Enjoy the diverse
of Indonesian cuisine

Indonesian cuisine is very diverse. The variation is as many as Indonesian culture.

So the choice, the technique and the ingredients are enormous and have influence of India, Middle East, China and Europe.

Especially China has the biggest influence of Indonesian cuisine today. Chinese dishes such as noodles are everywhere. They are sold by street vendors and restaurants alike.

Indonesian food use many herbs and spices and very healthful. The tropical climate makes it green and lush and ideal for a wide range of vegetable and fruits.

Beautiful paddy field in Bali

Rice is the staple food of many Indonesian. Its shapes the landscape. You can see the rice fields everywhere, and some of the view is superb.

We eat three times warm meal, from early in the morning until late in the evening.

For many Indonesian, if they haven't rice yet, they don't feel like they have eaten.

Our breakfast is usually fried rice (nasi goreng), ketupat (rice steamed in woven packets of coconut fronds) with tahu (tofu) and sauce or yellow rice (nasi kuning) with some of side dishes.

You can buy this food in every corner of the city, at the market, or by street side vendors, very early in the morning. Don't go later than 8 o'clock in the morning, most of them are sold out. Especially if they're good.

Satay often sale on the street
you can taste it if you have strong stomach

If you're interested in these foods, go between 6.30 and 7 o'clock. But be careful. Some of the street vendors are dirty; choose carefully where you buy this food. Local people know exactly where you have to buy this kind of food.

My personal experience is that some of the warung's or markets that sell food have better taste than the expensive restaurants. Why should you spend much money if you can get the better taste and much cheaper.

Ketupat often use as a replacement for rice

Street restaurant in Bali
with a beautiful view over the rice paddy field

Most of lunches are noodles or nasi rames (rice with some side dishes). These foods are common lunch for working people. And the evening meal also rice with main dishes. The choice of food is enormous. From traditional to Western food.

For some special occasion, like birthday party, we make tumpeng with some side dishes to decorate the tumpeng. Tumpeng is yellow rice in the form of tower.

My son Nathan on his first birthday
with nasi tumpeng

Do you want to learn more about Indonesian cooking?

Click here for Indonesian recipe.

But before you practice all of the recipes, you have to know the ingredient first. How to use it and how many. To know more about the spices and herbs of Indonesian cooking, click here.