Ada apa! Here are the 33 absolute BEST Indonesian recipes ever compiled, should you be interested in attempting some Indonesian cuisine in the comfort of your home. We have rice bowls, entrees, side dishes, and drink recipes ready for you!
Indonesia lies between Asia and Australia.
In addition to its stunning natural landscapes, which range from the tranquil beaches of Bali to sites recognized by UNESCO World Heritage, Indonesia is also home to a diverse array of mouthwatering culinary selections.
The cuisine of Indonesia is quite diverse and differs widely from region to region.
In addition to that, it offers a complex flavor.
And if you’re wondering what makes Indonesian food unique, you’ll soon find out!
We have a wide variety of Indonesian cuisine, including the well-known Beef Rendang, Klepon, Mee Goreng, and Bubur Ayam, among many others.
You cannot take a pass on #30 because it is so comforting and delectable.
So, let’s get cooking!
1. Nasi Goreng
We bet that you’ll enjoy Nasi Goreng or Indonesian fried rice.
This dish is primarily composed of rice and bits of meat and onions.
Do you know what nasi goreng has that you cannot find in other fried rice recipes?
It’s the kecap manis!
A local sweet sauce is responsible for caramelizing the rice during the cooking process.
You’ve likely seen Mee Goreng sold in packages at the grocery store (particularly in the Asian food section).
Mee Goreng is well-known for having a fiery kick and a rich, nutty flavor profile, all of which are guaranteed to satisfy your love for spicy food.
Gado Gado is Indonesian cuisine that literally translates to “mix-mix.”
This dish is a combination of beef and a wide variety of both cooked and steamed vegetables.
In addition, it is merged with tofu and finished with a light coating of sauce on top.
Turmeric, the star of this dish, imparts a flavor that is a little earthy, slightly bitter and has a hint of peppery spice.
For a change, try this Indonesian chicken meal instead of your usual roasted chicken.
Adding honey-soy sauce, garlic, and ginger to the recipe will lend it a particularly strong flavor.
Lastly, enjoy this dish with some steamed rice on the side!
5. Beef Rendang
Imagine a beef dish with a buttery beef flavor that is smothered in a rich curry sauce.
Sounds good?
Each ingredient of beef rendang contributes significantly to the dish’s overall flavor.
It has lemony, sour, and savory flavors with a touch of a caramel-like taste that comes from the tamarind paste.
Kari Ikan is a mixture of fish, potatoes, mint, vegetables, and lime.
This recipe is easy to prepare, and you can knock it out in no time.
You can toss it with any fish you like, such as tilapia, halibut, Alaskan cod, black cod, prawns, scallops, or even sea bass.
You can never go wrong with Perkedel Kentang!
While potatoes are this dish’s biggest player, the fried shallot flakes are non-negotiable in this recipe.
Serve this as a side dish, and everyone who takes a bite will be delighted.
Martabak Manis is a thick cake with a filling that is sweet and nutty in a very interesting way.
But making these sweet treats isn’t as easy as making pancakes.
The recipe is complex and requires a great deal of patience.
And in the end, the fluffy and chewy texture is well worth the effort.
If you enjoy experimenting with different condiments, you should give Kecap Manis a shot.
This sweet soy sauce from Indonesia may be used in various applications, such as a marinade, dipping sauce, stir fry, and even on a salad.
Its versatility makes it an extremely useful ingredient.
You can store it for a very long time, provided it is kept in the refrigerator.
The traditional Indonesian dish nasi uduk will take your regular rice to the next level.
You’ll enjoy nasi uduk cooked in an unusual style so much that you’ll prepare it again and again!
It smells really good thanks to the spices and aromatics in it.
Achieve a creamy texture that goes well with any dish.
Sambal Oelek is a flavorful and well-known chili paste in Indonesia.
It is made from freshly ground red chili peppers and is spicier than sriracha.
Once you’ve mastered the art of making Sambal Oelek, a jar of it will never leave your fridge.
Your mornings will never be the same after you try Bubur Injin!
This pudding is created with coconut milk, black glutinous rice, and coconut sugar.
This meal has an unusual appearance, but its flavor is totally out of this world!
Pour it into a serving dish, arrange caramelized bananas on top, and douse it with a generous amount of coconut milk.
You’ll thank the heavens for this dish!
Your taste buds are in for a treat when you indulge in Indonesian Chicken Salad because of its unique combination of flavors, colors, and textures.
It is like a bowl of veggies that you won’t stop shoveling in when it gets on the table.
This dish is made with shredded chicken, minced spices, and herbs.
Plus, the salt and pepper and spicy peanut dressing for extra zing!
The cooking and preparation time for Babi Chin averages at least an hour and a half.
But you won’t get bored while you wait because this dish has a sweet, fragrant smell that you’ll enjoy every second while it cooks.
The black soy sauce, which lends this meal its signature sweet and savory richness, is the dish’s essential element.
If you are a seafood fan, you will adore this recipe for flaming hot shrimp known as “Udang Balado.”
The bird’s eye chilies give it a pleasant burn in your mouth and a moderate kick of spice.
In place of bird’s eye chilies, you can use cayenne peppers.
Of course, the shrimp paste is an excellent addition to this recipe because it adds so much flavor.
Every Indonesian native is well-versed in preparing Ikan Balado, an Indonesian fish dish known for its fiery flavor.
It has a vibrant sauce and a variety of exquisite flavors, both of which go wonderfully with fish.
Spread spicy sambal on your Ikan Balado for an added kick of spice.
The Green Beans Stir Fry with Bok Choy cooked ala Suriname style can be a perfect side dish as it bursts with Chinese and Indonesian flavors!
It is a recipe boosted with kecap manis, green beans, spices, water spinach, bok choy, bitter melon, and long beans.
You are free to use any vegetables you wish!
A meal made with chicken and several spices, Soto Ayam is loaded with various mouthwatering toppings.
Combining these herbs and spices creates a subtle flavor and earthy aroma.
On the other hand, its mouthwatering broth is made from kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and galangal.
Bakso is a dish chock-full of proteins like meat, chicken, or seafood turned into a tacky paste texture and molded into meatballs.
The complex process of cooking begins after making meatballs out of the paste.
Though time-consuming, the slow cooking approach in this recipe yields a rich and excellent supper.
Perkedel Jagung, often known as Indonesian Corn Fritters, is a delicious snack made with fresh or canned corn kernels.
Crispy and sweet, these fritters are flavored with several spices.
You could serve it with a spicy dip, but if you prefer them on the sweeter side, add a dash of sugar to the mix.
This Indonesian Coconut Turmeric Rice With Cashews will make your meals more interesting.
Turmeric’s spicy, bitter flavor gives this dish an excellent punch.
Garnish it with some cilantro and cashews to enhance its flavor.
Hello, spicy connoisseur!
Here is another recipe with a spicy kick that will certainly satiate your taste buds!
Terong Balado is a dish made of thin slices of eggplant covered in a spicy chili paste.
Tip: you may consider using Chinese eggplants because they are less spongy, sweeter, and more delicate than regular eggplants.
23. Klepon
With these sweet rice balls, you can turn an ordinary afternoon with the kids into an enjoyable day!
The amazingly delectable combination of palm sugar, pandan, and coconut milk is what gives Klepon its signature sweet flavor!
24. Putu Ayu
Let’s take a break from the sugar rush and give Putu Ayu a go.
Putu Ayu is a dessert made by combining grated coconut with the saccharine flavor of steamed pandan cake.
The sweetness of this meal is brought out to its full potential by adding grated coconut.
Have you ever tried fried chicken prepared ala Indonesian style?
If you haven’t, now would be a great time to do so!
Ayam Goreng is a fried chicken recipe with a savory mixture of herbs and spices.
26. Jamu Juice
Have you heard the name “Jamu Juice?”
Lemon, water, fresh turmeric, ginger, and honey combine to make this delicious concoction.
Turmeric and ginger are their major ingredients for all the right reasons.
Get a sip, and you’ll understand why so many Indonesians are infatuated with Jamu Juice.
27. Tahu Isi
Tahu Isi is not like your typical fried tofu recipe.
This stuffed tofu is deep-fried and loaded with various vegetables, including bean sprouts, carrots, and cabbage.
It may be a lengthy process to prepare, but it will be well worth it!
To finish, add some chili sauce to the dish for an extra kick of blazing heat.
28. Martabak Manis
Martabak Manis is a delicious pancake filled with grated milk chocolate, peanut butter, and sweetened condensed milk.
This one-of-a-kind delicacy is distinguished by its light pancake batter and elastic consistency.
Do you know what gives Rawon, often known as Indonesian Beef Black Soup, its delightfully flavorful taste?
The keluak nuts, which are the main ingredient of Rawon, give the dish its signature dark color and nutty flavor.
Serve with steamed rice and garnish with cooked eggs, bean sprouts, fried onions, or sambal if desired.
30. Bubur Ayam
Bubur Ayam is a comforting bowl of congee perfect for a chilly day.
It will immediately leave you feeling warm and calm after enjoying it.
It has a plain and thicker consistency as compared to other congees.
So gather your favorite bowl and spoon and make this delicious congee!
If you’re in a hurry and need something quick to eat, Karedok Salad is for you!
Karedok is a light appetizer made of fresh vegetables and raw ingredients, traditionally served with peanut sauce.
The peanut sauce contains palm sugar, chili, fried peanuts, and salt.
Furthermore, if you want to change the sauce’s flavor, adding shrimp paste or garlic can do the trick.
Have you ever tasted oxtail soup?
The Instant Pot Sup Buntut is a mouthwatering dish that gets its distinctive and rich flavor from oxtail.
This recipe achieves the perfect balance of sweet and savory thanks to adding carrots, tomatoes, and potatoes.
33. Tempeh Kecap
The fermented soybean dish, Tempeh Kecap, has savory, sweet, and spicy undertones.
The fresh red chilies and the sweet taste of manis work together to create a harmonious balance between this recipe’s sweet and spicy elements.
Add some lemongrass while cooking for a subtle citrus aroma to fill your kitchen with.
The bottom line
That’s all there is to it!
These are our 33 best Indonesian dishes, and we encourage you to try them out and see what you think!
We hope you enjoy our small field trip and that these dishes will soon find their way into your kitchen.
Nikmati makananmu! (Enjoy your meal!)
Top 33 BEST Indonesian Foods🍴
Here are 33 easy Indonesian recipes that we encourage you to try!
Ingredients
- Nasi Goreng
- Mee Goreng (Spicy Indonesian Noodles)
- Gado Gado Indonesian Salad
- Sticky Honey Indonesian Chicken
- Beef Rendang
- Balinese Fish & Potato Curry (Kari Ikan)
- Perkedel Kentang (Potato Fritters)
- Martabak Manis (Indonesian Sweet Thick Pancake)
- Kecap Manis (Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce)
- Indonesian Coconut Milk Rice
- Sambal Oelek Red Chili Paste
- Bubur Injin (Black Rice Pudding)
- Indonesian Chicken Salad
- Babi Chin (Indonesian Soy Braised Pork Belly)
- Udang Balado (Indonesian Spicy Shrimp)
- Ikan Balado (Padang-Style Grilled Mackerel With Sambal)
- Suriname Style Green Beans Stir Fry With Bok Choy
- Soto Ayam (Indonesian Chicken Noodle Soup)
- Mee Bakso (Indonesian Meatball & Noodle Soup)
- Perkedel Jagung (Indonesian Corn Fritters)
- Indonesian Coconut Turmeric Rice With Cashews
- Terong Balado (Indonesian Hot Spicy Eggplant)
- Klepon
- Putu Ayu
- Ayam Goreng Kuning (Indonesian Turmeric Fried Chicken)
- Jamu Juice
- Tahu Isi
- Martabak Manis
- Rawon (Indonesian Black Soup)
- Bubur Ayam
- Indonesian Karedok Salad
- Instant Pot Sup Buntut
- Tempeh Kecap
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Indonesian Recipes list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start cooking and make us proud!