One thing I noticed very quickly in Indonesia is how important rice is. Rice, or nasi in Indonesian, is a main staple and is included in almost every meal. I have had white rice, yellow rice, and rice served with many different side dishes. No matter where I am eating, there is usually some type of rice on the plate.
I tried many different Indonesian meals that included rice, chicken satay, peanut sauce, sambal, tempeh, vegetables, noodles, and other side dishes. Satay is meat, often chicken, cooked on small wooden skewers. It is usually grilled and can be served with peanut sauce. Sambal is a spicy sauce made with chili peppers and other seasonings. Tempeh is made from soybeans that are pressed together into a firm block, then cooked. I have noticed that many meals are served with several different foods together on one plate. This type of meal is called nasi campur, which means mixed rice. It usually has rice in the middle or as the base, with different side dishes around it. I tried these foods in many different places during my program. I lived with a host family in a village in Bali for a month and half, so I was able to eat meals with them and try foods that are common in everyday life.
