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What Indonesian migrant workers like to eat
The eating habits of Indonesian migrant workers are often closely related to Indonesia’s traditional food culture. Here are some of their favorite foods and eating habits:
Staple preference
- Rice: Rice is at the heart of the Indonesian diet, and many migrant workers consume it daily as a staple, with different side dishes and sauces.
- Nasi Goreng: This is a beloved classic Indonesian dish, usually served with eggs, chicken, shrimp and vegetables, and served with a sweet and spicy sauce.
Side-dish preferences
- Fried chicken (Ayam Goreng): Indonesian-style fried chicken, seasoned with local spices and loved by migrant workers.
- Satay: Skewers made with chicken, beef or lamb, served with a rich peanut butter.
- Mie Goreng: Similar to fried rice, fried noodles are cooked with unique Indonesian seasonings.
Seasonings & Sauces
- Spicy sauce (Sambal): Indonesian people generally like to eat spicy sauce. Sambal is a common hot sauce in Indonesian cuisine, paired with almost all staple foods and side dishes.
- Kecap Manis: This is a thick, sweet soy sauce used to add flavor to dishes.
Soups and stews
- Beef Soup (Soto Betawi): This is a thick soup with coconut milk and spices, usually with beef or chicken.
- Ginger rice and curry (Nasi Kuning & Gulai): Ginger rice and richly spiced curry soup are classic combinations in Indonesian diet.
Snacks & Desserts
- Indonesian desserts (Kue): such as shredded coconut cake, mung bean cake, etc., sweet but not greasy, suitable for small snacks.
- Fried Banana (Pisang Goreng): Simple and delicious fried bananas are a popular street snack.
Drinks
- Milk tea and sweet drinks: Like Teh Tarik or sweet-flavored coffee, these drinks are very common.
- Coconut water: Fresh coconut water is popular in Indonesia and other tropical regions, providing thirst relief while also replenishing electrolytes.
Dietary habits
- Indonesian migrant workers are used to a variety of flavors, especially spicy, sweet and spicy flavors.
- They focus on the warmth and freshness of their meals, so hot food is more popular than cold food.
- They are also used to sharing food with their fellow villagers, which is a manifestation of group consciousness in Indonesian culture.