Indulge in Culinary Delights: Top 7 Best Balinese Foods

Besides being famous for its natural beauty, Bali can be the right spot for culinary hunting. There are various best Balinese foods that you must try when visiting the Island of Gods.

Balinese food is known for its authentic taste and is made with traditional spices. The following are some of the best Balinese foods you can't miss.

Best Balinese Food

1. Babi Guling

Babi Guling is one of the iconic dishes in Bali. This dish is usually served at traditional celebrations or special occasions, but you can find it at food stalls on the side of the road.

This dish consists of whole pork marinated in traditional spices and grilled until the skin is crispy and the meat is tender. It’s usually served with white rice.

2. Bebek Betutu

Bebek Betutu is another popular dish and is often served at special events in Bali. It’s made from whole duck meat seasoned with a mixture of traditional spices.

The meat will then be cooked by soaking it in seasoned water until the texture becomes soft and tender.

3. Lawar

Lawar is also known as Balinese salad. This dish is made from a mixture of fresh vegetables, grated coconut, minced meat (usually pork or chicken), and traditional spices.

It has a complex and unique taste, the result of a combination of traditional spices such as lime leaves, lemongrass, chilies, and many more.

There are several variations of Lawar, including Red Lawar (Called Lawar Barak) which uses pig's blood as the main ingredient, and White Lawar which is lighter.

4. Sate Lilit

Sate Lilit is a dish made from a mixture of seasoned meat and grated coconut which is then wrapped around a lemongrass stalk and grilled until cooked.

Commonly used meats include pork, chicken, fish and beef. The meat is finely chopped before being mixed with grated coconut and spices.

This dish is often served with Sambal Matah and is often used as a side dish to accompany rice.

5. Sambal Matah

Sambal Matah is a raw Balinese sauce that has a fresh and spicy taste. It’s made from a mixture of shallots, cayenne pepper, lemongrass, lime leaves, and coconut oil.

The sambal is often served as a complement to various Balinese dishes such as satay lilit to grilled fish.

6. Jukut Urap

Jukut Urap is made from fresh vegetables such as spinach, kale, and bean sprouts. These vegetables are usually cut and boiled, then mixed with grated coconut which has been seasoned with sautéed spices such as shrimp paste, chilies, and lime leaves.

This dish provides a combination of spicy, savory and sweet flavors, and is often used as an accompaniment to main dishes such as Babi Guling.

7. Nasi Campur

Nasi Campur is a popular dish in Bali and is known for its variety and flexibility in preparation.

This dish consists of white rice served with various side dishes such as shredded chicken, soy sauce pork, processed vegetables, and chili sauce.

Each piece of Nasi Campur offers a different taste and texture, creating a rich combination of flavors. It is an ideal choice to enjoy a variety of flavors on one plate.

These are some of the dishes that you must try when on holiday in Bali. These are just a few, there are still many choices of dishes that you can try on the Island of Gods.