A journey through spicy flavours: my view to the delicious food of Indonesia

5/9/2023

FOODIE

Have you ever tried Indonesian food? Let me tell you, Indonesia is a food lover's paradise. I know that no country in the world can compare to the variety of food that Indonesia has to offer.

BY HANAN, 5 minutes read

Masakan Padang.

Did you know that Indonesia is made up of 17,000 islands? And across those islands, there are more as 700 languages, each with their own unique culture and cuisine. That means there are countless dishes waiting to be discovered and tasted.

One of the most amazing things about Indonesian cuisine is the use of spices. There are more than 30,000 kinds of spices in Indonesia, which is just mind-blowing. From sweet to savoury, each dish has a unique blend of spices that will blow your taste buds.

I can tell you that Indonesian food is bursting with flavour and worth exploring

People living in Indonesia have the chance to experience a lifetime of culinary delights, but I'm sure many foreigners who have been there for years have never tasted the local food, dismissing it as "too spicy". As someone who travelled already a lot to Indonesia and has tried many dishes, I can tell you that Indonesian food is bursting with flavour and worth exploring. Locals are always curious about what foreigners think of their food. Telling them that you love it can bring a lot of smiles and warm welcomes. So why not step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in the local culture? You might just discover your new favourite dish.

Ayam geprek with sambal.

As a lover of Indonesian food, I want to share this amazing culinary culture with others. It takes a bit of courage and patience to try new things, but it's worth it. Remember the first time you tried beer or wine? It probably wasn't the best experience, but you persevered and now you enjoy it. That's how you should approach Indonesian food - take your time, try small portions and build on what you like. With so much variety, you're sure to find dishes you'll love. So don't be afraid to be adventurous and discover the deliciousness of Indonesian cuisine.

Many Indonesians prefer it extra hot and I have to admit that I do too

If you've ever tried Indonesian food, you've probably come across sambal. It's a spicy condiment that comes in two types – "sedang" for normal and "pedas" for hot. Many Indonesians prefer it extra hot and I have to admit that I do too. Over time, I've learned to admire and appreciate sambal's complex and deep flavour. It's made with a lot of ingredients, the most important being chili peppers. Other ingredients include crushed garlic, shallots, lemongrass, limes, coconut oil, tamarind paste, salt, pepper and sugar. And then there's terasi, which comes from small shrimps that are dried, soaked and mixed into a paste. While it's slightly fishy, it's an essential part of some sambal's. The unique taste that may be daunting to those not accustomed to it.

As someone who likes to explore new foods, I have to admit that some Indonesian dishes were difficult for me to eat at first. However, as time went on and I gained more experience, my tastes started to change. I find that the simplest dishes often taste the best. While there are many fine dining restaurants to choose from, I rarely go there. Instead, I prefer to enjoy simple food that captures the essence of Indonesia.

My Indonesian friends and I often compare and rate sambal in the same way that wine or beer enthusiasts evaluate their drinks

Sambal is the key ingredient that makes Indonesian food so special, and I've learned that every restaurant, local warung and individual person has their own unique way of making it. In fact, my Indonesian friends and I often compare and rate sambal in the same way that wine or beer enthusiasts evaluate their drinks. It's refined and important. I have to admit that I wasn't initially fond of sambal because I was only familiar with the spicy tomato sauce loaded with sugar that came from the supermarket and that I didn't like. Initially, sambal even upset my stomach. But over time, I learned to appreciate its complexity and adjust to its spicy. Sambal terasi can also be challenging for some people because of its slightly fishy taste. However, I personally love it and believe it enhances the entire sambal experience. So don't give up if you're not a fan of sambal right away. Keep trying and you'll find that the effort is well worth it in the end.

Two other dishes of prime importance in Indonesia are bakso and soto. Soto is basically chicken soup but soto can be made with beef too. There are many varieties of soto, more than I ever will know. But I have my favourites and compare the soto I find in this warung or that warung in the same way I talk about sambal.

Soto ayam.

Bakso isn't a favourite of mine. It's basically meatballs. There are different ways to eat it and the meatballs are configured in different shapes with added layers of good things. Of course, you can add some sambal. Mostly I see bakso with kuah. Kuah is another very important taste experience. It's a soup made with normally beef- or chicken-base, but, as you might know by now, it's different in every place.

Each dish is filled with a variety of spices, which adds a depth of flavour that is unparalleled

Nasi Padang is a very famous Sumatran food that many people associate with Indonesian cuisine, people in Europe for instance. It's a unique and exciting eating experience, with the meal consisting of many small dishes presented to you to choose from. Each dish is filled with a variety of spices, which adds a depth of flavour that is unparalleled. Even the simplest dishes can be incredibly delicious because of the incredible blend of spices. My personal favourites are the green chili and rendang, which is slow-cooked spicy meat. If you're looking for an exotic and thrilling culinary adventure, then Nasi Padang is definitely a must-try dish.

When it comes to Indonesian cuisine, many people in the West are not familiar with Indonesian food, aside from what they may have eaten in Bali. But as a food enthusiast, I can attest that there are so many delicious dishes in Indonesia that people are missing out on. Indonesian food is one of the reasons why I love the country so much. The cuisine is so diverse, it has no competition when it comes to variety. I believe that Indonesian cuisine deserves to be considered among the best in the world.