Six Must-Try Culinary Delights of Bintan
Bintan is a beautiful island located in the Riau Archipelago. Being one of the favorites among tourists, the natural scenery in Bintan is indeed very pleasing to the eye, especially its beach tourism.
Surrounded by salty waters, it is no wonder that Bintan offers many dishes made from fish and seafood. Well, if you visit Bintan, it is a must to taste its typical cuisine. Moreover, the following six delicious dishes.
Gonggong
Gonggong is a shellfish that—according to legend—can only be found in the Riau Archipelago and Bangka Belitung. Because of this claim, every tourist visiting tourist attractions in Bintan must try gonggong as a culinary experience that should not be missed.
Have you ever eaten tutut? The black rice field shellfish? Well, the way to eat gonggong is exactly like that. Cooked by boiling in seasoned water with crushed garlic, gonggong can be eaten by prying it out with a toothpick. Usually, it is served with sweet soy sauce and slices of bird's eye chili. However, it can also be prepared in other ways. Fried in batter, for example. Both are delicious.
Because it is close to the sea, the price of raw gonggong in the Bintan area is not too expensive. It is sold for around Rp10,000 per kilogram, so if you buy the processed version at a restaurant, it is still affordable.
Kawal Otak-otak
Like the otak-otak found in other regions of Indonesia, kawal otak-otak is also made from ground fish mixed with flour and spices that make the dish delicious. However, kawal otak-otak is served wrapped in banana leaves and then grilled. And, it is very cheap, only Rp1,000 each.
Bones Otak-otak
It seems that seafood dishes in Bintan never run out. Not only serving kawal otak-otak, Bintan also has another unique dish called bones otak-otak. Indeed, as the name suggests, this otak-otak contains fish bones, making it tastier and richer in calcium.
Bones Otak-otak is a part of the typical cuisine from Sei Enam, in East Bintan. The price is as cheap as kawal otak-otak. Some sellers accept orders to be delivered directly to the buyer, but the minimum purchase is Rp100,000. Wow, that could be for a party, right?
Spicy Porridge
Contrary to its name, spicy porridge only has a savory taste, not spicy. This porridge is not like the porridge from Jakarta or the porridge served in Java with yellow broth because it is thinner and rich in spices. Usually, spicy porridge is cooked with added vegetables such as carrots, long beans, and water spinach. For an extra touch, this porridge is also topped with fried anchovies and peanuts. Wow, it’s really delicious to eat when it’s raining.
Lakse
Lakse is a typical noodle dish from Bintan that you can also find in Belitung. However, in Bintan, lakse is served with a thick savory broth. This broth is made from ground mackerel mixed with spices such as chili, onion, and ginger. It is said that this dish is inspired by Italian spaghetti, but of course modified with local wisdom.
Pineapple Pancri
After eating many high-cholesterol foods, it’s time to enjoy a dish that neutralizes it. Pineapple Pancri. This dish is a Malay specialty, consisting of slices of pineapple cooked with curry spices, cinnamon, brown sugar, cloves, and coconut milk, then served in a pineapple skin container.
Its unique and refreshing taste is perfect to enjoy by the beach, while watching the waves. The price is affordable, for just Rp10,000 you can enjoy this typical dish from Bintan!
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
