One of the most beautiful islands in Indonesia, Bali is known for its beautiful beaches, temples, and culture. Bali is famous for its beautiful rice terraces and warm climate all year round, but it is also known for its exquisite cuisine. Bali’s cuisine is a mix of traditional Indonesian dishes with international flavors. Bali’s cuisines are an adventure for foodies.
1.Babu Guling
Babu Guling is one of the most famous dishes among the food critics. The pork from Babu Guling is smoked, red in color, and full of flavor. The pork is packed in two stands and the skin is fresh, preserved, and then shredded. The pork is served over rice with spicy pork soup steaming hot and full of pork.
2.Bali Seafood Platter
Bali seafood platter is the perfect way to show off the coastal cuisine of Bali. This platter is loaded with prawns smothered in Balinese spices and topped with calamari rings. The calamari rings give the plate a tangy taste, while the white fish is perfectly grilled. Shrimp and calamari ring is garnished with lime wedges for a tangy flavor, while the steamed rice bed adds a spicy kick, while chili sauce and fresh herbs balance each other.
3.Sambal Matah
Sambal Matah is an Indonesian salad dressing or salsa popular in Bali. It is prepared in a variety of ways by different Bali chefs. The main ingredients used in Sambal Matah are Garlic and chili peppers. In some cases, it is mixed with Lime leaves or Shrimp paste. It may also be marinated in coconut oil and shallots.
4.Nasi Ayam
If you’re a foodie, you’ve got to try Nasi Ayam. This dish is one of the best in Balinese cuisine and it’s easy to see why. It’s made with shredded chicken, fish marinated in a boiled egg, roasted nuts, French bean salad and sambal and served over braised rice. It’s so good that you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. Marinate the fish in the egg and roast the nuts to perfection. Shred the chicken on a stick and add crunch with the nuts.
5.Tum Ayam
It’s a classic Indonesian dish usually served as a side dish or appetizer. It’s shredded chicken with herbs and spices, all wrapped up in banana leaves and then grated or steamed to get a rich, smoky flavor. The banana leaves also give it an earthy flavor, making it a great blend of Indonesian flavors.
6.Nasi Campur Bali
One of the most popular rice dishes in Balinese cuisine is Nasi Campur Bali. It is typically served as steamed rice with various side dishes such as shredded, temp tofu, beans, etc. In essence, it is a plate of flavors from Balinese cuisine and various chefs and restaurants serve it in multiple ways.
7.Sate Lilit
Sate Lilit comes in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. It’s usually served with pork instead of chicken because pork and beef are famous here in Bali. Sate Lilit is made with pork and cooked over charcoal to give it a chary flavor. It’s served on sticks and has peanut sauce with garlic flakes. It’s tender, crunchy, and sweet.
8.Fish Head Soup
Bali’s Fish Head Soup is a real treat. It’s made with a thick broth simmered and cooked to perfection. Fresh fish heads are added to give it a unique flavor, while spices, herbs, and coconut milk give it a creamy taste. For a spicy kick, chili peppers are added. Serve it hot and top with a lime and crispy shallots. This fish head soup is a must-try for anyone visiting Bali.
9.Tipat Cantok
Tipat Cantok combines rice cake with vegetables, peanuts, and hot sauce. You cook the rice cake until it’s cooked all the way through, then cut up cucumber, bean, egg, and peanut and mix them all together. Add chili pepper, garlic, palm sugar, tamarind, and water, and bring it all together until it’s simmering all through. Sprinkle on some fried shallots and top with lime leaves and you’ve got a colorful and delicious dish.
10.Kopi Tubruk
To make this traditional Bali coffee, coarse coffee grounds are simmered in a pot along with palm sugar. It’s a rich, sweet, and earthy brew that has a hint of spice to it. It’s usually served in small glasses, so the grounds sit on the bottom of your glass. It’s one of Bali’s most popular drinks, so don’t rush it – take your time and enjoy the unique taste of Bali coffee.
11.Es Cendola
Es Cendola is one of the most popular desserts in Balinese cuisine. It is a refreshing dessert made by combining green rice flour jellies with coconut milk, palm sugar and topped with ice. It’s usually flavored with pandan leaves, giving it a unique taste and color. You can enjoy it in a glass or bowl, and the strands of jelly float in a creamy coconut milk soup. It’s so refreshing and cooling.
12.Bubur Sum Sum
A sweet and creamy rice porridge called Bubur SumSum is one of Bali’s most popular desserts. It’s made by mixing rice flour with coconut milk and palm sugar, and it’s silky and has a coconut flavor. It’s usually served in a warm bowl or on a small plate, and you can add pandan leaves to it to add a bit of fragrance. It’s a crowd pleaser because it’s easy and tasty, and it really captures the essence of Bali cuisine.
13.Martabak Bali
This Indonesian dish is so yummy. It’s a crispy, golden-brown pancake filled with all sorts of fillings like chocolate, cheese, and peanuts. It’s so thin and crispy on the outside but so sweet on the inside. It’s one of the most popular snacks or desserts in Bali, and no wonder why – it’s a great example of Indonesia’s unique culinary culture.
14.Bakso
Bakso is a famous Indonesian soup full of flavor and usually consists of meatballs, spices, and fried green onions. This dish can also be served with noodles, vegetables, soy sauce and chili paste. It is one of the most popular comfort foods in Bali, and can be found on the streets or in local eateries.
15.Nasi Goreng
Nasi goreng is a traditional Indonesian fried rice dish with shrimp, chicken, or tofu. It is cooked with garlic, garlic, chili, and other spices. It is served with a fried egg, crunchy shallots, and fresh herbs. Nasi goreng is one of the most popular fried rice dishes in Bali and is a traditional Bali street food dish that celebrates the island’s rich culinary history. Nasi goreng has a sweet taste with just a hint of spice.
16.Gado-Gado Salad
This Balinese salad is a real crowd-pleaser. It’s filled with veggies, tofu, and eggs, and it’s super colorful. You can get it with anything from cabbage to bean sprouts to cucumber. Then, you top it all off with a creamy peanut sauce that’s made with ground nuts, garlic, and lots of spices. It’s a sweet and spicy salad that everyone loves in Bali – locals and tourists.
17.Rujak
Rujak is a Balinese dish with sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. This dish is made with various fruits, like pineapples, mangoes, papayas, and more. They’re all cut into small pieces and then the sauce is added in. It’s a super spicy and refreshing dish great for those hot days in Bali.
18.Ikan Bakar
Ikan Bakar is a trendy Indonesian dish, even in the Bali area. It is a grilled fish marinated in various spices and herbs and then cooked on a charcoal grill or over an open fire. The taste of the fish, combined with the flavor of the garlic and chili sauce, adds a smoky taste to the dish. It is often served with rice, and the chili sauce adds a spicy kick to the dish makes it taste like Balinese cuisine.
19.Sayur Urab
Sayur Urab is a Balinese dish made from beans, long beans and spinach, coconut and spices, and herbs and sauces. It brings to life the traditional flavors of Balinese cuisine. Balinese food is rich and full of flavor. Balinese cuisine is known for its balance of sweetness and spice, which is achieved using palm sugar mixed with tamarind.
20.Pisang Goreng
Pisang goreng is a widely consumed snack in Bali. It is made by dipping sliced bananas in a batter of flour, sugar, and salt, then frying them until they are crunchy on the outside but soft inside. It is served with a powdered sugar topping or condensed milk, so try it while you are in Bali.
