Experience the deliciousness of Banjarmasin through a variety of authentic dishes, such as Soto Banjar, Ketupat Kandangan, and the mouth-watering Sate Tulang.
Banjarmasin, a city known for its thousand rivers, has a long history and rich cultural heritage. One of Banjarmasin’s main attractions is its unique and mouth-watering culinary specialties.
Each Banjarmasin specialty dish holds its own uniqueness in taste and presentation, making it an unforgettable culinary experience.
For those of you who want to taste authentic delights from the land of South Kalimantan, here are some Banjarmasin Specialties that you must try.
1. Pearl Soup
Pearl Soup is a typical Banjarmasin soup dish that does not use real pearls, but small balls of ground chicken meat that are shaped like pearls. The broth is made from milk mixed with garlic, shallots, and nutmeg, creating a soft savory taste.
This dish is perfect to enjoy during cold weather, because the warmth of this soup can provide its own comfort. Its distinctive taste makes Pearl Soup a favorite choice for many tourists.
2. Peat Duck Rice
Nasi Itik Gambut is a traditional dish that uses duck meat as its main ingredient. The duck meat is cooked with habang spices, which are known for their spicy and sweet taste. The habang spices are perfectly absorbed into the duck meat, creating a rich and distinctive Banjar flavor.
Peat Duck Rice is served on banana leaves, giving it a distinctive aroma and adding to the deliciousness. This dish is often eaten with warm rice, and is popular among tourists and locals alike.
3. Sour Sauce
fresh fruits such as young mango, plus tamarind, cayenne pepper, shallots, and salt. The sour, spicy, and slightly sweet taste of this cacapan gives a fresh touch to main dishes such as grilled fish or fried chicken. Cacapan Asam is a favorite of Banjar residents as a refreshing meal companion.
4. Ketupat Kandangan
Ketupat Kandangan is one of the typical foods that is identical to South Kalimantan. This dish consists of ketupat served with thick coconut milk sauce and smoked fish, usually snakehead fish or haruan fish.
The savory coconut milk sauce is enriched with various typical Banjar spices, creating a rich and delicious taste. Ketupat Kandangan is often served during special occasions, such as celebrations or family events, making it a special dish in Banjar culture.
5. Lontong Orari
Lontong Orari is a variant of lontong served with thick coconut milk sauce and side dishes such as pumpkin, green beans, snakehead fish, and eggs. The side dishes are cooked with Banjar’s signature habang spices which give it a sweet and spicy taste.
This dish is very popular as a breakfast menu in Banjarmasin. The name “Orari” comes from the name of an Indonesian amateur radio organization that often gathers and enjoys this dish together.
6. Soto Banjar
Soto Banjar is a chicken soup dish that has a clear broth with a distinctive aroma of spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
The fragrant broth is served with shredded chicken, rice cakes, and salted eggs, and is given additional lime juice for added freshness. Soto Banjar is a very popular dish in Banjarmasin, loved for its light taste but still rich in spice flavors.
7. Tigarun Kemang Vegetables
Kemang Tigarun Vegetables are typical Banjarmasin vegetables that use tigarun flowers as the main ingredient. Tigarun flowers have a slightly bitter taste, similar to papaya flowers, but are very delicious when cooked with traditional spices.
The bitter taste combined with the savory spices, gives a different taste from other vegetables. This dish is often served as a complement to rice with fish or meat side dishes.
8. Patin Baubar
Patin Baubar is a dish of patin fish seasoned with typical Banjar spices, then wrapped in banana leaves and grilled. The cooking process by grilling allows the spices to penetrate into the fish meat, creating a distinctive aroma and taste.
Patin Baubar has a savory and delicious taste that is perfect to eat with warm rice. This dish is a favorite for fish lovers.
9. Baayak Porridge
Bubur Baayak is a typical Banjarmasin dessert that has a thick texture and a sweet taste. This porridge is made from rice and wheat flour, with the addition of coconut milk and liquid brown sugar which makes it taste savory and delicious. Usually enjoyed as a breakfast menu or dessert after a large meal. The soft texture of Bubur Baayak and its sweet taste make it a popular choice among children and adults alike.
10. Bone Satay
Although it is called Sate Tulang, this dish does not actually use bones, but rather rarely used chicken parts such as the neck, skin, and fat. These ingredients are finely chopped, seasoned with habang spices, then grilled like satay.
The spicy and sweet taste of the habang spices makes this dish have a distinctive taste that is different from satay in general. Sate Tulang is a unique dish and is often a favorite for spicy food lovers.
Banjarmasin’s culinary specialties offer a unique taste rich in traditional spices and herbs. From the fresh Soto Banjar to the mouth-watering Sate Tulang, each dish holds a uniqueness that reflects the culture and traditions of the Banjar people.
For those of you who want to enjoy authentic Indonesian cuisine, Typical South Kalimantan Souvenirs are the right choice. Every mouthful brings flavors and aromas that reflect the warmth and hospitality of this city of a thousand rivers.