Bali is the most popular amongst all of the islands in the Indonesian archipelago. This island is most famous for its beaches, the turquoise waters that surround it, and the temples. Bali has evolved with time to fulfill the desires of even the most particular traveller. It finds its spot on the bucket lists of many travelers. This makes your Bali tour package extremely sought-after.
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Owing to its geographical location, the produce and sea life is as fresh as it can possibly get. It is then no wonder that the cuisine here is tantalizing. While there is no shortage of high-end premium restaurants here that serve refined cuisines, the street foods here are not worth missing. Keeping that in mind, we have compiled a list of 10 local street food dishes to try in Bali
- Babi Guling
- Terang Bulan
- Sweet Corn
- Bakso
- Rujak Bulung
- Laklak
- Nasi Tepeng
- Pisang Rai
- Nasi Jinggo
- Sate Lilit
1. Babi Guling:
We start our list with Babi Guling or the Balinese Roasted Pig. It can be found on the menus of popular restaurants as well as on the streets being sold by vendors.
It was originally a ceremonial dish but with time, it has become a staple in the street food scene too. The animal is rubbed with turmeric powder and is stuffed with a special spice mix. The spice mix comprises a variety of ingredients – lemongrass, shallots, galangal, and so on. It is often paired with steamed rice, fresh vegetables, and spicy sambal. This dish will definitely make you come back for more and is one of the best local street food dishes to try in Bali.
2. Terang Bulan:
It is one of Asia’s classic desserts and is popular here too. It mimics the texture of a pancake. Tourists can choose between a stuffing of – condensed milk, nuts, chocolates, cheese, or a heavenly mix of all of these ingredients! It is also known as Martabak.
3. Sweetcorn:
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No Bali sunset is complete without a freshly grilled sweetcorn. Sweetcorns are popular on beaches like the Kuta and the Jimbaran. Pre-preparation includes coating the sweetcorns with a healthy dollop of butter and additional sauces. These may include chili or barbecue sauces. This combination of sunsets and sweetcorn makes this street food staple one of the best local street food dishes to try in Bali.
4. Bakso:
Bakso is Indonesia’s take on meatballs. It is served in hot broth with noodles and fried dumplings. Bakso can be prepared with a variety of meats – seafood or chicken or animal meats can be used. What makes it different from its counterparts is the sauce which is used in its preparation – Surimi. It imparts a rich flavour to this delicacy. This take on the classic meatball is definitely going to leave you craving for seconds. It is definitely a top contender when it comes to being in the list for 10 local street food dishes to try in Bali.
5. Rujak Bulung:
Rujak is simply put – an Indonesian fruit salad. This traditional dessert is prepared in many different ways depending on the region. The Balinese take on this classic uses components from the sea. The ingredients used here are fresh Tuna to create the dressing for the salad, and also seaweed to spruce up the dish. It is also known as Rujak Kuah Pidang.
6. Laklak:
Laklak brings a fresh sweet and savoury taste to your palette. It is a traditional Balinese cake. Its main ingredients include rice flour and coconut milk. It gets its signature green colour with Pandan, Suji leaves which are exclusive to the region. It is complemented with coconut gratings or a brown sugar sauce with Jackfruit. This treat can be enjoyed with morning coffee or afternoon tea.
7. Nasi Tepeng:
Nasi Tepeng is a breakfast staple among the locals. It has a texture partway between that of rice and porridge. Several herbs and spices go into the preparation of this classic like – cayenne pepper, red chilli, garlic, and so on. Side dishes that go well with this dish include fried chicken, long beans, kidney beans etcetera.
8. Pisang Rai:
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Pisang Rai contains two main ingredients – Banana and Coconut. This dish screams tropical cuisine at its finest. The banana slices are wrapped in rice flour and coated generously with coconut gratings. The end product is a snack with savoury and sweet flavour. It is often served with a sauce made from brown sugar and pineapple pieces. This enhances the bold tropical flavours of this dish.
9. Nasi Jinggo:
The Nasi Jinggo is a well-rounded dish. It has everything one could ask for – rice, side-dish, vegetables, and condiments. The catch here is that all of these flavourful components are packed into a banana leaf. This makes the ideal food to consume on the go. However, it is only found in small portions. It is served with a variety of side dishes ranging from eggs to seafood.
10. Sate Lilit:
This dish is a combination of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours. Sate Lilit (Satey) is essentially grilled meat pieces on skewers. This popular Indonesian dish finds its place on menus of high-end restaurants as well as on the streets of Bali. Every region has its own take on this wildly popular dish, the essentials however are more or less the same. Meat (pork, chicken or fish) is first minced and then treated with coconut gratings and various spices in coconut milk. The spiced meat is then grilled. Sauces are optional with this dish as it is already buzzing with many flavour profiles. This dish will get your mouth singing. The Sate Lilit is definitely one of the best local street food dishes to try in Bali.
Bali’s cuisine is as vibrant as it’s scenery. Bold flavours take the stage front and centre in the dishes here. Explore the best of Bali with travel packages at PickyourTrail. We customise our travel packages with your needs in mind to help you have the best trip. We hope that you have pleasant travels.