Don't Miss These Christmas Specialties While You're Visiting Indonesia

Christmas is just around the corner. Are you looking to spend the holiday in Indonesia? If yes, then you’re lucky, because there are a lot of mouthwatering Indonesian specialty dishes you can find especially during Christmas time. Curious to learn more about it? Here are five recommendations on special Christmas dishes you can taste while you’re in Indonesia.

1. Arsik-Spiced Fish, North Sumatra

Fancy spicy seafood dishes? Then this one is for you. Arsik is a fish-based specialty originated from the Mandailing and Batak Toba people in North Sumatra. The dish is usually prepared with carp, which is stewed with various spices and herbs. The thing that makes this dish unique is that it uses andaliman pepper as the key ingredients.

As andaliman pepper can only be found at the height of 1,500 meters in the area of Toba, arsik has become the specialty that represents the distinctiveness of the Mandailing and Batak Toba community. The fish is always served whole, symbolizing the entire human life, and it is usually covered with a thick gravy.

Arsik is served as the main dish and has become a common main course at important events and special occasions, especially Christmas. It’s not hard to find arsik if you’re coming to Lake Toba at the end of December, so grab one if you have a chance!

2. Selat Solo, Central Java

It might be confusing to some because the name actually translates to “Solo Strait” whereas the city is located nowhere near a coastal area. The dish is also far from what the name means: a stew consisting of beef cuts and a lot of vegetables. This is because “selat” in selat solo doesn’t actually mean strait, but more of a localization from slache, which is a Dutch word for “steak”.

At a glance, this dish looks like a combination of stew, steak, and salad. According to some research, selat solo is healthier than plain steak simply because it has lots of vegetables and natural spices. The fat and cholesterol level per serving is also much lower in selat because the meat is smaller. Selat solo can be easily found in Central Java, especially in Surakarta City or Solo during Christmas. Try this one out!

3. Suckling Roasted Pig, Bali

Known as babi guling in local’s tongues, suckling roasted pig has been a common traditional celebration specialty in some parts of the world including the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, as well as Indonesia, especially in Bali region.

In Bali, suckling roasted pig is usually served with lawar (a mixture of vegetables, coconut and minced meat) and steamed rice; it is a popular dish in Balinese restaurants and food stalls. You can enjoy this dish whenever you want when you’re visiting Bali, but it definitely feels more special to consume during Christmas. Come and taste it yourself!

4. Brenebon Soup, North Sulawesi

If you think the name sounds unique, that’s because brenebon soup is actually a local adaptation of the term bruinebonensoep, which means kidney beans in Dutch language. The soup is commonly found in the Eastern part of Indonesia and is associated with Manado cuisine from North Sulawesi.

In its original version, the Manadonese people usually prepare the soup using pig’s trotters or pork meat. However, as the dish gained more popularity in Java, where the majority of the population are Muslim, pork is substituted with fatty cuts of beef like brisket or ribs for the soup base. Eating brenebon soup during Christmas will surely warm your heart and belly, so don’t miss this one!

5. Bagea, East Nusa Tenggara

The main dishes are covered. Let’s get to the dessert! Bagea is a cookie originating from eastern part of Indonesia, such as North Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua, and also East Nusa Tenggara. This dessert is made of sago flour mixed with brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The dough is wrapped in palm leaves and baked until crispy and ready to serve.

Bagea is usually served in small oval pieces. It has a rather solid texture but melts in the mouth when eaten. Sounds delicious, right? Well, you can find this dessert at Christmas time when you’re visiting East Nusa Tenggara, especially Labuan Bajo. Come and have a bite!

These Christmas specialties are what makes the celebration in Indonesia so lively. Are you planning to go to Indonesia at the end of the year? If so, we want to kindly remind you to comply with all the health protocols, be a respon sible traveler, and keep practicing healthy habits such as wearing a mask in public places, washing hands frequently, and implementing physical distancing. Learn about the latest international travel regulations and follow our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok for updated information regarding travel and creative economy in Indonesia.