Several vegetarians believe that Asian countries are majorly non-vegetarians. Do you also have this delusion about Asian countries? If yes, then we are here to bust your misconceptions regarding Indonesia. This Southeast Asian country has a wide variety of vegetarian meals to satiate your soul! Our list of interesting Indonesian vegetarian delicacies will assure you of the fact.
Gado-Gado (Salad)
Gado-Gado is a prominent Indonesian slaw made of greens, consisting of deep-fried (sliced) tempeh and tofu with blanched/steamed/stewed legumes like cucumber potato, spinach, bean sprouts, cabbage, string beans and lettuce. Groundnut sauce is used for the dressing, made up of chilli, deep-fried groundnut, lime juice, water, salt soy sauce and palm sugar. This salad is generally subserved with banana leaf wrapped rice, browned shallots, and deep-fried crackers sprinkled on top. Doesn’t it sound delicious?
Sambal (Paste or Sauce)
Sambal is a cheap method of supplementing protein to your meal. This dish is primarily soybeans pressed into a bar shape, sliced into pieces, cooked till it darkens, giving a nutty flavour. It's so delicious that seldom do people cook it till it's crunchy. Later, to provide some excitement, it is served with chilli paste.
Urap (Salad)
Urap is a salad consisting of mixed veggies like water spinach, long beans, carrot, bean sprout, cabbage, spinach, papaya, cassava leaf, and basil. All these greens are sliced, stirred and steamed with spiced and salted coconut dressing. This delicious and crunchy salad is eaten with crackers and rice.
Gudeg (Jack Fruit Stew)
Gudeg is a traditional dish formerly from Indonesia (Yogyakarta) usually eaten with rice. Made of raw jack fruit, this vegetarian dish has a delicious flavour. This food is boiled with coconut milk, palm sugar and then combined with seasonings like coriander seed and garlic shallot.
Sayur Asem (Vegetable Soup)
Sayur Asem flavours the same as tom yam but is prepared separately. It is made from tamarind-based soup added with nuts and vegetables like jack fruit, groundnuts, melinjo, chayote, corn and long beans. You are deemed to consume it with Indonesian chilli and white rice.
Nasi Uduk (Melayu Betawi style rice)
Nasi Uduk is cooked in coconut milk and is made from steamed rice. This dish has clove, lemongrass and pandanus leaves. Now, it is subserved with fried shallots with fried spice potato, shredded omelette or egg and tofu on the top.
Sayur Lodeh (Vegetable Soup)
Sayur Lodeh is a coconut milk-based recipe made of squash, jack fruit, tofu, tomato, long beans, Tempe, corn, eggplant, bay leaves, galangal, melinjo and different seasonings. This vegetable soup is often subserved with rice.
Rojak
Rojak is a new notion for some people. It is a vegetable and fruit salad subserved with a heavy sauce made of groundnuts and chilli. You can find Rojak in raw mango, water apple, cucumber, sweet potato or pineapple.
Nasi Padang (Steamed Rice)
Nasi Padang is a thali for Indians, wherein a variety of 20 smaller dishes with a plate of rice will be delivered to your desk. Do you know that Minangkabau steamed or Padang rice originates in West Sumatra?
Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice)
Nasi Goreng is a traditional food in Indonesia. This dish is made of stir-fried rice with salt, vegetables, chilli, soy sauce and garlic. In addition, if you love eggs, they will put some crackers and scrambled eggs.