Vegetarian Food in Indonesia: 10 Must-Try Local Dishes
Before I moved to Jakarta, I was really worried that being a vegetarian in Indonesia was going to be really frustrating. I had already spent two months traveling the length of Java and Bali, subsisting on a steady diet of nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), which got really old, really fast. When it came to finding vegetarian food in Indonesia, I just didn’t know where to look.
Back then it appeared that the concept of vegetarianism was incredibly foreign to most Indonesians and their food seemed disappointingly meat-centric. It took living here for me to realize that there are a ton of delicious and popular Indonesian vegetarian dishes. Who says traveling as a vegetarian in Indonesia has to be difficult?
Vegetarian Food in Indonesia: 10 Must-Try Local Dishes
Bakwan Jagung
When I moved to Jakarta, bakwan became my #1 guilty pleasure. This is one of the more popular vegetarian foods in Indonesia; it is all over the place and is widely available at food stalls across the country.
Bakwan are pretty much corn fritters, but they are prepared differently in various parts of the country. They are typically made with corn and rice flour, which is mixed with corn, carrot and cabbage and spiced with fingerroot and kaffir lime leaves (which makes all the difference!).
Depending on where you are in the country, bakwan might also be referred to as dadar jagung, bakwan jagung or perkedel jagung. (FYI, jagung means corn, so when in doubt look for that word.)
Bakwan are commonly served with raw, spicy bird’s eye chilis (see above). I never thought I would be one to just snack on raw chilis but it is actually incredibly good (and spicy)! Vegetarians be careful not to buy bakwan udang, as it is prepared with shrimp. The shrimp are usually on top, so they’re easy to spot!
Sayur Lodeh
This popular soup is prepared with a coconut broth and chunks all sorts of fresh ingredients…think corn on the cob, unripe jackfruit, chili peppers, long beans and tempeh. For vegetarians, it’s important to note that some vendors will make this soup with animal-based broths. So if you’re super paranoid (like me) it’s best to ask. But I’m assured by my Indonesian friends that it is most often purely vegetarian.
Sayur Asem
Sayur asem is very similar to sayur lodeh and it’s one of the most delicious Indonesian vegetarian dishes. This tart soup can be found everywhere from street vendors to 5-star restaurants.
What’s great about sayur asem is that it’s made with a tamarind-based broth and it is rarely prepared with any animal-based ingredients. It is the tamarind that gives this soup its signature sour flavor. Like sayur lodeh, sayur asem is often prepared with young jackfruit, green beans and corn on the cob.
Gado-Gado
When I was backpacking around Indonesia, I could not get enough gado-gado. When it comes to vegetarian Indonesian food, this is the best because, well, anything with peanut sauce is just really freaking good.
I wrote a detailed post all about gado-gado, but to sum it up, it’s an Indonesian “salad” made up of fresh veggies – usually carrots, green beans, cucumber, cabbage, and some sort of gourd – tempeh, tofu, and a hard-boiled egg. All of this is drenched in a creamy peanut sauce and the result is heavenly.
Gado-gado is ubiquitous in Indonesia and there’s no doubt that vegetarians and non-vegetarians will snack on this dish many a time during their Indonesian vacation.
A note to vegetarians: gado-gado is usually served with krupuk (crackers), which are often flavored with prawn. I always just put them to the side.
Tempeh
When I first came to Indonesia I was ecstatic that tempeh plays such a large role in Indonesian cuisine. I’m sure not everyone shares my enthusiasm for tempeh, but I think most vegetarians and vegans can understand my excitement.
Tempeh is everywhere in Indonesia: it is fried up and sold by street vendors as a common snack, and it is also featured in many Indonesian vegetarian dishes (and meat dishes). The nice thing about local buffets is that there are bound to be numerous tempeh dishes, which means eating local is pretty easy (and really cheap!) for vegetarians.
Tahu Berontak
Like tempeh, tahu (tofu) is cooked up everywhere in Indonesia. Tahu berontak is a really popular snack and it’s incredibly addictive. Street vendors stuff huge hunks of tofu with anything from cabbage to carrots to bean sprouts and deep fry them until they’re deliciously crunchy. This dish is often served with a sweet and spicy sauce called kacap manis.
Onde-Onde
Onde-onde are puffy, ball-shaped pastries and are commonly filled with lotus, mung bean or red bean pastes and coated in sesame seeds. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of onde-onde, but everyone else seems to love it!
Cendol
This super sweet dessert is found in a few countries around Southeast Asia, but it is particularly popular in Indonesia. It’s made from coconut milk, a brown sugar syrup and topped with green pieces of jelly. The jelly might sound weird to some but I assure you, it’s really good!
Exotic Fruits
Being a vegetarian can be tough in a lot of countries, but the amazing selection of fruit makes being a vegetarian in Indonesia so much easier. My personal favorites are dragon fruit (especially red dragon fruit) and mangosteen (it’s so sweet it tastes like candy!). There are just absurd amounts of amazing and even downright bizarre fruits to choose from in Indonesia.
Grilled Corn with Sambal
There’s just something about freshly grilled corn that I can’t get enough of, especially when it’s slathered with seasoned butter and spicy sambal. Sambal is a spicy sauce concocted from chili peppers, ginger, garlic, shallots and more.
Indonesians appear to put it on virtually everything…a habit I’ve picked up since moving here. Vegetarians in Indonesia need to be careful that the sambal isn’t made with shrimp or fish paste (you’ll be able to smell it immediately). When it’s not, sambal is the best thing ever and tastes particularly good on piping hot corn!
See? Finding vegetarian food in Indonesia isn’t so hard. It helps that there are a ton of popular Indonesian vegetarian dishes to choose from!
If you’re Bali-bound, check out “My Ultimate Vegetarian Guide to Bali, Indonesia“
Never heard of these dishes before! I think it’s very important to try out new cuisines wherever you go, and it seems you have done a great job with it!
I think it’s important to try new foods too, which is why being a vegetarian can be so frustrating. I typically feel like I’m missing out on so much! But in Indonesia there is a good amount to choose from. I’ve been able to eat fairly well here 🙂
Dear madam , can we get enough material to cook indian veg food in our kitchen in Indonesia.
I’m sure you can hunt them down!
Oh how I miss tempe… the Indonesians definitely do it best! I couldn’t get enough of it on our travels to Java and Bali. I loved Indonesian food (although we did begin to get a bit sugared out by the end of our time in Java, especially in Jogja where they love sweet things).
Those ’emping’ crackers that are served with gado-gado in Java are addictive, as is burbur sum sum (that yummy coconutty rice flour custard with palm sugar syrup).
I think Indonesia is a great places for vegans and vegetarians – we never went hungry and mainly ate local food which is always a treat.
A seriously hunger-inducing post Justine!
The tempeh in Indonesia is so good and fresh. It’s definitely better than the stuff I would buy at the store back in the states. I don’t think I tried hard enough to discover all of the veg-friendly foods on offer when I was backpacking around Indonesia. But since moving to Jakarta I’ve realized just how many vegetarian and vegan options there are here. And they’re available everywhere!
OMG. I know I have already complained ad nauseum on my own blog about how Mexico is the land of meat and no vegetables (so weird since it was my understanding from shopping in U.S./Canadian grocery stores that many vegetables are grown here… maybe they are exporting them all?!?), so I was legitimately salivating going through this post. I LOVED those corn fritters, and really, what I wouldn’t do for corn that is actually sweet and crisp, rather than chewy and starchy as it seems to be here in Mexico. I would probably even go for a plate of gado gado, a dish I DID NOT like when we were in Indonesia. The peanut sauce was obviously brilliant, but I hated how bland and boring the veggies were—the ones I tried were always boiled within an inch of their lives, which is my least favorite way to enjoy veggies!
I know you are missing Mexican food now that you are in Indonesia, but I guess the grass is always greener, eh? 😉
Steph, the corn fritters are so good! I kind of wish I would have never tried them because there are times when I literally eat them every day, and clearly that can’t be good for me. I’ve even taken to making them myself, which means there is an endless supply. I love them and I admit that I have a problem.
That’s bizarre to me that the corn is so crappy in Mexico. I would think that with all the corn tortillas they would have an endless supply of excellent corn there. But I guess not! Hey man, the grass is definitely greener…what I would do for some real tacos…and cheese…and guacamole…and salsa. I literally dream about Mexican food, so I feel your pain about missing food!
It’s awesome that you have so many veggie-friendly foods in Indonesia! I love that these vegetarian foods are simply integral to the culture. (That’s not as true about Spain, where many vegetable-based dishes pile on ham or tuna.)
At first glance, I thought that cendol was a salad or some other greens! And the spicy bakwan sounds so delicious. I’d love to visit Indonesia and try all of these unique foods!
It is interesting that these foods are eaten by everyone here. I suppose it’s because a lot of Indonesian can’t afford to eat a lot of meat, since it’s more pricey, so things like veggies and tempeh have become staples of the cuisine. Ha, that’s funny about food in Spain. I’m sure traveling there would be a bit challenging for me because Spanish food looks delicious. I’d want to eat it all!
well, tempeh actually originated from Indonesia, it’s form Java Island to be exact. So, it’s no wonder if tempeh in indonesia more famous and more fresh than in another country. it has been recognized in Java since 17th century. In Indonesia you can find different type of tempe dish, such as tempe bacem, tempe mendoan, tempe kering (Dry tempe), soup tempeh, perkedel tempeh, tempe sayur lodeh, tumis tempe, sambal tempe, tempe penyet, and many more of them
sorry I misplace my comment! LOL
Yes, the tempeh in Indonesia is so good! As a vegetarian, I am so glad that it plays such a big role in the cuisine here 🙂 I’ve tried a lot of tempeh dishes here, but I’m not sure what they’re called! Sambal tempeh sounds especially good though!
Oh wow, so yummy!! I tried gado gado in India but I would love to try the authentic kind in Indonesia! I am also very interested in those corn fritters they look quite delicious. I am glad you were able to find so many tasty veggie options. It’s always a nice surprise when you go somewhere exotic and there are so many local items to eat! And tropical fruit is a weakness for me, I can’t get enough when I am somewhere with new fruits!! Thanks for sharing your advice, it’s good to know I can eat some good food whenever I make it to Indonesia 🙂
Katie
I’m so obsessed with the corn fritters that I made my own last night. They are so good and really easy to make! When I was traveling here I really did assume Indonesia was not at all veg-friendly. But after living here I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot out there if you just look. Oh, I love tropical fruits too. I love being able to discover all of the new and weird ones…there are so many!
Great post! You’re right, it is possible to find some meatless dishes in Indonesia – but it’s not always easy! A personal favorite for me is Gulai Nangka (Jackfruit Curry). But, depending on how strict a vegetarian you are, realize that pretty much all Indonesian dishes, like Sayur Lodeh and Sayur Asem, have terasi (shrimp paste/sauce) or tiram (oyster sauce) in them!
I just googled that jackfruit curry and it sounds so good. I would love to try it. It’s amazing how many different foods there are in this country. Indonesia is just so big and diverse! Yes, the shrimp paste is the hardest thing to avoid. I’ve detected it in my food on many occasions and just push those items to the side. Being a vegetarian can be a big pain in the ass 😉
I didn’t realize Indonesia was such a gem for vegetarian food! Everything on this list sounds amazing, especially the Bakwan Jagung and Sambal. I miss Southeast Asian fruit so much, and I’m not sure why I didn’t try mangosteen while I was travelling there.
It is possible to find veg food if you look. But as Luke pointed out in a previous comment there is a lot of shrimp paste to be avoided! Regardless, I find that I’m able to eat at a lot of local buffets, which are really popular here. The bakwan are so good and mangosteens are amazing! You have to try one next time you’re able!!
Yum, this all looks so delicious! I’m not vegetarian myself but I’m not a big meat-lover so I often go with the veggie options, especially in Asia where it’s all about the fruit and veg for me! I should be going back to Indonesia in a few months and I’m really excited to try all the ones I haven’t tried before on this list!
They are all so good Camille! Well, except for the onde-onde. I’m not so sure about that one. You have to try the bakwan when you come back here. They are so good. I just got back from Bali where I tried one that was completely different than what I’ve had in Jakarta. They are such an addiction 😉
The Indonesian food looks incredibly delicious. I miss so much the Asian food and since we’ve returned to Europe it’s not easy to find some authentic restaurants that serves proper Asian food. I’d love to have some Sayur Lodeh right now which I’ve never tried before, plus those mangosteen look so good and mouth watering, want!
Indonesian food is really good. It tends to get overshadowed by Thai and Malaysian food, but in my opinion Indonesia has some amazing dishes. And, for me personally, it’s really nice to have so many vegetarian options 🙂 I love mangosteens! I always miss them when I’m back in the states. The fruit in Southeast Asia is the best!
I tasted the BAKWAN JAGUNG and Grill Corn
Both are so tasty 😉
You can visit jogja and try another foods and drinks like gethuk, gudeg, wedang ronde, wedang bajigur or delicious Kopi Jos! Black coffee with smolder carbon :3
I’ve never heard of any of these Jethra! It just goes to show just how many different dishes there are in Indonesia. It would take a lifetime to try them all!
I travelled around Indonesia a decade ago (long before going vegan), but I just remember eating nasi goreng and mie goreng the whole time. I found the food really monotonous; clearly I didn’t dig deep enough! I’ll have to back and try all of these dishes one day. Do you know which ones are vegan?
I had the same experience as you, Wendy. Before I moved to Jakarta I spent two months traveling through Java and Bali. I feel like all I ate was gado-gado and nasi goreng. It got really old, really fast. It seriously took living here for many, many months for me to start to realize that I could actually eat a bunch of local foods. Of course maybe the situation is different in Jakarta than in other places in Indonesia. But I’ve been to Bali multiple times since moving here and been able to eat at local, hole-in-the-wall restaurants. The tempeh dishes are a life saver. But I have accidentally picked ones that have fish sauce a few times. It is a bit hit or miss. As far is which ones are vegan I’m not positive, but I think each and every one of these is. You do have to be careful about the sambal. For the most part it is made with fish or shrimp paste. And I don’t think the jelly in the cendol is made with gelatin. As far as I know it’s just rice flour and pandan, but I could be wrong about that!
Thanks Justine. It’s funny, when I first went veggie I read that tempeh was Indonesian, and I’ve always wondered if it was really true because I just can’t remember eating it there. I actually hated the food in Indonesia, but I’m sure my experience would be completely different if I went back now. Far from being a limitation, going vegan has actually helped me to discover local specialties that I would have completely overlooked before.
That’s so funny. I had no idea tempeh was a thing here either when I was traveling around. It might be a bigger thing on Java than other islands. But it is for sure everywhere in Jakarta. And during my trips to Bali I’ve started noticing it a lot. So I think it’s really common. You’re right, be a veg or vegan makes you get really creative!
Hi, Justine. FYI, indonesia is originally a vegetarian friendly country. each region has their own signature food and they sure have a a plant based choice in it. the other food choiced you should try are Lotek, Gudeg, Pecel, Es Pisang Ijo, and maaany more!
I agree Putri! This is just another reminder of how many vegetarian dishes I still need to try 🙂
Pecal and Gado-Gado are technically the same, but often be served differently in all places around Indonesia. You should include Pecal in the list, but for all, you have a good list in here 😀
I hadn’t heard of pecal. I’ll go look it up now. Thanks for the suggestion Walter 🙂
Grill Corn always available in my family when New Year Party
Delicious, if we eat with cheese 😀
I’ve never seen it with cheese! I’d be all over that 😉
every morning, my mom always make bakwan corn for sale.
You are so lucky 🙂
There is also pecel…
Hi, I stumbled across your blog and have been fiercely scrolling through all of it! I just began my 4-month exploration of Southeast Asia and I’m currently in Indonesia. This is my first time on this side of the world and, as a vegetarian and budget traveller, this post was a godsend! (I keep accidentally ordering chicken, this is when I wish I learned bahasa Indonesia and not just Spanish). Thanks for all the great writing and advice!
Caitlin
I’m so glad to have helped. When I was traveling around Indo I had no idea how much veg-friendly food there was. I just kept ordering nasi goreng. But there honestly is a lot, especially considering the popularity of tempeh. Haha, stop ordering the ayam! Good luck and have some bakwan for me 🙂
What legal advice. I wanted to find somewhere to make vegetarian meals in Indonesia because my pass feria there. I’m dying to know Cendol.
Hi Justine,
To add to your list: acar (that’s how it is written here in Malaysia) : pickled vegetables, both served as a complete dish or a side dish, vegan and delicious 🙂
Warm regards,
Stef
I’m not sure I’ve ever had that! I’ll have to hunt it down next time I’m in Indo. Thanks Stef 🙂
I’m curious to know how foreigner give our local food a testimonial and i found it on your blog 🙂
I’m so happy to hear that you like tempe and tahu (and BAKWAN JAGUNG! ;))
If you want to make your own gado- gado, you can buy the ‘ready-to-serve’ peanut sauce in supermarket. It comes with various brands. And all you need is just add warm water into it before you served it. But it’s not as delicious as you made the sauce yourself, of course 😀
Also for the Bakwan, you can buy the bakwan flour in supermarket. Just add warm water and the corn, mix it, and fry 🙂 Abracadabra! Your favorite bakwan and gado- gado is ready to serve 🙂
I suggest you try red/pink durian (king of fruits} from Banyuwangi East Java it is seasonal Fruit and rare
Being an Indonesian, I took it for granted growing up that we have such a wonderful cuisine and a balanced diet. It is not until I lived abroad that I notice how easy it was to eat in Indonesia for every type of eater (even for me as I am allergic to fish). The hardest time for me was when I have a short stay in Russia. Oh dear… a mention of kholodets will makes me go ugh…
Anyway, I noticed that you missed so many of our vegetarian meals here. Some of my personal recommendation would be:
– Ketoprak (veggies, rice noodle, steamed tofu, mixed in a peanut sauce. Some add omelette to top it off, Yummy!)
– Tahu Gejrot (sliced fried tofu in a sour & spicy sauce)
– Bubur Polos (without chicken, this Indonesian congee topped with roasted soy nuts and scallion is my go to when I caught a cold)
– Asinan (mixture of vegetables in a sour & spicy vinegar topped with ground peanuts. Cold, fresh, and filling)
– Lontong Sayur (typical country side breakfast around my area. Sliced of unripe papaya and fried tofu served within spicy curry. Boiled egg is an option)
Hopefully you can taste more of them. Even many Indonesians still haven’t tasted every food available in our diverse cuisine. Now as a lecturer, i encourage my students to try hunting for new food and experiences outside of their own habitual daily life and make a paper out of it lol
My absolute favorite vegan dish in Indonesia is Karedok! It is a raw salad with dressing made from peanut, palm sugar and resurrection lily. It is so good! You can see how it is cooked here (sorry it’s in Indonesian, but you’ll get the gist). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zM8RJKnL00&vl=en
If you pure vegan be careful with bakwan. The flour sometimes mixed with egg. If you try tahu brontak, make sure the black and sweet sauce is “kecap manis,” not “petis.” “Kecap manis” is from fermented soy beans, but “petis” is from shrimp. Some vegetable soups are also contain shrimp as flavoring. Ask if they contain “terasi,” “rebon,” “ebi,” or ,”krese.” Terasi is shrimp sauce, “rebon/ebi” is fermented and dried small shrimp or krill, “krese” is like “ebi” but smaller.
Thank you so much for this list! I am in Indonesia for a month and this helps a lot! Do you have any recommendations for restaurants in Jakarta that have both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods? I’m with two other people who are meat-eaters for the first two weeks and don’t want to be a challenge for them when looking for places to eat! We’re in South Jakarta 🙂
Can’t wait to look through the rest of your blog!
I would look on Happy Cow (under veg friendly places). That might lead you in the right direction. There’s also two chains found in most malls that have great Indonesian food with lots of veg options: Kafe Betawi and Riungsunda. Hope this helps. Enjoy Indo!!
Hi. Just started reading your article. I’ll be visiting Jakarta soon and am also super paranoid like you, as I’m a pure vegetarian. I wanted to thank you as this article would be very helpful (and save me from starving, 🙂 ) when I’m in Indonesia. I agree it’s very difficult for a vegetarian person to survive when he’s travelling around the world. I had a tough time travelling to Sri Lanka too, a couple of years ago.
Cheers!
Glad to help. Gado gado is definitely everywhere and is always pure vegetarian (just don’t add sambal). Plus, there are malls everywhere so you’ll always be able to finding something to eat. Safe travels 🙂 Also, download the Happy Cow app so you can find veg restaurants that are near you. That’s a lifesaver!!