Bali’s Classic Dishes Are The Perfect Introduction To Island’s Culture On Vacation

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Whether you’re a hardcore foodie or really just feed for fuel, visiting Bali is an opportunity to challenge your culinary prowess!

The Island of the Gods is a heaven on earth for foodies, from a abundance of fresh fruit, to sumptuous spices and homemade dishes made today with as much love and care as the ancestors who created them first, there is something about Balinese food that just hits different.

Even for those tourists who are not adventurous in terms of food, there are a few classic Balinese dishes that appeal to every palette.

Not too spicy, not too ‘different’ in terms of ingredients or flavor combinations, these classic dishes are the perfect introduction to the island’s culture on vacation. 

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Start off with the most quintessentially Balinese and Indonesian dish, Nasi Goreng, a simple and flavourful fried rice. Served on almost every single food menu in the land, from the fine dining bistros to the local warungs and street food carts, nasi goreng is a staple meal in Bali and we never get tired of it. 

Nasi means rice, and goreng means to fry or fried in Bahasa Indonesia, and if you want a side of just plain white rice, you can order ‘nasi putih.’

What makes nasi goreng in Bali is that a classic fried rice on the island will be seasoned with a spice paste called bumbu Bali.

This blend is a mix of shallots, garlic, chili, ginger, galangal, shrimp paste, and sometimes turmeric.

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Don’t worry if you’re vegetarian or vegan; most places will be more than happy to make you fried rice minus the shrimp paste. For those who can’t handle the heat, your server will almost always ask how spicy you want your meal to be! It’s always best to be conservative on the chili side of things; you can always order a side of sambal, a rich, fresh chili sauce to add some kick to your meal. 

Nasi goreng is often served simply as fried rice with a few chopped veggies chucked in the mix and sometimes a fried egg on top. Many menus also offer fried rice with chicken, pork, beef or fish. For a real, local twist, be sure to douse your fried rice in kecap manis, which is a sweet soy ketchup…OK…now we’re feeling hungry!

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As an island province, Bali is home to some incredible fish dishes and some of the most dedicated fishermen in the county. If you’re a seafood lover, be sure to order Ikan Bakar at least once during your trip to Bali. Simply translating to mean grilled fish, Ikan Bakar is a prime example of how simplicity is best when it comes to cooking fresh fish well. 

In Bali, Ikan Bakar will typically be the catch of the day, marinated in a spice mix of shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, chili, tamarind taste to add a sweet, tangy depth of flavor, shrimp taste for a layer of umami and finished off with that super special kecap manis for a caramelized, bbq stickiness. 

Most commonly, the catch of the day in Bali will be snapper, known as Ikan kakap, grouper, known as ikan kerapu, or mackerel, known as ikan tenggiri. The best fresh seafood and the best ikan Bakar can be found down in Jimbaran.

The beachfront at Jimbaran is lined with seafood restaurants that set out tables along the shoreline every day around sunset.

Whether you’re staying at a hotel in Jimbaran or not, be sure to venture down to this quaint traditional fishing village one evening during your trip to feast on some of Indonesia’s finest fish. 

If you’re looking for some seriously good fresh flavors and a highly nutritious lunch, don’t miss out on ordering a Gado-Gado while in Bali.

This is a famous dish throughout Indonesia and features lightly blanched or streamed green vegetables like long beans, cabbage, and spinach, along with boiled potatoes, tempeh and or tofu, and hard-boiled eggs.

Right now, this sounds a bit bland, but then you cover this with the richest, most indulgent, creamy peanut sauce you can dream of, and….you have the world’s best-ever salad! Chicken Caesar, eat your heart out!