Historically, Indonesian food hasn’t been as popular in the US as many other Asian cuisines, like Chinese and Thai, for example. But that is starting to change. Restaurants like the Michelin-recognized Wayan in New York and Blasteran in Beverly Hills, CA demonstrate just how flavorful and delicious Indonesian dishes like gado-gado, rendang, and nasi goreng can be.
Neither restaurant is plant-based, but you will find a small handful of vegan options on the each menu, including chickpea satay at Wayan and mushroom sandwiches at Blasteran. But if you want a real plant-based feast, Indonesian food is arguably at its best when it’s cooked at home, from scratch. Find some of our favorite (easy) vegan Indonesian recipes below, from satay to spring rolls.
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What is Indonesia’s most famous food?
With roughly 6,000 islands, which are home to around 300 different ethnic groups, Indonesia is an incredibly diverse country, and this means its cuisine is diverse, too. Recipes and dishes vary from region to region and from family to family, but that said, there are a few Indonesian dishes that stand out as globally-loved favorites.
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Nasi goreng, for example, is one of the country’s national dishes. It typically consists of fried rice, soy sauce, garlic, shallots, tamarind, chili, and fried egg, but as you’ll find out below, it’s also pretty easy to make plant-based. Rendang is another favorite—it’s a rich, slow-cooked stew with coconut milk, often made with beef. There’s also satay, which is a universally loved combination of meat (or tofu or tempeh) with peanut sauce.
Which Indonesian dishes are plant-based?
Many dishes from Indonesia are naturally plant-based. Gado-gado, for example, is a popular peanut salad, usually served with boiled vegetables and tempeh. Tempeh itself is also Indonesian—it’s made from fermented soybeans, and you’ll usually find it served with everything from noodles to rice to curry.
Sayur asem (vegetable tamarind soup) | Canva
Other Indonesian dishes that tend to be made with predominantly plant-based ingredients include pecel, which is another peanut salad, but it’s a little spicier than gado-gado and is typically served with blanched vegetables and fresh bean sprouts. There’s also tahu goreng, which consists of deep-fried tofu, and sayur asem, which is vegetable tamarind soup.
7 vegan Indonesian and Indonesian-inspired recipes
Indonesian cuisine lends itself well to plant-based ingredients. Even dishes that aren’t typically vegan can easily be made so with a few simple swaps. To learn more, check out our selection of delicious vegan Indonesian recipes below.
Connoisseurus Veg
1 Vegan Nasi Goreng
This flavorful take on nasi goreng features sweet soy sauce, plenty of vegetables, and tempeh, which provides the protein in place of the traditional fried egg. It’s easy to make, incredibly delicious, and perfect for days when you want something quick—it’s even best made with leftover fried rice, so you don’t need to cook up a fresh batch if you’ve already got some chilling in the fridge. “There’s fried rice, and then there’s nasi goreng,” says the recipe developer Alissa Saenz. “If you’ve never had nasi goreng, you are in for one heck of a treat.”
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Pisang Susu
2 Vegan Bapao With Jackfruit
Bapao is an Indonesian version of steamed buns, which originated in China and are popular across Asia. In this recipe, Pisang Susu founder Pauline Chavannes de Senerpont Domis will walk you through how to make the tasty savory treat totally plant-based using ingredients like jackfruit, garlic, three different types of soy sauce, and pandan extract.
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Veggie Anh
3 Vegan Rendang
Rendang is typically made with beef, but jackfruit and shiitake mushrooms work just as well, as this recipe from Anh Tran of Veggie Anh beautifully demonstrates. Tran describes the rich, aromatic sauce used in this version of the dish as a “harmonious blend of Southeast Asian spices and herbs, carefully crafted to deliver an authentic and unforgettable taste experience.”
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Pisang Susu
4 Vegan Tofu Shiitake Spring Rolls
In Indonesia, spring rolls are known as lumpia, and they are typically made with ingredients like chicken or beef. However, they’re also tasty when they’re made with tofu and shiitake mushrooms, just like in this version from Pisang Susu. “I love shiitake mushrooms. They have a strong flavor and are firm; that works well in a spring roll,” says Chavannes De Senerpont Domis.
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Connoisseurus Veg
5 Vegan Tofu Satay
Satay is arguably one of Indonesia’s most popular dishes. The name is often used to refer just to the peanut sauce, but it actually encompasses the whole dish, which is grilled, skewered meat (usually chicken). However, it’s super easy to make meat-free—just swap the meat for tofu. “I’ve made a few versions of vegan satay over the years, and nowadays, this tofu-based recipe is my favorite,” says Saenz.
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Lazy Cat Kitchen
6 Vegan Gado-Gado Salad With Tempeh
If you’re looking for flavor-packed, vibrant lunch ideas, you can’t go wrong with this aromatic, delectable gado-gado salad from Lazy Cat Kitchen. “It’s simple, delicious, and filling,” declares recipe developer Ania Marcinowska.
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The Foodie Takes Flight
7 Mie Goreng
Similar to nasi goreng, mie goreng is made with fried noodles, rather than rice. It’s super easy to make plant-based, just pair it with your favorite protein (vegan chicken, pork, or tempeh work well) and plenty of vegetables. All of the flavor comes from the sauce, which is made with a tasty umami-rich blend of vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce, sweet soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and tomato ketchup.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
