Traditional Sasak Food You Must Try, There's Ares from Banana Stem

Kapanlagi.com - Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is not only a paradise for nature lovers but also a paradise for food lovers! When you step foot on this island, tasting the traditional food of the Sasak people is an experience you cannot miss. Sasak cuisine captivates with its unique and different flavors, thanks to the use of special spices that are traditionally processed.

Among the various mouth-watering dishes, there are a few that have become icons, such as the internationally known Plecing Kangkung and the spicy Ayam Taliwang that is sure to awaken your appetite. However, did you know that the Sasak people also have a very unique dish made from an unexpected ingredient? Yes, that dish is Ares Kedebong, made from the trunk of banana trees! This is one of the culinary delights you must try when visiting Lombok.

In this article, we will take you to explore the uniqueness and deliciousness of various traditional Sasak foods, including the special Ares Kedebong. Get ready to indulge in the authentic flavors of Lombok, rich in spices and tradition. Let's take a look at the complete review below and prepare to be enchanted!

1. Plecing Kangkung to Sate Rembiga

Enjoy the unforgettable culinary delights of Lombok with Plecing Kangkung, a fresh dish that combines boiled water spinach, bean sprouts, and long beans, complemented by a spicy tomato sambal that whets the appetite and a refreshing squeeze of lime. This dish is not just a side, but the perfect companion for main dishes like Ayam Taliwang and Sate Rembiga.

Don't miss Ares Kedebong, a unique dish made from banana tree stems cooked with spices and coconut milk, offering a distinctive savory flavor, especially during major Sasak tribe events.

Meanwhile, Sate Rembiga, beef satay marinated with chili, onion, and brown sugar, is ready to indulge your taste buds with its enticing sweet and spicy flavor, served with rice cakes and warm bone broth soup. Each bite is a flavor journey that reflects the richness of Lombok's cuisine!

2. Sate Bulayak to Ayam Rarang

Bulayak Satay is a typical dish from Lombok that captivates not only because of its taste but also its unique presentation. This dish consists of satay served with a cone-shaped rice cake called bulayak, made from neatly twisted aren leaves. The meat used can vary, from chicken, beef, to offal, all coated with a rich peanut sauce that resembles curry.

Interestingly, the way to enjoy bulayak is equally unique; you can either unwrap it or twist the rice cake until it comes out of its wrapping. With a combination of appetizing flavors, Bulayak Satay is a culinary experience not to be missed when visiting Lombok!

3. Pusut Satay to Cerorot

Pusut Satay, a culinary delight from Lombok that tantalizes the taste buds, offers a different experience with its uniquely skewered satay—split at the end! The beef used is marinated with a special spice mix, including chili, onion, shrimp paste, lime, coriander, coconut milk, and grated coconut, creating a harmonious flavor that is savory, spicy, and slightly sweet, along with tender meat texture.

No less interesting, Serabi Laklak, a traditional snack from East Lombok, is cooked on a clay mold heated with a wood fire, producing a tempting smoky aroma. With the savory taste of coconut milk and sweet liquid palm sugar, Serabi Laklak becomes a must-try dish.

Meanwhile, Taliwang Chicken, an icon of Lombok's spicy cuisine, is made from free-range chicken grilled with the characteristic spicy Taliwang seasoning, having an interesting history from the Taliwang Kingdom's soldiers who modified the recipe to suit the taste of the Sasak people.

And don't forget, Cerorot, a snack shaped like a mini trumpet, is made from a mixture of rice flour and brown sugar wrapped in young coconut leaves, now found in traditional markets, making it the perfect snack to enhance your culinary experience in Lombok!

4. What Are the Famous Traditional Dishes of Lombok?

Who doesn't know Ayam Taliwang and Plecing Kangkung, two culinary stars that represent the deliciousness of Lombok? However, the adventure of flavors on this island doesn't stop there! There is also the tempting Sate Rembiga, the mouth-watering Sate Bulayak, and Ares Kedebong that is ready to pamper your taste buds.

5. What Is Ares Kedebong?

Ares Kedebong, an iconic dish from Lombok, captivates the palate with the uniqueness of its main ingredient derived from the young banana tree trunk. Cooked with thick coconut milk and rich spices of ragi belek, this dish offers a combination of flavors that tantalize the taste buds and brings an authentic feel of the enchanting island.

6. What Are the Special Spices Used in Sasak Cuisine?

Sasak cuisine is captivating with the uniqueness of ragi beleq spices that are rich in flavor, combining shallots, garlic, cloves, galangal, ginger, coriander, chili, shrimp paste, and salt in perfect harmony.

7. What Makes Lombok Cuisine Unique?

Lombok cuisine is captivating with its unparalleled uniqueness, thanks to the use of fresh local ingredients and abundant spices, creating a tantalizing flavor.

(kpl/srr)