Not only renowned for its wonderful tourist attraction, but Bali also offers delightful cuisine with a mind-blowing assortment of indulgences. To complement your holiday experience in Bali, you would not want to miss out on the amazing dishes! Here are the must-try traditional dishes in Bali if you want to experience the essence of the island on your plate.
Sate Lilit
Sate lilit is a satay variant in Indonesia. This sate is originating from Balinese cuisine. Ground meat is wrapped around lemongrass skewers, grilled to perfection. The word “lilit” roughly means “wrap around”. Traditionally, lemongrass stalks are used as skewers instead of bamboo skewers. You’ll love the aromatic lemongrass when you grill it! Additional sauce is optional, as the sate itself already has a delicious combination of spicy, savory, and sweet tastes.
Babi Guling
Babi guling also known as suckling pig is one of the indulgences to try in Bali. Consisting of spit-roast pig stuffed with rich traditional spices and vegetable mixes such as cassava leaves, slowly rolled over (guling means “to roll” in Indonesian) in a coal fire. It’s usually served with rice, pork sausage, sayur urap (a vegetable salad in coconut dressing), spit-roasted meat, and the crispiest flavored skin. At first, babi guling was a treat during special festivities and ceremonies, but you can find it at many warungs (food stalls) and restaurants
Lawar
Lawar is a mix of finely chopped meat, vegetables, grated coconut, and spices. In some areas of Bali, this traditional dish is mixing fresh animal blood with meat and spices to strengthen the flavor, called red lawar. On the other hand, the white lawar doesn’t contain blood and often substitutes meat with jackfruit. Therefore it’s appealing to vegans and vegetarians. This exotic Balinese dish is one of the top Balinese foods used as a side dish – this is a perfect pair with Babi Guling – and can also be eaten on its own.
Chicken & Duck Betutu
The chicken and duck betutu are probably the most unique local dish on Bali’s must-eat list. This iconic Balinese dish consists of a whole chicken (ayam) or duck (bebek) stuffed with traditional spices, wrapped in banana leaves, then enveloped tight in the bark of a banana trunk. Duck or chicken planted in a very hole within the ground and coated with coals for 6-7 hours till cooked. The taste doesn’t betray the effort, though, because that long process yields a rich flavor in every bite, yummy!
Sambal Matah
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Sambaaal Matah buatan sendiri…yummyyyy 😍😍😍 #sambalmatahbali #sambalmatahenak #stayathomemom
Each culture has its own creation of a chili-based condiment but sambal matah is loved for its fresh sensation. Shallots, garlic, and chilis, which are common ingredients for Indonesian hot sauces, are chopped or blended, giving it a delightful texture. They are typically served with chicken and fish dishes but you can use on all kinds of meat dishes and seafood too, as a kind of salsa.
Well, which one you ever tried? Tell us your favorite!
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