Food

Recipes from Indonesia

March 4, 2013

From slow-cooked beef rendang to complex curries, Indonesian cuisine is full of delicate layers of flavor and fragrant spices.

See the RecipeJames Oseland

See the RecipeJames Oseland

See the RecipeJames Oseland

INDONESIA In this dish, based on one in SAVEUR editor-in-chief James Oseland's Cradle of Flavor, cinnamon and lemongrass give the silky sauce fragrance and spice. See the recipe for Indonesian Chicken Curry »Andre Baranowski

Collard greens, collard greens recipes — Coconut milk balances the spicy notes of chile in this Indonesian-style curry with collard greens.Todd Coleman

Javanese Cucumber and Carrot Pickle (Acar Timun) — This relish is an easy-to-make version of Indonesian pickle.Todd Coleman

See the RecipeTodd Coleman

See the RecipeTodd Coleman

This flavorful chicken curry is a braise in reverse: The chicken is cooked in coconut milk flavored with spices and begins to brown when most of the liquid cooks away, creating a beautifully caramelized exterior. See the recipe for Rendang Ayam »Todd Coleman

Indonesian Fried Rice (Nasi Goreng) — For nasi goreng, leftover rice is stir-fried with a seasoning paste made from chiles, shrimp paste, and palm sugar, yielding a richly flavored dish that's ridiculously delicious. A fried egg on top makes it a satisfying meal.Todd Coleman

Indonesian Coffee with Ginger (Kopi Jahe) — In Indonesia, coffee drinkers partake in a heady infusion of fresh ginger, cloves, and other spices brewed with sugar and ground coffee to produce kopi jahe.Michael Kraus

Beef Rendang — Instead of searing the meat before cooking it in liquid, as is done with a Western-style braise, beef rendang reverses the process. Slowly simmering beef chuck with Indonesian spice paste, coconut milk, and lemongrass yields an amazingly tender, rich dish that's great with both white rice or crusty bread. Get the recipe for Beef Rendang »James Oseland

Grilled Mackerel with Sambal — In Padang, restaurants grill and fry small whole mackerel before smearing them with sambal, a spicy chile-based condiment. We find that the skin-on fillets of larger fish work just as well. See the recipe for Ikan Balado (Padang-Style Grilled Mackerel with Sambal) »Ingalls Photography

Padang-Style Egg Coffee (Kopi Telur) — Traditionally made by layering unfiltered coffee, foamed egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk, the custardy, caffeine-laced concoction known as kopi telur is a beloved treat in Padang.Michael Kraus

Padang-Style Chicken Curry (Gulai Ayam) — Chicken thighs can also be used to make this aromatic Indonesian curry.Ingalls Photography

Indonesian Red Snapper Curry — For this aromatic nasi padang dish, red snapper is simmered in a spicy coconut curry.Ingalls Photography

Padang-Style Mashed Potato Fritters (Perkedel Kenteng) — To make these crisp-crusted fritters, mashed potatoes blended with pan-fried shallots and freshly grated nutmeg are dipped in beaten egg and fried. Get the recipe for Padang-Style Mashed Potato Fritters (Perkedel Kenteng) »Ingalls Photography

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