Indonesian Snacks

Gorengan is a generic name that refers to a wide group of Indonesian deep-fried snacks that can be prepared with a variety of ingredients. Whether savory or sweet, the fritters usually combine egg batter with various additions such as bananas, tem... READ MORE

Pempek is a traditional fish cake made with ground fish meat and tapioca. The actual origin of this dish is the city of Palembang, situated in the South Sumatra province. The origin story of pempek says that an old Palembang citizen was tired of t... READ MORE

One of the most famous snacks in Indonesia is batagor, a fried fish dumpling served in a traditional spicy sauce. It has roots in the Chinese culinary tradition, which has left a trace on many Indonesian dishes. Although this famous snack is remin... READ MORE

Lontong is a traditional Indonesian rice cake, made by boiling tightly packed rice in banana leaves until it forms a firm, compact texture. The result is a mildly fragrant, chewy, and slightly firm rice cake, which is... READ MORE

Bakwan or bala bala are popular Indonesian mixed vegetable fritters. They are usually made with rice or wheat flour, and occasionally a combination of both types. The flour is mixed with water, eggs, baking powder, and a choice of spices to form a... READ MORE

Fried bananas or plantains are a common everyday snack eaten throughout Indonesia. They come in numerous versions in which the fruit is simply fried in shallow oil, but more often sliced banana pieces are coated in batter before they are fried unt... READ MORE

These traditional, small-sized Indonesian pancakes are usually prepared with rice flour and coconut milk. The pancakes are incredibly versatile, they come in sweet and savory versions, and can be adapted with wheat flour and various toppings such ... READ MORE

Rujak is a traditional Indonesian fruit and vegetable salad, known for its bold combination of sweet, spicy, sour, and savory flavors. A beloved street food and household dish across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore... READ MORE

Tempeh mendoan is a variety of fried tempeh that hails from Purwokerto. Thin slices of tempeh—fermented soybean product—are dipped in batter that is enriched with ground coriander, sliced scallions, and garlic before they are ... READ MORE

Krupuk encompasses a vast group of Asian crackers that are typically made with starch and additional ingredients, which are used as flavorings. These crispy crackers are a staple in Asia, but they are strongly associated with Indonesia, which boas... READ MORE

Risoles (also spelled risol in Indonesia) is a popular Indonesian snack consisting of a thin crepe-like wrapper filled with a savory mixture, then breaded and deep-fried to golden crispiness. Inspired by Dutch and Por... READ MORE

Lemper is a savory snack from Indonesia made by stuffing glutinous rice with either seasoned shredded chicken, fish, or abon (meat floss) which is then rolled in a banana leaf or tinfoil and by doing so, it is transformed into a perfectly... READ MORE

Kripik are small chips from Indonesia, prepared in sweet and savory versions. They are made with fish, vegetables, or fruit, in some cases the exotic ones such as taro, breadfruit, jackfruit, and snake fruit. The chips are deep-fried in vegetable ... READ MORE

Otak-Otak is a Southeast Asian snack, usually associated with Indonesia and Malaysia. The main ingredient of the dish is ground fish paste. Ikan tenggiri (wahoo) is most commonly used in Indonesia, while mackerel is the most popular choice in Mala... READ MORE

Krupuk udang is a type of traditional Indonesian shrimp cracker, made from a mixture of ground shrimp, tapioca flour, garlic, and seasonings, which is then sun-dried and deep-fried until it puffs up into a light, cris... READ MORE

Oncom is a traditional product that is fermented with mold. The base of every oncom is prepared with various by-products such as soy pulp, peanut and coconut press cake, or cassava tailings that are fermented with two types of mold to cre... READ MORE

Nagasari is a traditional cake. It's made with flour and coconut milk batter and slices of banana. The combination is wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed to perfection. The texture is soft, creamy, and slightly wobbly. The batter is usually mad... READ MORE

Kue cucur is a traditional snack that's also popular in Malaysia (kuih cucur) and Thailand (khanom fak bua). It's made with a combination of palm sugar, fried rice flour, and coconut milk that's fried until crispy. This sweet snack is usu... READ MORE

Kerak telor is a traditional omelet and a specialty of the Betawi people in Jakarta and West Java. The omelet is usually served as a snack and consists of glutinous rice that’s cooked with chicken or duck eggs. Once done, the omelet is sprin... READ MORE

Singkong goreng is a traditional dish originating from Indonesia. This simple dish is prepared with a combination of cassava, salt, garlic, coriander, oil, and water. The cassava is sliced into long strips and steamed, while the garlic is pounded ... READ MORE

Bakpia pathok is an Indonesian delicacy that consists of a round, slightly flattened pastry filled with a sweet mung bean mixture. The pastry is characterized by a soft and flaky texture, while its interior, containing the filling, has a pasty con... READ MORE

Panada is an interesting Indonesian take on Spanish and Latin American empanadas. These deep-fried, crescent-shaped pastries consist of leavened dough and a fish-based filling. The Indonesian version is traditionally filled with a combina... READ MORE

Otak-otak goreng is a traditional dish originating from Padang, but it can also be found in Singapore and Malaysia. These fish cakes are usually made with a combination of fish paste (often mackerel), coconut milk, scallions, tapioca flour, and a ... READ MORE

Arem-arem is a Indonesian snack hailing from Java. It consists of a cylindrical rice cake that's wrapped in a banana leaf. The snack is stuffed with tempeh, chopped vegetables, oncom, or abon beef floss. There are many variations on arem-... READ MORE

Bubur ketan hitam is a traditional sweet porridge originating from Indonesia. It’s usually made with a combination of coconut milk, palm or cane sugar, and black glutinous rice. Despite the name, once cooked, the rice turns dark purple, not ... READ MORE

Kue nagasari is a traditional snack. It’s made with a combination of rice flour, ripe bananas, tapioca flour, coconut milk, vanilla extract, and sugar. In order to prepare this snack, the ingredients are mixed together into a batter that sho... READ MORE

Rengginang is a traditional rice cracker originating from Indonesia. It's made from dried leftover sticky rice that's seasoned with spices, flattened and shaped into a circle, then sun-dried and deep-fried in oil. This type of rice cracker is diff... READ MORE

Odading is a traditional snack originating from Indonesia. It's usually made with a combination of flour, yeast, eggs, salt, and sugar. Once prepared, the dough is left to rise until it's doubled in size, and pieces of the dough are then fried in ... READ MORE