Best West Sumatra Foods
Padang satay is a spicy, rich, and aromatic Indonesian satay originating from Padang, West Sumatra, known for its thick, flavorful curry-based sauce. Unlike other Indonesian satay varieties that use peanut sauce or sweet soy sauce, Padang satay is distinct for its bold, turmeric-infused, and mildly spicy gravy, made from beef broth, rice flour, and a blend of local spices.
The skewered meat—usually beef, beef tongue, or offal like intestines and heart—is first boiled in spiced broth until tender, then grilled over charcoal to achieve a smoky, caramelized crust. The signature thick, golden-brown sauce is made by reducing the broth used to cook the meat, thickened with rice flour, and enhanced with galangal, turmeric, coriander, cumin, lemongrass, and chilies, giving it a savory, slightly spicy, and deeply aromatic flavor.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Satay
MOST ICONIC Padang satay
Gulai ayam is a classic Indonesian chicken curry that is rich, aromatic, and deeply rooted in Minangkabau (West Sumatran) and broader Malay culinary traditions. The term “gulai” refers to a type of curried dish found across Indonesia and Malaysia, characterized by its use of spices simmered in coconut milk, resulting in a thick, flavorful sauce.
Ayam means chicken, so gulai ayam literally translates to chicken curry, but it’s far more complex than a typical curry. What sets gulai ayam apart is its luxurious spice blend, which often includes turmeric, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cardamom, galangal, lemongrass, and sometimes toasted coconut.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Gulai
MOST ICONIC Gulai ayam
Rendang ayam is a traditional Indonesian chicken dish that originates from the Minangkabau ethnic group in West Sumatra. In Rendang ayam, the chicken is slowly simmered in coconut milk infused with a complex spice blend, typically composed of shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, and an array of chilies.
The ingredients are pounded into a thick paste, then sautéed and combined with the coconut milk to create a sauce that is rich, earthy, and fragrant. Over several hours of gentle cooking, the sauce reduces gradually, concentrating its flavors as the chicken absorbs the aromatic base.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Rendang
MOST ICONIC Rendang ayam
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Kepiting saus Padang is a traditional seafood dish. It consists of crab that's served in spicy Padang sauce. Mud crabs or blue crabs are usually used for the preparation of this dish. They're boiled in hot water until fully cooked (they will turn red), then shortly simmered in the sauce.
The spicy Padang sauce is usually made with a combination of shallots, garlic, ginger, candlenuts, chili peppers, turmeric, onions, kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves, ketchup, and oyster sauce. It's often enriched and thickened with lightly beaten eggs.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Telur balado is a popular Indonesian dish that consists of hard-boiled eggs in a spicy chilli sauce. The hard-boiled eggs are fried until the outer layer becomes slightly crispy, and are then coated or served with a spicy sauce made from a blend of ground red chilies, shallots or onions, garlic, tomato, tamarind, sugar, and salt, with the addition of lime leaves or lemongrass for extra aroma.
The dish can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish, often accompanied by steamed rice and other Indonesian dishes.
Dendeng balado is a traditional meat dish originating from Padang. The dish is made with a combination of thinly sliced beef that's fried until crispy and a spicy chili sambal. The sambal is usually served on top of the meat. The beef is typically fried in the mix of reduced shallots, garlic, ginger, sugar, water, oil, and salt.
The balado sambal consists of chili peppers, shallots, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and water, all mashed into a rough paste. When served, dendeng balado is often accompanied by white rice on the side.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Otak-otak goreng is a traditional dish originating from Padang, but it can also be found in Singapore and Malaysia. These fish cakes are usually made with a combination of fish paste (often mackerel), coconut milk, scallions, tapioca flour, and a spice paste consisting of shallots, ginger, garlic, galangal, salt, and pepper.
The mixture is shaped into elongated ovals and it's then deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown. If enjoyed as a snack, it's often served with peanut sauce, and if it's served as a meal, it's usually accompanied by plain rice and cucumbers.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Ayam pop is a traditional dish originating from Padang. It’s made with a combination of chicken, butter, garlic, coconut milk, and seasonings. The garlic is fried in butter, and the coconut milk, sugar, water, salt, and pepper are then added to the pot.
The chicken pieces are simmered in the liquid until the meat becomes tender. They’re then fried in oil, but not until golden brown – the meat should be light-colored and slightly white. Once done, ayam pop is often served with a combination of kecap manis, fried shallots, and chili peppers.
Udang balado is a traditional dish consisting of peeled or unpeeled shrimps that are stir-fried in a combination of cooking oil and spicy sambal sauce. The dish is often enriched with the addition of lemongrass, quail eggs, tofu, potatoes, or green beans.
As almost all balado dishes, this one is also very hot and fiery. When served, udang balado is often garnished with chopped scallions and accompanied by steamed rice. The dish is also known as sambal goreng udang.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Sambal goreng
Soto Padang is a traditional soup and a type of soto originating from Padang. This soup consists of five parts – soup ingredients, spices for the stock, spice paste, chili sauce, and garnishes or accompaniments. The ingredients for the soup include beef, galangal, bay leaves, kaffir lime leaves, cloves, star anise, salt, sugar, and white pepper.
The soup stock is made with garlic, coriander, salt, and white pepper. The spice paste consists of shallots, garlic, hot peppers, turmeric, and ginger, while the chili sauce is made with a combination of oil, shallots, salt, sugar, and ground hot peppers.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Soto
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