7 Balinese speciality food you should not miss

Indulging in some of Bali's traditional cuisine is a must if you visit the island. Bali, an island with countless stunning beaches, also offers a wide selection of delectable cuisines.

In this article, I will describe seven dishes specific to Bali that you must try if you ever find yourself there. Have you ever heard about ayam betutu, babi guling, and nasi jinggo? Yup, they're listed here, so if you're interested and looking for more. Just jump into the article and read it to its end!

Just like other Indonesian specialties, Balinese specialties also use a lot of spices in their food. There is a term called 'Base Genep', which is also used in Balinese cuisine, it is a mixture of more than 15 herbs and spices (garlic, shallots, galangal, chilli, turmeric, etc).

Strong, tangy and flavourful are the three finest words describing Balinese food. These Balinese specialties will be even more delicious if enjoyed with hot and fresh chilli sauce!

So, what are the typical Balinese foods that you must try? Check the list below:

1. Ayam Betutu (Betutu Chicken)

Image source: https://food.detik.com/resep-pembaca/d-5698302/resep-pembaca-resep-ayam-betutu-gilimanuk-yang-pedas-gurih-berempah

Balinese ayam betutu is made with steamed or roasted chicken in a rich seasoning called betutu seasoning. The meat is then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a fire made from husks. Some betutu chickens are only cooked in the oven or on the stockpot these days. But it doesn't taste much different.

Ayam betutu is full of spices and has a taste that is both savoury and spicy. It is a traditional dish from Bali that is popular in both Bali and Lombok. It's called Ayam betutu when it uses chicken meat, and if it uses duck meat, it'll be called Bebek betutu.

This Balinese food is a main dish that tastes great with rice. It is also often served with side dishes like kale or stir-fried bejek long beans.

2. Sate Lilit (Lilit Skewers)

Sate Lilit is a type of Indonesian minced meat skewer that is popular in Bali. It tastes so unique with a mix of savoury, sweet and slightly spicy flavours. Apart from being served per skewers, Sate Lilit is usually served as a side dish of Nasi Campur Bali.

Sate Lilit is made from a mixture of minced chicken, pork or fish mixed with herbs and spices, and then wrapped around the skewers. The distinctive yellow colour of Sate Lilit is obtained from the typical Balinese base genep seasoning.

What's so unique about this dish is; Sate Lilit is skewered not with a stick or bamboo, but with a stalk of lemon grass, which lends a pleasant citrusy scent to the dish as it cooks.

3. Babi Guling (Pig Roast)

Babi Guling is a traditional dish from Bali that is made with roasted pig and is quite popular there. The pig is given a marinade of spices (base genep seasoning) before being slowly roasted to achieve a juicy and tender texture. And since a pigskin is super light, it become super crispy after roasted.

Many people are attracted and tempted by the crunchiness of this pig roast's skin. In order to highlight the crispiness of Babi Guling, Some people deliberately show off the crispness of this pork skin by doing 'Test Kriuk', an action to try/taste the pork skin crispness in the first bite.

4. Nasi Jinggo

Image source: https://www.jatimnetwork.com

Nasi jinggo is a food from Bali that comes in small portions wrapped in banana leaves and is ready to eat. It is a popular Balinese street food that consists of a small serving of steamed rice, topped with a variety of spicy and savory condiments like fried tempeh, shredded chicken, and spicy sambal sauce.

There are a lot of places in Bali where you can buy nasi jingo. Usually, Nasi Jinggo sellers set up on the side of the road in the morning until nightfall.

If you like spicy food, try Nasi Jinggo. The sambal that comes with it is really good. Furthermore, nasi Jinggo is halal, so Muslim travellers don't have to worry.

5. Nasi Campur Bali

Nasi Campur Bali is a Balinese mixed rice dish that features small servings of various meats like chicken, it also contains vegetables, eggs, and sate lilit we talked before. The chicken used is chicken grilled with Balinese spices with a savoury taste. Nasi Campur Bali is often served with a spicy sambal sauce.

Nasi Campur Bali is a perfect dish for those of you who want to fill your stomachs with large portions of food.

6. Nasi Tepeng

Image source: https://www.sayurbox.com

If you want to eat a typical Balinese breakfast, Nasi Tepeng is a good choice. Nasi Tepeng is a dish that is traditionally from Gianyar. It is made with a full mix of spices and pepper, which makes it taste spicy and delectable.

Nasi Tempeng is also a mixed rice dish that originated in Bali. It consists of a mound of steamed rice that is surrounded by various meat, vegetable, and condiment dishes. However, what differentiates Nasi Tempeng from Nasi Campur Bali is its side dishes.

7. Rujak Bulung

Image source: https://www.detik.com

Rujak Bulung is a fruit salad from Bali. Rujak is usually made with a variety of tropical fruits but what makes Rujak Bulung different is that it has chewwy seaweed in it. With pindang sauce and a sprinkle of red beans on top, the taste is even better.

Rujak bulung tastes great because it is spicy and savoury.

Final thoughts:

These are seven of the most common Balinese foods that I think you should try. Aside from the seven foods listed above, you can also try Tum Ayam, Sate Kakul, Lawar, and many other Balinese specialties.

If you asked me what my favourite food is, I would say Ayam Betutu. The best Ayam Betutu I've ever had was sold at a stand called Men Tempeh near Gilimanuk Port. It has a lot of spices, is spicy, and tastes good. The chicken really takes on the flavour of the seasoning. Also, the chicken is very tender.

For those of you who like culinary tours, save this article for later and open it again the next time you go to Bali. Try the food you're most interested in and tell me if you're happy with the delight.