Indonesia is the biggest chain of islands on the planet, with 17,508 islands, though only 6,000 of them have people living on them. Because there are 1,300 different ethnic groups hanging out on these islands, it’s no shock that Indonesian food is super colorful and really, really varied. If you’ve never tasted Indonesian dishes before, here’s a quick peek at what the food scene is like and a couple of famous plates I’m dying to try!
As per GMI Research, the Indonesia Food Ingredients Market estimated to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 5.1% period till 2025 & 2032.
What’s Traditional Indonesian Food, Anyway?
Indonesia is huge and full of different cultures, which means trying to pin down exactly what “Indonesian food” means is a bit tricky, kind of like trying to sort out Indian or Pakistani dishes. But one thing you’ll find on just about every plate is loads of fresh herbs and spices. They mash them into a thick paste called bumbu, and that paste is the secret spark behind a bunch of really Good Indonesian recipes in Ingredients.
It’s made from a mix of shallots, chilies, garlic, turmeric, galangal, ginger, candlenuts, and a few other things, depending on who’s cooking and what they have on hand.
Famous Indonesian Dishes
Because Indonesian Food is so different from place to place, it’s been tricky for the government to pick one national dish that everyone agrees on. So, back in 2018, they finally said five dishes would count as the national winners, and I’ll give you the scoop on them!
Soto
Soto is the original Indonesian soup, and there are tons of versions. You’ve got soto betawi, which is beef soup, soto ayam, which is chicken, and most folks say soto ayam is the most loved of them all. No matter the kind, the dish always has meat, spices, veggies, and noodles. Turmeric is a star spice, so the broth is usually a bright yellow, and the noodles are often the thin, slippery vermicelli kind.
Because there are so many kinds of soto, it’s hard to pin down a single list of ingredients. Honestly, that’s fine, because it just means “soup” anyway, haha.
I got to make chicken soto in an Indonesian cooking class while I was in Bali, and wow, it was delicious! If you’re ever in Bali, do yourself a favor and sign up for a cooking class. You’ll have loads of fun and learn all about Balinese food at the same time.
Rendang
Seriously, if you’ve never tried rendang, you’re missing out. This beef dish is next level. You start with beef and cook it in coconut milk with a whole bunch of herbs and spices. As it simmers, the meat gets super tender and the liquid cooks down into a thick, dark sauce. When it’s ready, you scoop it onto a plate with steamed rice or sticky rice and a few veggie sides, and trust me, you’ll be coming back for seconds.
One place I read says there’s a small grain of rice resting on top of a tall mound of rice. That extra grain is really special because it stands for God watching over everything else. People believe it’s more respectful to take rice from the bottom of the mound instead of the top. With a meaning that deep, plus the fact that the rice gets served at big ceremonies and comes with lots of tasty side dishes, I think it’s the ideal choice for a national dish.