The 10 Best Indonesian Vegan Food for the Conscious Traveler

Over the past few years, adoption of vegan diets has increased. Statista suggests that in the United Kingdom alone, 2.5 million people are vegan. This interest in plant-based diets is predicted to keep rising over time as concerns over health, environmental impact, and animal welfare continue to rise.

This shift in dietary habits means that tourist destinations around the world have had to adjust to cater to this demographic. Fortunately for those traveling to Indonesia, the country’s cuisine is highly customizable to meet vegan preferences. Many Indonesian dishes are made entirely of vegetables. Those that are traditionally made with meat can be modified by substituting the meat with vegetables or soybean proteins, such as tofu and tempeh.

With the flexibility of Indonesian dishes, there’s no reason for your diet to stop you from exploring and enjoying this country’s unique cuisine. If you’re vegan and traveling to Indonesia, here is our guide to the 10 best Indonesian vegan food you should try during your visit.

1. Gado-gado

Salad lovers will enjoy gado-gado, the Indonesian iteration of a salad. This vegan-friendly dish usually contains steamed bean sprouts, morning glory, and long beans, though different regions will include other vegetables depending on what is available. Some provinces will include a boiled egg, so make sure to request your gado-gado without the egg to be safe. Gado-gado also contains lontong, a traditional rice cake. The salad’s rich dressing is made with peanuts and coconut milk. Added with crispy crackers, this makes for a filling dish.

2. Pecel

Another Indonesian vegan food worth trying is pecel. Similar to gado-gado, pecel is a mix of steamed vegetables, often made up of cassava leaves, spinach, long beans, and bean sprouts. Unlike gado-gado, pecel dressing is made without coconut milk, resulting in a thinner and more refreshing peanut sauce.

3. Bihun goreng sayur

Vegans might make the mistake of ordering mie goreng with just vegetables, but this doesn’t make the dish vegan, as the noodles used in mie goreng is often made with eggs. If you want a truly vegan item, order bihun goreng instead. Bihun, or rice vermicelli, is stir-fried along with vegetables and sweet soy sauce to create a delightful combination of textures: soft from the bihun yet crunchy from the vegetables.

4. Nasi campur

Directly translated as “mixed rice,” nasi campur is an Indonesian menu that can easily be made vegan. It’s a mix of rice with various side dishes. In most Indonesian warungs, you can build your own nasi campur by choosing from whatever is on display. To make your nasi campur vegan, just add vegetables and any tempe or tofu dish. Enjoy with any kind of crackers available.

5. Tahu gejrot

If you’re not feeling like a big meal, this Indonesian vegan food is the perfect light bite. Traditionally, tahu gejrot is served in a clay dish. Originating from West Java, this snack is made by frying bite-sized tofu cubes until crispy. It’s served with a sweet and spicy sauce containing pounded tamarind, palm sugar, chilies, garlic, and shallot, which are then diluted with water. The tofu will absorb the sauce, making it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

6. Kalio jamur

Kalio is a type of Indonesian curry that hails from Minangkabau, West Sumatra. It often contains meat, but you can substitute it for mushrooms to make the dish vegan. The curry itself is a fragrant mix of coconut milk, lemon grass, shallots, turmeric, garlic, and galangal. To make kalio jamur, mixed mushrooms are cooked in the curry for a short amount of time, resulting in a rich and creamy sauce. Serve with rice and you’ll get the perfect Indonesian vegan food if you’re seeking a comfort dish.

7. Nasi goreng sayur

Fried rice is one of the most versatile Indonesian foods, especially when it comes to catering to the vegan diet. Ask for nasi goreng sayur to get yours without meat and be sure to also ask for no eggs too. Some restaurants will include tofu pieces in place of the meat, which contributes to a silky texture in every bite.

8. Lawar

Hailing from Bali, lawar is a vegetable dish that is always present in Balinese nasi campur. It traditionally contains long beans, shredded jackfruit, shredded coconut, and minced meat. Spices such as turmeric, candlenuts, shallots, garlic, shrimp paste as well as the Balinese spice blend base genep, make for bright and fresh flavours. To make this dish vegan, take out the meat and replace shrimp paste with soy sauce.

9. Tempe orek

If in doubt when ordering side dishes, tempe orek is an affordable Indonesian vegan food you can opt for. The dish features small cubes or strips of tempe, first fried until golden brown and crispy, and then stir-fried with garlic, shallots, and chilies. To add extra aroma, some may add lime leaves or galangal into the mix. The final step is coating it all in a rich sweet soy sauce. Serve with warm rice to fully enjoy all its flavours.

10. Pepes jamur

Pepes is a traditional cooking method that involves steaming meat, tofu, or mushrooms wrapped in banana leaves. Each packet of banana leaf also includes spices such as garlic, shallots, turmeric, green chillies, and spring onions, with bouillon for flavour. Once unwrapped from the steamer, pepes will release all the aromas from the spices, giving you a fragrant and delicious experience.

For an Indonesian vegan food experience like no other, book a table at Merah Putih Bali, a luxury restaurant in the heart of Petitenget, Bali. Enjoy exclusive gift vouchers and be prepared to indulge in the finest Indonesian cuisine.

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