7 Indonesian Culinary You Can (NO) Want to Try

Indonesia may be renowned as an archipelago for its phenomenal cuisine, from the tempting satay to the mouth-watering nasi goreng. On the other hand, the country has a range of unexpectedly bizarre foods beyond foreigners’ imaginations, from the grilled bats to the monitor lizard satay. Many regard the exotic delicacies as something healthy and rich in taste.

Here are 7 extreme Indonesian foods to try at least once in your life time:

Lawar

For you who have visited Bali, you may be familiar with this food. Lawar is Balinese traditional dish made from minced meat, fresh blood, shredded coconut and other herbs. This dish is named according its ingredients, for example Lawar mixed with pork is called Lawar Babi (pork Lawar), Lawar which uses young jackfruit is called Lawar Nangka. Usually Lawar is served along with steamed rice and other meat dish such as babi guling (roasted suckling pork). Lawar was originally a specialty dish during religious ceremonies in Bali, but today you can find Lawar in food stalls, restaurants, even five-star hotels in Bali.

Paniki

What are your thoughts on your Batman superhero becoming a ready-to-eat main course? Believe it or not, people in North Sulawesi turn a wild bat into a delightful dish called Paniki. It’s often cooked with coconut milk, chilies, and some strong spices to clear out the mammal’s tangy smell. The fried and skewered ones are also the locals’ favorite. This animal’s meat is good to cure allergies and asthma.

Belalang Goreng

Belalang goreng or fried grasshoppers are specialty food from Gunung Kidul, Central Java. You can find this snack on the roadside food stalls in Gunung Kidul during rainy season. Before frying, the grasshoppers are cleaned from dirt, as well as their wings and feet. Then the grasshoppers are marinated in spices for about 15 minutes, and deep-fried until it is dry and crispy. Belalang Goreng contributes a lot to economical activity of local people atGunung Kidul.

Ulat Sagu

When you’re journeying to East Indonesia like Maluku or Papua, be sure to snack on the Ulat sagu. It’s actually a typical dish made of sago worms. The locals usually hunt the creatures in the sago or coconut trees and eat them raw. If you don’t like to swallow them alive, try either the grilled or boiled ones. Spicy sambal is a good companion to enjoy the savory and juicy insect.

Ulat Bulu

When you visit Purworejo, Central Java, don’t be surprised if you find people selling Sate Ulat Bulu or caterpillar satay. Local people in Purworejo consume caterpillars due to the belief that caterpillars can cure toothache. But, they don’t consume all kind of caterpillars—they only consume caterpillars from lyman tridae family and turi tree worms. These caterpillars are also said to be rich in protein, so it is safe for daily consumption. Would you dare to try these caterpillars?

Tikus Panggang

Another jaw-dropping, uncommon dish from North Sulawesi would be the Tikus panggang or grilled rat. The burnt meaty animal sounds so weird, yet worth tasting. You will find it luscious and tender – the cute creature tastes like chicken. Don’t get perturbed whilst taking a bite of it! The locals use the wood rodent, which is more hygienic than the regular, dirty variety.

Sate Biawak

“Monitor lizard! Are you kidding me?” Yes, some of the Javanese residents love munching on Sate biawak, the delicious monitor lizard satay. The meat is skewered and grilled until it’s tender. Then, the luscious smokey dish is smothered in spicy peanut sauce. It’s believed that the reptile is good to cure numerous diseases such as skin rashes and asthma.