Indonesian food - what to eat

yirara
yirara Posts: 9,983 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm going to Java and probably Lombok for 2-3 weeks in November. Any recommendations for healthy and not too calory heavy food? I need enough energy for some hikes and lots of sight seeing but at the same time I currently cannot eat too fatty foods as it gives me reflux. Thus no fried rice anyway. Any recommendations for street food options during day time?

Thanks a lot.

Replies

  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,983 Member
    Nobody knows Indonesian food?
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    I am not an expert and no suggestions for afternoon street food with your restriction -- rice, especially fried, will be plentiful. You can drift towards Indian influenced foods and have various types of breads for carbs with sambars and other sauces. For breakfast, a personal favorite is laksa, but that's a bit particular to eastern Borneo and I'm not sure it is easy to find everywhere (but it is a great start to the day if you can find a good laksa and enjoy spicy food!). If you have trouble with fatty food then a lot of street food will be a challenge - it's easy to deep fry something and as a consequence there are lots of fried foods with street vendors. You can probably focus on steamed rice, Indian style breads, non-fried meats, and lots of fruits and vegetables when available. Good luck! Sounds fun!
  • catarinadev
    catarinadev Posts: 61 Member
    It depends on where you are going as to what food is available. In the bigger places, like Jakarta, Yogjakarta, Mataram and Kuta (both on Lombok and Bali, but you mentioned that you're going to Lombok) there is quite a variety of both local and international foods, so you should have options that you know about in terms of calories and content.

    In smaller towns and areas only local food is generally available, the most ubiquitous of this being nasi campur. It's a good option- steamed rice and vegetables/meats, so you shouldn't have any problems. However- was SO sick of nasi campur by the end of my trip to Indonesia! Of course- as Cortelli mentioned- lots of fruit and vegetables available! If you go on hikes for more than a day you'll also generally get nasi campur. Are you climbing Rinjani?
  • Hell_Flower
    Hell_Flower Posts: 348 Member
    Pad thai and fresh fruit.

    When I'm in Indo, I try and stay away from meat unless in a high-end restaurant. Fairly sure I've eaten dog in Sumatra...never again.

    Noodles, sea food, fresh veggies/sea food.

    If you find yourself down in Uluwatu, go to Yeye's Warung. It's the best food I've ever had. Ever. Full stop.
  • hopingforfood
    hopingforfood Posts: 1 Member
    Goreng means fried hence, try avoiding everything with the word in it i.e
    mie goreng (fried noodles)
    Nasi goreng (fried rice)
    ayam goreng (fried chicken)
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,983 Member
    Thanks a lot, all!
    Yes, I know a few Indonesian words and would have avoided everything goreng. But apart from Europeanised versions of some dishes I have no idea what Indonesian food actually is. Rice: love rice and eat it pretty much every day. With some variation I could imagine eating nasi campur every day :) I'm probably a rice addict :):)

    yirara, eating basmatirice briefly wok-ed with same amount of shredded carrot, some chicken, more veggies, spiced with soja sauce and fish sauce today, with a very nice little spoon of sambal (asked a colleague to bring from Holland for me, no idea how the real stuff tastes) on the plate.

    ps: paleo-fans may faint now :D
  • Charlottesometimes23
    Charlottesometimes23 Posts: 687 Member
    When I'm in Indo I tend to eat eggs or banana pancakes for breakfast, fruit platters, spicy chicken and fish curries, chicken sate, gado gado (boiled egg and blanched veges with peanut sauce, heavenly!) and nasi goreng. I avoid street food because it can be a bit dodgy unless you have an iron stomach! I've found that food there is very inexpensive and the servings tend to be huge.

    Have a great time!
  • Vanoii
    Vanoii Posts: 5
    Hey, I think I can give you some suggestions since I'm Indonesian.

    Well, I don't always eat healthy food but I hope I can help.
    1. You should try chicken porridge (bubur ayam) here.
    2. Siomay. It's something like dim sum but avoid too much peanut sauce.
    3. Bakpao.
    4. Bakso (meatballs). Avoid the fried ones.
    5. Rendang. So delicious, but contains high fat.
    6. Otak-otak. Again, if you find one here, avoid too much spicy peanut sauce.

    But really, if you're here for the first time, there are a lot of delicious food you should try. Check this out Avoid #39 (gorengan) and #40 (indomie), they are so cheap and contain unhealthy fat.

    Have a great sigh seeing and stay healthy! =D

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