Indonesian Traditional Breakfast You Need To Try

Going to Indonesia but having eggs benedict, sausages, and muffins as your breakfast? No Way! Throw it away or go back you tourist! Hahaha, I'm kidding, there's absolutely nothing wrong with having those as breakfast :p, but what if we elevate your taste buds a little bit? Hmm... something a little more traditional and very Indonesian-like perhaps. 

Here's goes my all-time favorite Indonesian breakfast since I was a kid... some of them are not easy to make which I don't recommend you to make as well hahaha, but these breakfasts are cheap, easy to find and gonna make you full which is perfect!

1. Nasi Uduk & Nasi Kuning

Rice cooked with coconut milk and lemongrass, served with many side dishes and varied in each city/town is one of the most typical Indonesian breakfasts for work, school or just enjoying your relaxed morning. 

This nasi uduk is almost the same as nasi kuning though as the name goes, nasi kuning means yellow rice. They are both essentially the same, served the same way with several side dishes together and both have chips! Indonesian most infamous chips. These two will definitely make your belly full and feel satisfied as the smell of the rice is sooo good with the hint of lemongrass (especially when they are warm!), and the crunchy and salty fried shallots on top that when you eat it in one go... oh heavens. Not to forget the classic fried egg, a little bit of spicy tempe that give the rice a kick to it and also the lovely sweet and savory vermicelli. 

Of course, in most places, there are different and varied side dishes for nasi uduk and nasi kuning, but again, essentially they are the same. They are also very cheap, one plate can cost 15-25k. You can buy this from mini gerobak on the side of the street or a streetside eatery which we called "Warung'". They serve the best nasi uduk and nasi kuning with generous amounts and cheap!

2. Lontong Sayur

Lontong sayur is a traditional food, a typical breakfast from Minang, West Sumatera. Lontong is somewhat what I would consider a light breakfast rather than Nasi Uduk/Nasi Kuning. Lontong is rice wrapped in banana leaves in a rectangular shape served with broth or soup that is cooked in Minang spices with coconut milk. 

Usually, one or two lontong cuts into pieces, serve with the santan/coconut milk soup/broth plus veggies, egg and also red chips - some even have cow gravel in it. The best eat while hot and you want to eat the lontong altogether with the broth and veggies to have that one perfect taste and smell.

The price is not that expensive, it usually costs 12-15k, depending on how many lontong you want to have it. So yeah, we count the price based on the lontong or the wrapped rice. This taste somewhat a bit sweet from the broth because they cook it with coconut milk, while the lontong itself has no taste - literally like rice, and you can also eat it with sambal to elevate the taste even better. 

3. Ketupat

This food is almost similar but very different from lontong, the food number 2.

Ketupat, this diamond shape food, is also rice-based food wrapped in woven young coconut leaves and some you might find use palm leaves. They are very famous during the Ramadhan celebration, as this is one of the main food during the Ramadhan celebration which happens once a year. 

When it's close to Ramadhan, often people who celebrate it will make ketupat and also some cuisine such as Rendang, Ayam Opor, Kentang Balado and many more. They will give this to their neighbors or family. Some also give cakes and others, because traditionally, you'll have an open house when you have a big celebration at home and you'll always have to have food right? So that's why we have many foods and cakes at home to celebrate the celebration.

This ketupat, as I've said before, comes with many other types of dishes like rendang, chicken, egg, potatoes and many more. So you'll have to eat the ketupat with one of these. They'll cut the ketupat into pieces and serve it together with the other dishes as you wish. They are very delicious and this is one of my favorites. I don't think you get this on a day-to-day basis because they are really for Ramadhan mostly, and probably because of that as well this can cost about 25k for one plate.

The price totally worth it though, because if you look at the picture, the amount of both, ingredients and spices is insane. Every Indonesian cuisine can be guaranteed using a lot of spices and usually cook in big batches which can make the price cheaper, but this type of food is definitely an expensive one. You can also add the ketupat which can make your belly a lot more full. 

4. Gorengan/Fritter withTeh Manis / Kopi 

Looking for something simple and easy because you can't eat too much in the morning? No worries! Indonesian typical breakfast got it covered! This can count as breakfast as well snack and is even suitable for afternoon tea time. That is Gorengan with sweet tea or Teh manis. Gorengan is sooo famous and cheap in Indonesia, you find them everywhere and can even make it your own. These, of course, are very varied from sweet, and savory, to a salty types of gorengan. Gorengan basically means fried as a noun, which is something light that you fried and it becomes like a dish or snack.

Gorengan  from the word goreng means to fry, can be fried tempe, fried tofu, fried banana, fried cassava, bakwan which is several veggies fried together with flour batter. They are delicious, very simple and little size... served better in hot and together with your favorite tea or coffee. My mom loves tea and coffee in the morning, we always buy several gorengan and have it with hot tea and coffee. If you live somewhere chilly, this is perfect to eat with your hot tea/coffee in hand, and just... relax, talking and sharing thoughts in the morning. Perfect companion!

You can also buy them in warung or gerobak on the street...one gorengan cost very varied. 4 gorengan can cost 10k or 1 gorengan can cost 1.5k - 2k, which is very cheap! Imagine paying money to abang-abang that helps you park your car/motorcycle, that same amount of money you can also use to get 1 or 2 gorengan!

5. Bubur ayam

Last but not least, known as chicken porridge this is definitely different from your usual western or Asian chicken porridge. This type of porridge is what I called Indonesian porridge, all goes back to the roots of Indonesian traditional food. 

White basic porridge with shredded chicken, peanut, chopped green onion, fried shallot, hard-boiled egg, and peanuts and serve with fried chips and special chicken broth. You can get one bowl for about 12k-15k for the amount just enough for breakfast. 

Some like to have it with extra white pepper and if you like your food a bit sweet, some also add like to add a bit of sweet soy sauce to their bubur ayam.

Welp, those are the five most favorite and the most food you'd likely see when you are in Indonesia! Have you ever tried one of these food? And would you like to try it? Tell me what you think!!