Explore the distinctive taste of Bengkulu which offers a combination of savory, spicy, and sour from local ingredients such as fish, shark meat, bamboo shoots, and durian.
Bengkulu is known for the unique taste of its culinary traditions. The city has a variety of foods that are not only delicious, but also reflect the richness of local culture. Every dish from Bengkulu presents a harmonious blend of flavors, ranging from savory, spicy, sweet, to sour.
Local ingredients such as sea fish, shark meat, bamboo shoots, and durian are processed with a variety of special spices, creating authentic deliciousness. Here are some Typical Bengkulu Foods that you must try if you visit this province.
1. Pendap
Pendap is one of the most famous foods in Bengkulu. This dish is made from fish, either sea fish or freshwater fish, which is seasoned with special spices such as garlic, galangal, chili, salt, and grated coconut.
Uniquely, the seasoned fish is then wrapped in taro leaves and steamed for approximately 8 hours. This long cooking process makes the fish soft and the spices are perfectly absorbed, resulting in a refreshing savory and spicy taste. Pendap is usually served with warm white rice, perfect to be enjoyed at any time.
2. Shark Bagar
For seafood lovers, Bagar Hiu offers something different. As the name suggests, this dish uses shark meat as its main ingredient, specifically horn shark. Shark is seasoned with chili and typical Bengkulu spices, then cooked until tender and the spices are absorbed.
Even though the use of shark meat is increasingly rare, Shark Bagar remains one of the symbols of traditional Bengkulu cuisine. It is said that this food was also a favorite of Indonesia’s first President, Ir. Soekarno, during his exile in Bengkulu.
3. Undak Liling Tamarind Bamboo Shoots
This dish may sound unique to many people, but Rebung Asam Undak Liling is one of the most popular foods in Bengkulu. Made from bamboo shoots (young bamboo) that have been soaked for several days until they produce a sour taste, this food is combined with black snails or lilig.
Once the bamboo shoots are ready, both are cooked together with Bengkulu’s typical spices. This dish offers a fresh sour taste sensation, combined with the chewy texture of the black snails.
Rebung Asam Undak Liling is often found in traditional Bengkulu houses and is one of the mainstay foods in various events.
4. Lemang Tapai
Bengkulu also has a variety of foods that are closely related to traditional celebrations and ceremonies, one of which is Lemang Tapai. Lemang, made from sticky rice and coconut milk, is cooked in a bamboo fire until cooked.
The cooking process requires special skills to keep the texture of the sticky rice soft. This dish is then served with sweet and slightly sour sticky rice tapai, often combined with durian to add to the deliciousness.
Lemang Tapai is very popular during traditional celebrations and is a symbol of togetherness in Bengkulu society.
5. Durian Softener
For durian fans, Lempuk Durian is the right choice as a typical Bengkulu souvenir. Lempuk durian is made by mixing durian, sugar, and wheat flour, then cooked until it thickens like dodol.
Its sweet taste with a strong durian aroma makes this lempuk one of many people’s favorite snacks. Lempuk durian is also long-lasting, making it suitable to be brought as a souvenir from Bengkulu.
6. Flying Noodles
One of the modern culinary innovations from Bengkulu is Mie Terbang, which has become a culinary sensation because of its unique presentation. This noodle is served in an interesting way, where the chopsticks appear to float above the noodle bowl, as if ‘flying’.
In terms of taste, Mie Terbang uses traditional spices typical of tek-tek noodles, with a savory sauce made from chicken stock and secret spices. These noodles are sprinkled with fried onions and scallions, making it a dish that is not only eye-catching but also appetizing.
7. Banana Curry
Banana Gulai is one of Bengkulu’s culinary innovations that is quite unique. If usually gulai in Indonesia uses meat or fish as the main ingredient, in Bengkulu this gulai actually uses banana as the main ingredient.
Kepok or raja bananas which have a dense texture are cooked with special gulai spices, producing an unusual combination of savory and sweet flavors. This Banana Gulai is often a surprise for tourists who try it, because the taste is different from traditional gulai in general.
8. Rice cake with rice flour
A typical Bengkulu breakfast would not be complete without tasting Lontong Tunjang. This dish consists of lontong served with young jackfruit vegetable soup, green beans, and sliced tunjang or beef tendon.
The sauce is rich in coconut milk, giving a delicious savory taste, combined with the delicious chewy texture of tunjang. Lontong Tunjang is very popular among the people of Bengkulu and is usually sold in stalls in the morning.
Bengkulu’s culinary richness offers an unforgettable experience with a variety of distinctive and authentic flavors. In addition to exploring Bengkulu’s specialties, you can also try Typical Jambi Food, which offers its own unique and delightful taste.
Each dish has a rich and varied blend of savory, spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. Not only pampering the tongue, Bengkulu’s typical foods also reflect local wisdom and cultural heritage that has been passed down from generation to generation.
So, if you visit Bengkulu, don’t miss the opportunity to taste these special culinary delights and experience for yourself the deliciousness produced from the combination of local ingredients and spices typical of the land of Rafflesia.
