Have you ever wondered if there is any Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can find in Indonesia? As a country with multicultural tribes, Indonesia also contains Chinese-Indonesian that living there for centuries which is different from the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia. They have influenced so many fusion foods that inspire by Chinese Indonesian recipes.
Most Chinese Indonesian fusion food that exists in Indonesia used to contain the original Chinese recipe. As time goes by, most of them modify the recipe to Indonesian taste but keep the original recipe as well different from some traditional dances from Indonesian that are recognized by UNESCO.
If you are wondering what kind of Chinese Indonesian fusion food you can consume while traveling in Indonesia, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. Laksa
Laksa is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that influences by Chinese recipes. There is some kind of Laksa in Indonesia, such as Laksa Betawi from the Betawi tribe in Jakarta, Laksa Medan from North Sumatra, and Laksa Bogor in West Java which is different from the most isolated tribes in Indonesia.
Laksa is made from noodles that are poured with coconut milk which combine with both Chinese and Indonesian recipes as the spices commonly come from Indonesian. It makes the noodles soup of Laksa has the authentic Chinese taste with Indonesian spices.
2. Kwetiau
Kwetiau is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can found it in most Chinese Indonesian restaurants. Kwetiau is a kind of noodle that has a flat form, which makes it unique from the common noodles in Indonesia.
There are some types of Kwetiau that you can consume in Indonesia, such as stir-fried Kwetiau with seafood, a boiled Kwetiau with chicken or beef, poured Kwetiau or Kwetiau Siram based on flat noodles poured with a thicker beef sauce.
3. Cap Cay
Cap cay is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can easily find in most Chinese Indonesian restaurants. You can even find it in some typical Indonesian wedding traditions as their menus. It is a kind of mixed vegetable that is stir-fried properly using Indonesian spices that mix with Chinese recipes.
Cap cay commonly not only contain vegetables but also chicken, beef, or seafood. Most Chinese Indonesian commonly not only make it stir-fried but also of them cook it as a boiled cap cay.
4. Fu Yung Hai
Fu Yung Hai is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can easily find around Chinese Indonesian restaurants. It is a kind of omelet that is filled with some vegetables, chicken, beef, or even seafood.
Fu Yung Hai is commonly served using a unique sauce that tastes sweet and sour, which comes from a Chinese recipe. The sauce makes it more delicious to consume, whether for a snack or a side dish.
5. Typical Dishes Based on Mie
Most typical dishes based on Mie are influenced by Chinese Indonesian culture. That is why any kind of dish based on Mie is commonly categorized as Chinese Indonesian fusion food. You can find many typical dishes based on noodles or Mie, such as Mie Ayam, Mie Goreng, Mire Kering, and many more.
Noodles used to believe as the must-have staple food for Chinese Indonesian. That is why any typical dishes based on noodles commonly represent Chinese Indonesian fusion food. You can find this kind of dish in most Chinese Indonesian restaurants, such as some best cafes in South Jakarta.
6. Sapo Tahu
Sapo Tahu is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can find in most Chinese Indonesian restaurants. It is a kind of soup that contains tofu, silken egg tofu, and mixes vegetables, chicken, beef, or seafood. All of those ingredients are served using a clay pot.
Sapo Tahu commonly cooks with Indonesian herbs and spices as well. That makes it more has an Indonesian taste even though the recipe is based on Chinese Indonesian. This kind of soup is perfect to consume during the rainy season as well.
7. Mun Tahu
Mun Tahu is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that looks similar to Sapo Tahu. This kind of Chinese Indonesian dish contains silken tofu that mixes with braised chicken and leeks. The soup on Mun Tahu has a thicker size compared to Sapo Tahu.
Mun Tahu commonly cooks properly using Indonesian spices and herbs such as ginger, garlic, onion, and soy sauce. All of them mix properly using maize flour, which makes the soup thicker.
You can find Mun Tahu in most Chinese Indonesian restaurants or at seasonal events for Chinese Indonesian. They are not only serving the Mun Tahu with braised chicken but beef or pork as well.
8. Swikee
Swikee is one of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can find in a specific Chinese Indonesian restaurant. Most Chinese Indonesian restaurants are serving this kind of food because some Muslims believe it is a non-halal food.
Swikee contains frog legs that cook properly using Indonesian spices and herbs such as garlic, ginger, fermented soy sauce or Tauco, and pepper. It can be cooked stir-fried, soup, or even deep-fried. Some people even cooked it with a banana leave to subtle the taste.
In some regions in Indonesia, such as Purwodadi in Central Java or Majalengka in West Java, Swikee is one of their most popular dishes, which represents their local food.
So, there are some of the most popular Chinese Indonesian fusion food that you can find when exploring the country. Have you ever tried one of that food? Tell us which one that becomes your favorite so far.
