19 Special Dishes from Kalimantan that Will Tantalize Your Taste Buds

In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Kalimantan also has other unique features. One of these uniqueness lies in its culinary creations.

By combining various natural resources with its distinctive spices, the traditional dishes of Kalimantan have a delicious taste. Here are the details.

1. Soto Banjar

This first culinary dish may already be quite familiar to people across the archipelago. How could it not be, as Soto Banjar is now found in various regions of Indonesia.

However, the authentic taste can only be experienced when enjoying it directly in Kalimantan. Its thick and slightly murky broth makes it popular among many.

2. Ketupat Kandangan

Similar to Soto Banjar, which uses ketupat as its main ingredient.

However, the ketupat used in Ketupat Kandangan has a murkier broth due to the addition of coconut milk.

The resulting flavor is certainly more delicious and savory. Sometimes fish or eggs are added as side dishes.

3. Iwak Pakasam

Iwak Pakasam is a culinary dish that uses freshwater fish, such as haruan fish, gabus fish, mangki fish, sepat fish, or papuyu fish.

In its preparation, the fish is first preserved by sprinkling it with salt and glutinous rice.

Once it has reached a certain time, the preserved fish is cooked and then seasoned with other special spices.

4. Bingka Kalimantan

Bingka is a traditional cake from Kalimantan that has a sweet, soft, and slightly fatty taste. Usually, Bingka is served alongside snacks and other traditional cakes.

Local people often serve this traditional Kalimantan food at major events such as weddings or other celebrations.

5. Hekeng Kalimantan

The next dish that cannot be missed when in Kalimantan is Hekeng. Made with a mixture of ingredients such as pork and shrimp, it creates a very delicious and savory taste.

When tasted, the texture and flavor of Hekeng resemble siomay. However, it is not entirely the same, considering Hekeng is made by frying.

6. Garang Asem Banjar

Kalimantan is known as an island that has various extraordinary freshwater fish dishes. One of them is Garang Asem Banjar.

When viewed from its appearance, this dish is indeed not much different from sayur asem. However, it contains freshwater fish and other spices that give it a distinctive flavor.

7. Kelepon Martapura

Klepon is the next food that is very familiar to the locals. How could it not be, this snack is not only found in Kalimantan but is also famous on the island of Java.

However, Kelepon Martapura from Kalimantan has a very striking difference from other klepons. That is, its smaller size and chewy texture.

8. Gangang Humbut

Gangang Humbut is a unique culinary dish that must be tried. This is because the main ingredient used is the core of the coconut tree, which is processed into a vegetable.

It may sound quite strange, but the taste of this traditional Kalimantan food is beyond doubt. With just one bite, you will experience a perfect combination.

9. Manday Kalimantan

It can be said that Manday is quite similar to Gudeg from Jogja. The difference between these two dishes lies in their main ingredients.

The flavor created from Manday is also very distinctive, thus producing its own deliciousness. So it is no wonder that many travelers come from afar just to taste it directly.

10. Patin Baubar Kalimantan

As the name suggests, this dish indeed uses Patin fish as its main ingredient.

The Patin, ready to be processed, is sliced into several pieces and then seasoned with various spices.

After that, it is wrapped in banana leaves. Then it is grilled over a stove with glowing embers.

11. Chai Kue

Known as Choi Pan, this original Kalimantan snack originally comes from Chinese culture that entered the archipelago. Nevertheless, its presence is still quite influential due to its delicious taste.

Moreover, Chai Kue is filled with radish and shrimp. This certainly results in a unique and distinctive flavor.

12. Bubur Pedas

This traditional Kalimantan dish is very different from the porridge you often find in several regions. Although its name is Bubur Pedas, when enjoying this traditional Kalimantan food.

Many even compare it to Bubur Manado, due to the abundance of vegetables used in it.

13. Pengkang

Another unique cake that can be tasted when in Kalimantan is Pengkang. Made from glutinous rice, this traditional cake has a filling of shrimp. From its appearance, many might think it resembles lemper.

But the difference is, Pengkang has a triangular shape and is usually enjoyed with spicy shellfish sauce.

14. Kalumpe

Kalumpe is a culinary specialty made from cassava leaves cooked with coconut milk. Before being processed properly, the cassava leaves are first pounded.

The pounding is intended so that the cassava leaves can easily absorb the spices from various types of herbs. So it's no wonder that its taste is so delicious.

16. Nasi Bekepor

Want to experience how the culinary dish of the King of Kalimantan is served? Don't worry, as Nasi Bekepor is now sold in various places, especially on the island of Kalimantan.

This dish eaten by kings indeed looks similar to liwet rice, which is rich in coconut milk flavor. However, in its serving, Nasi Bekepor is eaten with earth-burned meat.

16. Mie Sagu

Not only in the eastern part of Indonesia, but Kalimantan also has culinary creations made from sago.

The traditional Kalimantan food called Mie Sagu is often served either fried or in soup.

Although different, both have a distinctive flavor that cannot be found in other regions.

17. Sate Payau

Like regular satay, Sate Payau also needs to be grilled over hot coals and then served with peanut sauce and soy sauce. However, the meat used here is deer meat.

It is quite extreme, but in reality, this dish is quite popular among domestic and foreign tourists.

18. Amparan Tatak

Amparan Tatak is the next dish that is often served at every important celebration, such as weddings or thanksgiving events.

Made from rice flour

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