West Sumatra is home to one of Indonesia's most internationally renowned dishes, rendang. Actually, there are other West Sumatran traditional foods which are equally tasty and appetizing.
In addition, some West Sumatran foods can also be found in various areas in Indonesia, such as nasi padang. Discover other traditional foods from this region that you must try during your vacation there in the list below:
1. Rendang
Rendang is popular even internationally. This dish is known for its slow-cooking process, which takes hours.
Beef is cooked in coconut milk together with a blend of spices, such as lemongrass, galangal, garlic, shallots, chili peppers, and other seasonings. The mixture is cooked until the coconut milk is almost completely absorbed and the meat becomes tender, resulting in rendang’s signature rich and complex flavor.
2. Ayam Pop
Ayam pop is a traditional Minangkabau dish from West Sumatra that stands out from other chicken-based meals. It is typically made from free-range chicken cut into pieces and boiled in coconut water with spices such as garlic, ginger, and salt.
After being boiled, the chicken is then fried for a while until its outside layers are dry, while still maintaining the softness and tenderness of the meat inside. Ayam pop is typically served with a certain sambal and savory broth to offer a light flavor and appetizing taste.
3. Nasi Kapau
Aside from nasi padang, you can also enjoy other variations of this traditional West Sumatra food. Nasi kapau is different from nasi padang, since it is served with many and various dishes, rich in spices.
Common dishes found in nasi kapau include gulai tunjang (cow trotters), gulai usus (intestines gulai), rendang, dendeng (a type of beef jerky), and other vegetables cooked with coconut milk and spices. A distinctive feature of nasi Kapau is its serving style, where the dishes are displayed in rows of small serving bowls.
4. Sate Padang
Sate padang is another well-known traditional dish from West Sumatra besides nasi padang. Unlike most satay varieties, sate padang may use not only beef but also beef tongue and other beef offal.
Moreover, sate padang is different due to its thick sauce made of rice flour mixed with various spices, such as turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, and chili to produce savory and spicy taste.
5. Dendeng Balado
The next traditional West Sumatra food is dendeng balado. Beef is sliced thinly and is fried until it becomes dry and crispy. This type of beef jerky (dendeng) is then served with sambal balado, which is made of red chili, onion, garlic, and a bit of lime juice.
This dish offers not only an appealing contrast between the crispy beef and the soft sambal but also a bold and flavorful taste.
6. Ikan Asam Padeh
Ikan asam padeh is a dish made of fish cooked in a sour and spicy broth. The types of fish typically used are skipjack tuna or Spanish mackerel cooked in spices, such as red chili, malabar tamarind, lemongrass, galangal, and lime leaf.
The red color and sour and spicy taste in ikan asam padeh results in a refreshing flavor, which is suitable to be served alongside warm rice. Ikan asam padeh is not only unique, because it also offers health benefits due to its nutrient-dense ingredients.
7. Itiak Lado Mudo
If you love duck, you should not miss itiak lado mudo. This traditional West Sumatran specialty features duck cooked with green chili sambal.
Duck meat is boiled first until it is tender and is cooked alongside green sambal, made of green chili, onion, garlic, and green tomatoes. The long cooking process allows the spices to fully infuse into the meat, creating a fresh, spicy, and aromatic flavor.
8. Bika Talago
Bika talago is often bought as a souvenir. This traditional cake is made from coconut milk, rice flour, and sugar. The batter is poured into special molds and baked over charcoal, producing a distinctive aroma and pleasant sweetness.
The texture of this cake is chewy on the inside and crunchy on its outside. Bika talago can be found easily and is typically sold in traditional markets.
9. Lamang
The next West Sumatra native food is lamang, which is a sticky rice dish. Sticky rice which has been mixed with coconut milk and a bit of salt is inserted into a bamboo and roasted on flame embers until it is cooked.
This process produces soft and fragrant sticky rice infused with the aroma of bamboo and the savory richness of coconut milk. Lamang is often enjoyed as a breakfast menu or snack, and served with serundeng (spiced coconut grate) or tapai (fermented cassava) to add flavors and unique taste.
10. Gulai Banak
Gulai banak is a dish made from cow brain cooked in coconut milk and spices. The soft-textured cow brain is simmered in coconut milk seasoned with turmeric, galangal, Indonesian bay leaves, and lemongrass.
This dish has a unique taste and soft texture, which is also an iconic and challenging dish from the region for traditional food lovers. Gulai banak is often served as a dish in nasi padang.
This concludes the list of West Sumatra traditional foods that you can find in other regions in Indonesia. This proves that West Sumatran dishes are highly appetizing and loved by many people.
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