These 7 Indonesian dishes every home cook should know
I was one of those kids who basically ate nothing (so there’s hope, people!), and it was only later in life that I came to appreciate the Indonesian cuisine that makes up half of my roots. By then it was too late to ask my grandma for recipes, kitchen advice and tips. But some dishes are inextricably linked to the Emerald Belt, and they belong in every home cook’s repertoire…
Funnily enough, images and memories also change over time, because when I think about it for a little longer, I remember that both my grandma and my mother had very demanding jobs and hardly ever spent time in the kitchen. Still, the table was laden with incredible dishes for every special occasion, thanks to all the lovely aunties who did have time to make all those meat and vegetable dishes and the sweet Indonesian kue (‘cookie’). With these dishes, you can bring a little Indonesia into your home too!
Sate ayam
Deliciously smoky from the grill or barbecue; I still have a favorite uncle who is the satay master at every party. FavorFlav’s Marcus Polman deserves the title of Honorary Indo for his wonderful recipe for sate ajam with peanut sauce.
Ayam Opor
Another classic: this chicken stew with mellow coconut and fragrant spices. Tender chicken in a creamy sauce, delicious over white rice. If you show up in an Indonesian kitchen with brown rice, you’ll be laughed out of the room. Francis Kuijk also wrote a brilliant foundational cookbook about Indonesian cuisine, where you’ll find many of these recipes.
Gado gado
One of the many salads Indonesian cuisine has to offer; its translation is actually simply ‘mixed’ or ‘tossed’. Vanja van der Leeden also wrote a wonderful book, Indorock, and this modern gado gado twist on the original comes from it.
Rendang
So delicious and so rich, this beef dish. Our Emma makes the ultimate rendang, which is now the standard for us, because it combines the best from the recipes of several mothers. As she also says: make plenty well in advance, because it’s even better the next day (or days)!
Tahu Ketoprak
No, that second word isn’t some mushy dish you only need to make if you’re following the keto diet; you pronounce it kuh-tòh-prak. This dish is yet another incredibly delicious vegetarian meal, rich enough to serve as a complete dinner. Yes, with white rice, obviously!
Sambal goreng telor and green beans
I won’t tell anyone if you make this sauce for sambal goreng telor (boiled eggs) in a double batch and then use it the next day for boiled or steamed green beans too. Two birds with one stone! And given the tropical nature of all this, that’s particularly appropriate.
Pisang Goreng
Perhaps an obvious choice, but so addictively delicious. Wonderful on your plate alongside the other dishes (Indos don’t eat them as dessert), but perfectly fine if you simply feel like draping them over a few scoops of good ice cream and being left in peace. Selamat makan!
Also read:
- Here’s how to stock your Indonesian pantry
- The revival of Indonesian rum is here
- 7 of our favorite Indonesian snacks
