In addition to its various natural tourist destinations, East Nusa Tenggara also offers authentic Indonesian food with a unique and delicious taste.
The culinary specialties of the Nusa Cendana region have natural flavors due to the minimalist use of seasonings. In this part of Nusa Tenggara, you can find dishes with spicy, salty, savory, and sweet flavors blending into one. Very unique, isn't it?
Well, are you curious about what Indonesian food is like? Here are recommendations for East Nusa Tenggara food that you shouldn't miss. Check them out!
East Nusa Tenggara Specialty Recommendations
If you're a fan of dishes with natural flavors and minimal uses of spices, the traditional food of East Nusa Tenggara may suit you.
But, before exploring the various culinary destinations in this part of Nusa Tenggara, make sure to bring enough drinking water to prevent dehydration.
For that, always prepare AQUA 1500 ml during vacation and a culinary adventure in East Nusa Tenggara.
AQUA water feels cold even though it's not refrigerated, proof that AQUA comes from a protected source that allows preserved natural mineral composition.
Thanks to AQUA's natural cold sensation, you don't have to worry about being thirsty when looking for East Nusa Tenggara's specialties under the hot sun.
Note that AQUA is 100% pure mountain water that contains natural minerals without any added substances, making it safe for consumption.
Now, once you have AQUA 1500 ml, prepare to explore the following must-try East Nusa Tenggara culinary specialties below!
1. Kue Alu Ndene
Originating from the Ende area, Flores, kue alu ndene is made from the sedimented juice of nuabosi yam. Once the sweet potato juice is precipitated, the sediment will be dried until the texture resembles flour.
The flour will then be mixed with grated coconut and salt and shaped flat using a coconut shell.
This East Nusa Tenggara specialty is often served with brown sugar, offering a unique and delicious sensation of sweet, savory, and salty.
2. Manggulu
Many Indonesians think that manggulu is similar to dodol. Looking at the appearance, it might look slightly similar.
What makes the two traditional foods different is the raw material. Manggulu is made from dried bananas and peanuts. The materials are then wrapped in dried banana leaves.
Local people believe that banana leaves contain natural preservatives that can keep manggulu from spoiling.
According to local stories, manggulu used to be Dutch soldiers' favorite food. Manggulu also comes in a small size, which makes it suitable for souvenirs.
3. Kue Jawada
Still in the sweet treat category, East Nusa Tenggara offers a crunchy pastry called kue jawada. Due to the shape, locals call it hair cookies.
When you visit East Nusa Tenggara, either Labuan Bajo or its surroundings, you should try this cake. Its sweet taste is a suitable choice to accompany warm coffee in the morning.
4. Kolo (Bamboo Rice)
Kolo means burnt bamboo rice in the local language. It's made from rice and seasoned with a mixture of coconut milk, salt, pandan leaves, garlic, and ginger.
After being seasoned, the rice is then put into a banana leaf-covered bamboo. Then, the bamboo will be burned over hot coals.
Kolo is often served as the main carb in a banquet. Generally, it's paired with side dishes, stir-fried vegetables, and other menus.
5. Karmanaci
The next specialty of East Nusa Tenggara is karmanaci. It's made from minced meat sautéed with shallots, garlic, galangal, ginger, coriander, ground pepper, and roasted anise.
With spices as the main seasoning, karmanaci offers a savory and delicious taste.
At first glance, this food may look similar to meat stews. However, its flavor is much more complex because of the spices that dominate the taste.
6. Rumpu Rampe
Rumpu rampe is a dish from Maumere. It's made from sautéed papaya leaves and flowers. Then, it's seasoned with shallots, garlic, red chili, and cayenne pepper.
Rumpu rampe has a spicy and fresh flavor. The savory bitterness of the coconut leaves will spoil your mouth with its unique combination of flavors. Usually, rumpu rampe is served with white rice and other dishes, such as cooked fish or meat.
7. Catemak Jagung
Catemak jagung is often served as a dessert by locals. This East Nusa Tenggara specialty has a salty and savory taste.
Catemak jagung is made from corn, peanuts, and green beans. Sometimes, people add pumpkin to the mixture. Some people also add brown sugar and a little salt to enhance the flavor.
8. Pelepah Manuk
Pelepah manuk is a traditional dish of East Nusa Tenggara. It's traditionally made from bird meat. As time goes by, many use chicken instead of birds but still use the same spices.
The bird or chicken meat will be grilled first. Then, it will be put in a pot filled with spices, such as coriander, pepper, and turmeric. Bay leaves and lemongrass can be added as well for flavoring. This dish is best eaten with warm rice.
9. Daging Belacang
Daging belacang is a specialty of East Nusa Tenggara. While it may look similar to rendang, the recipe and seasoning are different.
This dish is made from diced beef sautéed using shallots, cayenne pepper, shrimp paste, roasted candlenuts, peppercorns, ginger, galangal, bay leaves, and lemongrass.
Like other main dishes, daging belacang is often served with warm white rice. Adding fried onions will also make it tastier.
10. Nuabosi Yam
Nuabosi yam, the material for kue alu ndene, can be eaten as it is. In the local language, nuabosi is spelled “Uwi Ai Nuabosi” which means ordinary yam.
This sweet potato is usually boiled and served with various types of chili sauce, such as sambal terasi or sambal luat.
Those are some specialty dishes from East Nusa Tenggara that you should try in the area known as Kota Karang Kupang (Coral City of Kupang).
Throughout the natural beauty and culinary diversity exploration, you should not forget about your water intake.
As mentioned earlier, don't forget to always have AQUA 1500 ml during vacation to keep your body hydrated.
Why AQUA DULU? Because not all water is AQUA. AQUA water is naturally filtered by layers of rocks that are rich in natural minerals and then processed untouched by human hands. It then goes through 400 stages of quality testing before being widely distributed.
AQUA 1500 ml is the perfect choice to accompany your travels and culinary tours. Its large packaging can hold enough drinking water to meet your fluid needs while traveling.
Last but not least, AQUA is an authentic Indonesian product with Halal, BPOM, and SNI certificates, ensuring safe consumption. AQUA is 100% Pure, 100% Indonesian, and 100% Halal.
