Explore the deliciousness of 10 typical Banjarmasin foods such as soto banjar, nasi duck kacang, and patin baubar fish that are ready to pamper your tongue.
Banjarmasin, known as the City of a Thousand Rivers, offers more than just beautiful views. This city is also rich in a variety of culinary specialties that should not be missed by anyone who visits.
From soups to grilled dishes, every culinary specialty of Banjarmasin has a unique and delicious taste. Here are 10 Typical Banjarmasin Foods that you must try when visiting this city.
1. Pearl Soup
Pearl Soup is a must-try dish in Banjarmasin. Although the name sounds fancy, this soup is actually made from finely ground chicken meatballs and shaped like small pearls.
The main attraction of pearl soup lies in its savory and aromatic broth, made from a mixture of milk, shallots, garlic, and nutmeg. This food is perfect to enjoy in cold weather, because it provides a warm sensation and a delicious taste.
2. Peat Duck Rice
Nasi Itik Gambut is one of Banjarmasin’s culinary mainstays. As the name suggests, this dish consists of rice and duck meat cooked with habang spices, a typical Banjar spice with a sweet and spicy taste.
The duck meat is cooked until tender and the spices are perfectly absorbed, providing a very tempting taste. This dish is usually served on banana leaves, adding a strong traditional feel.
3. Sour Sauce
Cacapan Asam is a typical Banjarmasin side dish that is similar to pickles. In Banjarese, “cacapan” means dip, and indeed this culinary is often used as a dip for other dishes such as grilled fish or fried foods.
Cacapan Asam is made from chopped fruits mixed with tamarind, cayenne pepper, shallots, and salt. Its sour, spicy, sweet, and savory taste provides an interesting layer of flavor to every bite of the main food.
4. Ketupat Kandangan
Ketupat Kandangan is one of the most famous culinary in Banjarmasin. This dish consists of ketupat served with thick coconut milk sauce and is complemented with pieces of smoked fish such as haruan fish or patin fish.
The coconut milk sauce rich in spices gives a savory and distinctive taste, making this dish very delicious. This dish is usually accompanied by boiled eggs and chili sauce to add to the enjoyment.
5. Lontong Orari
Lontong Orari is a typical Banjarmasin lontong which is known for its large shape and served with thick coconut milk sauce. This dish is also served with pieces of vegetables such as pumpkin, green beans, and snakehead fish cooked in red spices.
The red and rich sauce is perfect with additional side dishes such as boiled eggs and hot chili sauce, making lontong orari a food rich in flavor.
6. Soto Banjar
Soto Banjar is an iconic dish that should not be missed when in Banjarmasin. This soto is different from other soto in Indonesia because it uses spices such as cinnamon and cloves, which give it a distinctive aroma and strong taste.
The broth is slightly cloudy because of the addition of eggs, and is usually filled with pieces of chicken, vermicelli noodles, perkedel, and ketupat. This dish is very delicious if added with chili sauce and lime juice.
7. Baubar catfish
Baubar Patin Fish is one of the most popular seafood dishes in Banjarmasin. The selected patin fish is then grilled on a stove with coconut shells, giving a distinctive and appetizing grilled aroma.
Before being grilled, the patin fish is coated with typical Banjar spices, so that the taste of this fish is very rich in spices. This dish is best eaten with warm rice and chili paste.
8. Sapat Fish
Iwak Karing Sapat is a dried fish that is often used as a daily side dish by the Banjar people. This dried sapat fish is fried without seasoning, resulting in a crispy texture and natural savory taste.
This dish is perfect served with warm rice and chili sauce to add to its deliciousness. Iwak Karing Sapat is also often sold as a souvenir in traditional markets.
9. Tigarun Flour Vegetables
Tigarun Kambang Vegetables are a typical Banjarmasin vegetable dish made from the tigarun plant. This vegetable is unique because almost all parts of the tigarun plant, from the leaves to the flowers, can be eaten.
Its bitter taste makes it popular among those who like vegetables with this distinctive taste. Kambang tigarun vegetables can be eaten as raw vegetables or processed into fresh soup vegetables.
10. Banjar Yellow Rice
Nasi Kuning Banjar is a variation of yellow rice originating from Banjarmasin. Although at first glance it looks similar to yellow rice from other regions, Banjar yellow rice has its own characteristics.
Made from authentic Banjar Siamese rice with a softer texture, this yellow rice is served with habang chicken, boiled eggs, and chili sauce, creating a very delicious and indulgent combination of flavors.
A visit to Banjarmasin would not be complete without tasting its signature dishes that are full of flavor. From warm pearl soup to aromatic patin baubar fish, each dish offers an unforgettable culinary experience.
When visiting the City of a Thousand Rivers, be sure to sample Typical South Kalimantan Food and experience for yourself the richness of flavors that Banjarmasin has to offer. Enjoy the sensation of a rich and authentic culinary tour in this charming city.
