Explore a variety of mouth-watering Lombok specialties, from Ayam Taliwang to Kelaq Batih, with spicy flavors and typical Indonesian spices.
Lombok Island is not only known for its natural beauty, but also for its captivating culinary riches. The various typical Lombok dishes are characterized by their spicy taste and the use of abundant spices, making it a heaven for culinary lovers. Here are 10 Typical Lombok Foods that you must try when visiting this exotic island.
1. Taliwang Chicken
Ayam Taliwang is a very famous culinary icon of Lombok. Although it originates from Taliwang Village, West Sumbawa, this dish can easily be found in various restaurants and food stalls in Lombok.
Young free-range chicken roasted with a spice mixture consisting of chilies, onions, tomatoes, shrimp paste, galangal, brown sugar, and lime.
The spicy taste and smokey aroma from the grilling process make Ayam Taliwang a favorite of many people. This dish is usually served with warm rice and plecing kangkung as a side, creating a perfect combination that is appetizing.
2. Water Spinach Salad
Plecing Kangkung is the perfect partner for Ayam Taliwang. This dish consists of boiled water spinach served with bean sprouts, long beans, tomato sauce, fried peanuts, and a drizzle of lime. The water spinach used in Lombok has a crunchy texture because it grows in the island’s unique fertile soil.
Plecing Kangkung is not only fresh, but also offers the right spicy taste. This dish is perfect to complement various side dishes, making it one of the must-try foods in Lombok.
3. Rembiga Satay
Sate Rembiga comes from Rembiga Village, Lombok, and is famous for its sweet and spicy taste. Made from beef seasoned with a mixture of chili, onion, tamarind, brown sugar, shrimp paste, coriander, and candlenut, this satay has a tender texture and rich taste.
This dish is usually served with rice cakes and bone broth soup. The combination of spices that seep into the meat makes Sate Rembiga a favorite among culinary lovers.
4. Puyung Rice
Nasi Puyung, or Nasi Balap Puyung, is a rice dish with various side dishes typical of Lombok. This dish originates from Kampung Puyung and is usually served with spicy shredded chicken, egg, potato chips, fried soybeans, chili sauce, and grated coconut.
It is served using banana leaves as a base, giving it a distinctive natural aroma. Nasi Puyung is the right choice for those who want to enjoy a simple dish with rich flavors.
5. Bulayak Satay
Sate Bulayak is a unique Lombok satay served with bulayak, rice cake wrapped in aren or enau leaves by twisting it. The beef used is coated in a roasted peanut sauce mixed with coconut milk, giving it a rich and savory curry- like flavor.
Bulayak has a soft texture and a distinctive aroma from the wrapping leaves, making the combination with this satay very special.
6. Racing Rice
Nasi Balap is a simple but very delicious dish. Similar to Nasi Puyung, this dish is served with shredded spicy chicken, soybeans, sauteed green beans, dried potatoes, and chili sauce.
A legendary place to enjoy this dish is Nasi Balap Inaq Esun, which offers cheap portions starting from IDR 8,000 to IDR 15,000 depending on additional side dishes. This dish is often a breakfast choice for the people of Lombok.
7. Lombok Mixed Rice
Nasi Campur Lombok is another choice for lovers of this region’s signature rice cuisine. Different from Nasi Balap, Nasi Campur has more varied side dishes, such as Sate Pusut (a type of Lombok-style satay), fried chicken, beberuk (spicy vegetables), tempeh, and sometimes perkedel or corn fritters.
This dish offers the perfect combination of savory and spicy flavors, making it a favorite among tourists.
8. Tanjung Satay
Sate Tanjung is a typical satay from North Lombok made from fish meat such as skipjack tuna or langoan. The fish meat is marinated in coconut milk, pepper, and garlic before being wrapped around bamboo skewers and grilled.
This satay has a savory taste and a distinctive fish aroma. This dish is widely sold in the Tanjung area, North Lombok, with prices ranging from Rp15,000 to Rp25,000 for 12 skewers.
9. Pencok Satay
Sate Pencok is a unique dish from Lombok that has two variants: the beef tendon version and the sago version. This satay is seasoned with pelalah, a mixture of coconut milk, chili, candlenut, kencur, and other spices.
The chewy texture of the tendon or sago combined with the savory spicy seasoning creates a taste that is hard to forget. This dish is perfect as a snack or accompaniment to rice.
10. The Blessed Virgin
Kelaq Batih is one of Lombok’s traditional dishes that is starting to become rare. This dish is made from old green beans cooked with young cassava leaves in a ragi beleq sauce.
Bumbu ragi beleq, made from a mixture of spices such as chili and galangal, gives it a spicy taste and distinctive aroma. Kelaq Batih is often served with warm rice, creating a perfect combination that pampers the tongue.
Lombok is a foodie’s paradise, with a variety of mouth-watering, spice-rich dishes. From the legendary Ayam Taliwang to the unique Kelaq Batih, each dish reflects the rich culture and traditions of the Lombok people.
When visiting this island, don’t miss the opportunity to taste the delicious culinary specialties that not only pamper your tongue but also carry a unique story behind each dish.
These dishes are among the Typical Lombok Souvenirs that you can bring home to share a taste of Lombok’s unique culture with loved ones.
