After going through a long day of fasting, it’s best to break the fast with snacks or drinks first. Maybe you want your tummy to get adjusted after 12 hours of fasting or increase your appetite before enjoying the good main dishes. Luckily in Indonesia, you can enjoy many variations of traditional snacks or drinks for “Buka Puasa.” Here we present you with eight popular traditional foods and beverages from Indonesia.
- Kolak
Kolak is an Indonesian dessert based on coconut milk mixed with palm sugar and filled with bananas, sweet potatoes, or pumpkins. It’s a trendy dessert during Ramadan because of its soothing flavor and super-sweet taste with warm & comforting texture. You can find Kolak in traditional stores around Indonesia, or you can make your own Kolak and enjoy it with your family! - Dates (Kurma)
This natural and fresh fruit is a quick source of energy and nutrients. Dates are also easily digested, making them healthy with a rich and sweet flavor. It is considered one of the best snacks to break the fast among Indonesian Muslims. - Es Pisang Ijo
Es pisang ijo, is one of a well-known traditional drinks from Makassar, South Sulawesi. As pisang means bananas and ijo means green, it means green bananas. Es pisang ijo served with coconut milk, coco pandan syrup, and shaved ice, filled with banana wrapped in flour dough. This drink (and also snack) will surely refresh your day after a long day fast! - Kicak
Kicak is one of the legendary traditional foods that is only served during Ramadan in Yogyakarta. It’s made from cooked sticky rice, pounded with a sprinkling of grated coconut, sugar, vanilla, pandan leaves, and a small piece of jackfruit wrapped in banana leaf. You can only find this snack at Yogyakarta, where it originated. - Pakat
Pakat is a very popular snack during Ramadan in Medan, North Sumatra. Pakat is food made from young shoots of rattan, with fried grated coconut topping and traditional chili sauce. This famous dish is often used as side vegetables by residents during Ramadan. - Sotong Pangkong
Now, we will travel to Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Sotong Pangkong comes from the Malay language, which consists of the word "sotong," which means a type of fish similar to a squid (cuttlefish), and "pangkong," which means to hit with a hammer. It is grilled over a charcoal fire and served with two kinds of sambal: shrimp sambal and peanut sambal. - Sate Susu
When it comes to Bali, you really should try this delicate Sate Susu to break your fast. Sate susu, or milk satay, is made from a cow’s nipple seasoned with spicy spice and cut into squares. Taste this tender satay only in Kampung Jawa in Denpasar. - Es Timun Suri
We already know that timun suri is one of the famous fruits during the fasting month in Indonesia. And we also know that you can find es timun suri easily in Ramadan season. It is shaped like a melon and usually served with coco pandan syrup and ice. In some parts of the country, people mixed it with condensed milk, palm sugar, or even cincau and jackfruit.
