Bali is known for its beautiful beaches and rich culture. But with a rich culture often comes various dishes that resemble the daily lives of the locals and what they eat. If you are in Bali now. Here’s my top 5 favorite food in Bali that you have to try!
Nasi Campur Bali
Nasi Campur Bali is a humble Balinese dish which is affordable and available in most eateries across the island. Consisting of white rice served with various traditional side dishes, including shredded chicken, minced chicken skewers (Sate Lilit), and Balinese vegetable salad (Urab), it is usually eaten with their famous raw sambal (Sambal Matah) for a touch of heat.
Babi Guling
Babi Guling is a traditionally roasted whole pig that has become Bali’s staple food for Indonesians and foreign tourists. Babi Guling is the Indonesian version of a roast suckling pig. Since Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, plenty of domestic tourists try to avoid this delicious dish. But the Balinese are mostly Hindu, so it’s no surprise that Babi Guling is a popular dish among the locals. This dish is made of a whole pig marinated in Bali’s signature spices and roasted using a skewer. The name comes from how the pork (babi) is slowly rolled (guling) above the fire.
Ayam Betutu
Ayam Betutu is a famous local dish that can be found anywhere in Bali. Ayam Betutu is a local Bali dish made of a whole chicken and cooked in a cooking-method called “betutu”, which is quite similar to grilled, but what makes it different is because betutu is burned inside a fire husk. Ayam Betutu is using whole chicken that is filled with various special Balinese ingredients. Balinese people usually serve Ayam Betutu with some condiments such as vegetables, peanuts and sambal. This can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner. With a plate of rice, you will get to try the original taste of Bali and a sensation of hot and spicy yet amazingly delicious dishes.
Sate Lilit
Sate Lilit is a traditional delicacy is usually made with minced meat which is wrapped around a flat skewer. All meat varieties (and sometimes even fish) are used to prepare Sate Lilit. However, the most common variety is prepared with pork. The skewers are usually spiced with traditional Indonesian spices such as lemongrass, galangal, chili, and lime leaves.
Nasi Jinggo
Nasi Jinggo is another Balinese rice dish with a unique serving style in that it is presented in a cone-shaped banana leaf. The dish itself is pretty simple: rice with shredded chicken, sambal goreng, tempeh, and noodles. This Balinese food is relatively cheap while the taste is perfect.
Recreating these dishes is certainly something that you can do at home, but there’s more to Bali’s culinary richness than just the food. The vibe, ambiance, and fresh breeze of air in Bali also contribute to the deliciousness of every bite you take.
