Balinese cooking is both sophisticated and subtle. Different blends and combinations of spices, coconut milk, tropical vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, fragrant roots, leaves and sugar make Balinese food some of the tastiest in the world. With influences from India, China, Arabia and Europe, Balinese food is unique. When visiting Bali, tasting these five foods at least once is a must.
1. Tupat is a snack that is not found anywhere else. It is made with steamed rice, tofu, cucumber, sprouts and spinach with a hot peanut sauce all combined in a coconut leaf package. It can be gotten from the mobile carts that cater to local workers, and who serve excellent food.
2. Nasi Campur means mixed rice in English. It is very popular in Bali and served almost everywhere. It is steamed rice served in a bowl with steamed vegetables and spicy, shredded coconut. Fried nuts, coconut milk shredded curried chicken and spices are also added. It is served with fish or meat and another very hot chilli sauce.
3. Bubuh Injin or black rice pudding is a favourite Balinese sweet. It is very sweet and a perfect snack for quick energy or a dessert after a hot, spicy meal. It is made from unbleached, black glutinous rice mixed with a sauce of thick coconut cream and palm sugar. It is served hot and is the local version of haut cuisine pastry.
4. Satay is like a kebab. The thin slices of meat are marinated in a spicy sauce and grilled over coconut shell charcoal. It can be made with chicken, beef, pork, duck or prawns. The combination of spices and flavourings will change according to the meat used. It is served with a hot, peanut sauce. Sometimes it is made with ground meat and spices and moulded on to the sticks and then barbequed.
5. Tempe Manis or sweet Tempe is another great snack with a completely unique flavour. The Tempe is sliced into thin wafers and fried in coconut oil. The wafers are then covered with a spicy and sweet paste made with palm sugar, red chillies, pepper and salt. It is an excellent addition to a traditional rice meal as well as a healthy and energizing snack that can be carried along while sightseeing.
The unique combinations of spices and other ingredients in local cuisine also feature a wide variety of vegetarian dishes. Soy bean cakes, mushrooms, fried noodles or rice with vegetables, several different kinds of salads with tasty dressings are all made with the same combinations of ground spices. Any dish that contains fresh, squeezed coconut milk will have the exotic essence that is Bali. The coconut is grated and mixed with warm water. Then it is squeezed and strained. The spicy peanut sauce that is served with so many dishes is made with raw, unsalted peanuts, garlic, lime leaves, palm sugar, lime juice, fried onion, roasted tomato and red chillies. Balinese cooking uses large, medium and small red chillies and the smaller the hotter. As one of the great Bali attractions, it’s local cuisine is certainly something to be sampled and enjoyed while there. Take your taste-buds on an adventure and indulge in what the locals have to offer!
