diversity of the country is one of the main reasons that Indonesian cuisine has many similarities with food of another country yet is unique in its own way. 

The meal of Indonesia is very simple, the localities make use various roots, spices, grasses and vegetable that adds zest and piquancy to the dishes. 

“Everything that is used while making Indonesian cuisine is fresh, the taste is relishing, we don’t believe in using preserved food items because it doesn’t give you that natural taste,” says Chef Isepis Hidayatulloh from Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. 

Indonesian cuisine is not the spiciest food like what we Indians often like, but it’s the perfect balance between flavour and spice. The food is prepared with contrasting flavors, such as a spicy sweet or hot sauce served over a bed of plain white rice, a popular meal throughout the country.

Here’s the list of dishes that you can definitely try and we guarantee you that you will enjoy every bit of it. 

•    Ayam Betutu

Photo: Screen grab

For all the chicken lovers, this is a must try. Roasted chicken with lots of ground spices is a perfect main course meal. 

Fresh spices like lemon grass, galangal, lime leaves, chillies, ginger, onion shallots, garlic and lime are mixed all together using traditional technique and a paste is formed which is used for marinating the meat. The chicken is wrapped in banana leaves and then cooked in oven for 2 hours. The use of banana leaves gives it a unique flavour. 

Photo: Screen grab

“Though we use 6 spice mix in the making process of the chicken, but the spices are very mild and yet you can taste that aroma and flavour of it in every bit you take,” said Chef Isepis, who was invited at Sofitel Mumbai BKC for the ten-day Indonesian food festival. 

•    Soto Ayam

How about giving a kick start to your meal with bowl of soup filled with crunchy raw vegetables? Soto Ayam aka Turmeric chicken broth with vegetables is to die for.

Crunchy cabbage in chicken stock, pieces of boiled egg, fresh ginger flakes, red chilli paste and few droplets of lime juice topped with brunt garlic is what makes Soto Ayam an ultimate soup. 

•    Satay

Photo: Hotel Sofitel, Mumbai BKC

These tasty juicy meat skewers are cooked on thick metal plate over coal. No matter which meat the Satay is made up of, it is marinated in barbecued sauce, turmeric and then coated with peanut sauce. 

Wondering why it’s made over coal? Making anything on the coal, gives it a smoky taste and meats are best cooked over the coal, in fact many people around the globe use traditional methods to make meat to bring out the best taste of the meat.  

•    Balinese spice chicken

Popularly known as chicken curry, “Balinese spice chicken” is normally accompanied with plain rice. Usually the dish is served over bed of buttery rice. 

Looking at the texture and colour of the curry you might think it’s just like the Indian chicken curry, but let me tell you, you are mistaken. Balinese spice chicken is really light and healthy. 

The gravy is made up of fresh vegetables and you can taste more vegetable puree than the spices.  

•    Nasi Goreng

This Asian fried rice is often considered as the national dish of Indonesia.

The Jasmine rice in the dish is given sticky texture using thick soya sauce. The rice gets a hint of sweetness because of fish sauce.  

Nasi Goreng is topped with omelet slices and red chillies. 

•    Dadar Gulung

Satisfy your sweet tooth without any guilt with Dadar Gulung.

In literal meaning “Dadar” means omelet or pancake and “Gulung” means to roll. In simple terms, it’s a crepe filled with fresh grated coconut.

The filling is made up of grated coconut, plam sugar, cinnamon powder and a pinch of salt.

This sweet dish isn’t very sweet but is a healthy one. The amount of sugar used is less and you get a different sweet and salty taste which you might find odd when you take the first bite but will like it when you take another bite of it.