Explore various Bengkulu specialties with a blend of savory, spicy, and sour flavors made from local ingredients such as fish, shark meat, bamboo shoots, and durian.
Bengkulu has a rich culinary heritage with unique and diverse flavors, ranging from sweet, savory, spicy, to sour. The richness of spices and the use of local ingredients such as sea fish, shark meat, bamboo shoots, and durian make Bengkulu’s specialties authentic and special.
Each dish has its own characteristics that are not only delicious, but also reflect the culture and culinary history of the Bengkulu people. Here are some Typical Bengkulu Foods that are worth trying.
1. Pendap
Pendap is a very popular food in Bengkulu. This dish is made from fish, both freshwater and sea fish, which is seasoned with spices such as garlic, galangal, chili, salt, and grated coconut. Uniquely, the seasoned fish is wrapped in taro leaves and steamed for 8 hours.
This long cooking process makes the fish tender, while the spices and aroma of the taro leaves are perfectly absorbed, creating a distinctive taste. Pendap is usually served with warm white rice, making it a dish that is suitable to be enjoyed at any time.
2. Shark Bagar
As the name suggests, Shark Bagar is a dish that uses shark meat, especially the horn shark type. This dish is famous as one of Ir. Soekarno’s favorite foods while in exile in Bengkulu.
Shark meat is seasoned with chili and typical Bengkulu spices, then cooked until the spices are perfectly absorbed. Although shark meat is now rare and hard to find, Bagar Hiu remains a symbol of traditional Bengkulu cuisine that is rich in savory and spicy flavors.
3. Undak Liling Tamarind Bamboo Shoots
Rebung Asam Undak Liling is a dish that combines bamboo shoots (young bamboo) with black snails or what is known as liling. The bamboo shoots are soaked for several days to bring out a fresh sour taste, then cooked with various spices and black snails.
This dish offers a combination of the sour taste of bamboo shoots and the unique chewy texture of snails, creating an authentic and interesting culinary experience.
This food is widely found in villages in Bengkulu, where black snails are easily obtained from the surrounding rice fields.
4. Lemang Tapai
Lemang Tapai is one of the traditional foods served during big celebrations in Bengkulu. Made from sticky rice soaked overnight, then mixed with coconut milk and cooked in a bamboo fire until cooked.
Cooked lemang is usually served with tapai ketan and durian, creating a delicious combination of sweet and sour flavors. This dish is a favorite at various traditional events and family celebrations.
5. Durian Softener
If you are a durian lover, then Lempuk Durian is a must-try when visiting Bengkulu. Lempuk durian is a durian product that resembles dodol, made by mixing durian fruit, wheat flour, and sugar, then cooking it until the texture thickens.
This food is usually made as a souvenir because it has a fairly long shelf life. It tastes sweet with a strong durian aroma, making it a suitable snack for durian lovers.
6. Flying Noodles
One of the unique culinary variants from Bengkulu is Mie Terbang. The name “terbang” refers to the creative way of serving, where the chopsticks appear to be floating above the bowl of noodles.
Mie Terbang is a variant of Bengkulu’s signature tek-tek noodles, served with a savory sauce made from chicken broth and secret spices, and sprinkled with fried onions and spring onions. With an affordable price, around Rp. 15,000, this food is a favorite of local people and tourists.
7. Banana Curry
Different from most curries which use meat or vegetables as the main ingredient, Banana Curry from Bengkulu uses bananas as its main ingredient. The type of banana used is usually kepok or raja banana, which has a dense texture.
The banana is cooked with a special curry sauce that is rich in spices, creating a unique savory and sweet taste. This dish is one example of culinary innovation that you can only find in Bengkulu.
8. Rice cake with rice flour
Lontong Tunjang is a variant of lontong found in Bengkulu. This dish consists of lontong served with young jackfruit vegetables, green beans, and sliced tunjang (beef tendon) cooked in coconut milk sauce. This dish is usually sold in the morning and is a favorite breakfast for local people.
Bengkulu’s typical food not only offers deliciousness, but also cultural richness that radiates from each dish. Each cuisine has its own philosophy and uses local ingredients that reflect the local wisdom of Bengkulu.
With a combination of savory, spicy, sour, and sweet flavors, these foods provide an unforgettable culinary experience for anyone who tries them.
If you visit Bengkulu, don’t forget to taste these dishes and feel for yourself the deliciousness of typical food from the land of Rafflesia. Additionally, exploring Typical Jambi Food will further enhance your culinary journey through Sumatra’s rich flavors and traditions.
