tales of travel

What Food Do They Eat in Indonesia?

Are you traveling to Bali? Did you know that Bali food is traditionally aromatic, spicy and healthy? While there are many types of food in Indonesia, Bali cuisine is unlike any other in the world. Try this recipe to bring a popular cuisine of Bali into your kitchen at home — Balinese Corn Fritters.

Types of Food in Indonesia

One of our favorite parts of traveling to Bali is how it engages all of the senses—the smell of the spicy, humid air; music wafting from temples to the streets; the cool, smoothness of a new silk shirt; and, best of all, the complex, fresh, fiery flavor of a new Asian snack. This Bali cuisine was discovered during a recent cooking class in Bali. While we had always associated corn with the Americas, these Balinese corn fritters’ slight sweetness melds perfectly with flavors found in traditional types of food in Indonesia. These are perfect served straight out of the pan accompanied by a cold Bintang beer or your favorite summer beverage.

Bregedel (Balinese Corn Fritters)

Ready to cook your own Bali cuisine? Follow these instructions and discover what you have to look forward to when traveling to Bali and sampling more Bali food through ATJ’s luxury Asia tours.

One of our favorite parts of traveling to Asia is how it engages all of the senses—the smell of the spicy, humid air; music wafting from temples to the streets; the cool, smoothness of a new silk shirt; and, best of all, the complex, fresh, fiery flavor of a new Asian snack. This one was discovered during a recent cooking class in Bali. While we had always associated corn with the Americas, here its slight sweetness melds perfectly with typical Indonesian flavors. These are perfect served straight out of the pan accompanied by a cold Bintang beer or your favorite summer beverage.

1. Start heating a pot of oil to deep fry the fritters (coconut oil is recommended, or substitute canola or vegetable oil)

2. Grind the ingredients below into a paste using a large mortar and pestle (or a food processor—though our cooking teacher swears it won’t taste as good this way!)

• 1 stalk of lemongrass (woody parts removed)
• 2 fresh chilies (fresnos or jalapenos)
• 1 habanero
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 small shallots
• 1 coin of ginger
• 1 coin of galangal (or more ginger)
• 1 coin of fresh turmeric (or ¼ tsp. powder)
• 1 macadamia nut
• 1 tsp. whole coriander
• 1 tsp. whole black pepper

3. Add:

• 1 cob of fresh corn kernels (or equivalent of frozen corn kernels)

5. Combine until corn is crushed but not pulverized

4. Mix in:

• 2 tsp. liquid plam sugar (substitute maple syrup or honey)
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 egg
• 3 heaping Tbs. white rice flour
• 1 tsp. minced kaffir lime leaf (substitute lime zest or cilantro)

5. Drop tablespoons into hot oil and fry until brown and crispy.

Traveling to Bali

Now that you’ve tried this popular Bali cuisine, you’re ready to start planning meal destinations into your travel itinerary. ATJ delivers the best luxury travel Indonesia has to offer. Please contact our Boulder travel agency for assistance with traveling to Bali and other Indonesian destinations.

Enjoy!