Indonesia, a Southeast Asian country made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of different ethnic groups, fascinating beaches, Komodo dragons and jungles sheltering elephants, orangutans and tigers.
One of the dearest memories travelers have of this exotic country are the culinary delights customary to Indonesian cuisine. Start discovering their unique world of flavors with these three traditional dishes. Dig in!
Satay
Although many Asian cuisines include some version of satay, nothing compares to real Indonesian satay. The most popular recipe has the meat marinated in sweet kecap manis soy sauce before being skewered and grilled on an extremely hot charcoal fire, making the meat smoky and juicy.
Rawon
If you are a fan of stews, this one is for you. Rawon is a thick beef stew originating from East Java. Its strong, rich flavor derives from black nuts called kluwak, mixed with turmeric and a handful of herbs and spices. Besides the beef, there are baby bean sprouts, lime juice and optional veggies.
Pempek
A fairly popular dish throughout the country, pempek is a savory fishcake delicacy from Palembang, South Sumatra. It’s made from filleted fish and tapioca, combined with a special sweet-salty-sour sauce, noodles and sliced cucumber. Yum!