Skip to content
🇮🇩

Indonesian Garlic Recipes

64 recipes using garlic — Nasi goreng, rendang, satay — the flavours of 17,000 islands.

These 64 indonesian garlic recipes are ready in about 70 minutes on average, with 20–640 kcal per serving, and 34% are rated easy enough for a weeknight. Every recipe includes exact ingredient quantities, step-by-step instructions and full nutrition per serving.

64
recipes
70 min
average time
419 kcal
avg per serving
34%
easy recipes

How Indonesian cuisine cooks with garlic

Indonesian cooking is rich and aromatic, building deep spice pastes that slow-cook into coconut-laced curries and sweet-savoury grilled dishes. When Indonesian cooks work with garlic, they reach for shallots, garlic, candlenut, lemongrass, kecap manis and sambal, and the techniques that come up most across these recipes are frying, simmering, boiling and steaming.

The aromatic foundation of savoury cooking almost everywhere — pungent raw, sweet and mellow when cooked. In this collection it's most often cooked with shallots, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, kecap manis, soy sauce and eggs. The dishes here span indonesian classics ready in as little as 10 minutes to slower, more involved cooking that rewards a relaxed afternoon.

64 Indonesian Garlic Recipes

🔥 Trending✨ NewDinner

Indonesian Nasi Goreng

Indonesia's iconic fried rice — flavoured with kecap manis sweet soy, shrimp paste and chilli, topped with a fried egg and crispy shallots.

⏱ 30 min🔥 440 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Indonesian Beef Rendang

The world's most flavourful dish — slow-braised beef in coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime and 15 spices until the meat is fall-apart tender and coated in dark, caramelised coconut.

⏱ 270 min🔥 580 kcalHard
Lunch

Indonesian Gado-Gado – Vegetable Salad with Rich Peanut Sauce

Steamed and raw vegetables with tofu, boiled egg and tempeh, all dressed in a luxurious warm peanut sauce.

⏱ 50 min🔥 460 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Sate Ayam

Grilled chicken skewers with spiced peanut dipping sauce.

⏱ 50 min🔥 460 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Nasi Goreng Kampung

Indonesian village-style fried rice with anchovies and egg.

⏱ 30 min🔥 540 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Opor Ayam — Indonesian Coconut Milk Chicken Curry

A gentle, fragrant Indonesian yellow chicken curry simmered in coconut milk with lemongrass, galangal and candlenut — silky, mildly spiced and deeply comforting. The centrepiece of Indonesian Eid celebrations.

⏱ 60 min🔥 490 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Nasi Goreng

Indonesia's iconic wok-fried rice with kecap manis, shrimp paste and chillies — topped with a fried egg and crispy shallots for the perfect finish.

⏱ 30 min🔥 580 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Beef Rendang

Slow-braised beef in a deeply spiced coconut and chilli paste, cooked until the sauce completely evaporates and the meat is dark, caramelised and intensely flavourful.

⏱ 210 min🔥 620 kcalHard
Soup

Rawon (Black Beef Soup)

East Java's signature black beef soup, coloured and flavoured by keluak nuts, with tender braised beef, bean sprouts, and sambal on the side.

⏱ 150 min🔥 360 kcalHard
Salads

Gado-Gado

Indonesia's beloved salad of blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, and hard-boiled eggs, all smothered in a rich, sweet-spicy peanut sauce.

⏱ 40 min🔥 420 kcalEasy
Soup

Soto Betawi

Jakarta's rich, coconut-milk beef soup with crispy fried shallots, tomato, and fresh lime — a creamy, fragrant Betawi classic served with rice or lontong.

⏱ 115 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
Soup

Soto Ayam (Indonesian Chicken Soup)

Indonesia's beloved golden chicken soup — turmeric-yellow broth fragrant with lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime, served over vermicelli with boiled egg and crispy shallots.

⏱ 80 min🔥 390 kcalMedium
Dinner

Padang Beef Rendang — Wongso-Inspired

Slow-cooked beef in a deeply spiced coconut paste — caramelised over hours until almost dry — Indonesia's most celebrated dish.

⏱ 265 min🔥 612 kcalMedium
starter

Balinese Sambal Matah — Wongso-Inspired

Raw shallot-lemongrass-chili relish with kaffir lime leaves and toasted coconut oil — Bali's most aromatic table condiment.

⏱ 25 min🔥 95 kcalEasy
starter

Sate with Peanut Sauce

Indonesian grilled meat skewers with rich peanut sauce — the ultimate street food.

⏱ 55 min🔥 480 kcalMedium
Dinner

Rendang

Indonesian spiced meat cooked in coconut milk — rich, deeply spiced, legendary.

⏱ 150 min🔥 580 kcalHard
Soup

Bakso

Indonesian beef meatball soup with noodles and broth — warming, hearty comfort.

⏱ 70 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
Snacks

Sambal Oelek

Indonesian red chili paste — heat in its purest, simplest form.

⏱ 10 min🔥 20 kcalEasy
Dinner

Kare

Indonesian curry with potatoes, eggs, and meat — aromatic, warming, easy.

⏱ 80 min🔥 480 kcalEasy
Snacks

Martabak

Indonesian stuffed folded pancake — sweet or savory street food treasure.

⏱ 60 min🔥 480 kcalHard
Snacks

Tempeh Goreng

Indonesian fried tempeh — nutty, firm, protein-rich alternative to tofu.

⏱ 20 min🔥 240 kcalEasy
starter

Pempek

Indonesian fish and tapioca cake from Palembang — bouncy, chewy, legendary.

⏱ 60 min🔥 320 kcalHard
Snacks

Rempeyek

Indonesian peanut brittle wafers — thin, crispy, addictive.

⏱ 40 min🔥 200 kcalMedium
Dinner

Nasi Kuning

Indonesian golden turmeric rice — fragrant, warm, celebratory.

⏱ 40 min🔥 380 kcalEasy
Dinner

Gule Ayam

Indonesian yellow chicken curry — aromatic, creamy, deeply warming.

⏱ 65 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
Breakfast

Bubur Ayam

Indonesian chicken rice porridge — comfort food, street food, morning essential.

⏱ 55 min🔥 340 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Rendang Padang (West Sumatran Dry Beef Rendang)

Indonesia's masterpiece — beef chuck slow-simmered for hours in coconut milk and a paste of chili, galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime until the sauce evaporates into a dark, intensely spiced coating.

⏱ 240 min🔥 580 kcalHard
✨ Newstarter

Sate Ayam Madura (Indonesian Madurese Chicken Satay)

Bite-sized chicken skewers grilled over coconut charcoal and bathed in a sweet kecap-peanut sauce — Indonesia's most famous street food, Madura style.

⏱ 45 min🔥 620 kcalMedium
✨ NewSnacks

Lumpia (Indonesian Spring Rolls)

Crispy Indonesian spring rolls stuffed with seasoned pork, shrimp, and vegetables — a beloved street food and celebration staple.

⏱ 65 min🔥 310 kcalMedium
✨ NewSnacks

Perkedel Goreng (Indonesian Fried Corn Fritters)

Crispy corn and herb fritters from Manado, North Sulawesi — sweet, spicy, and impossibly addictive.

⏱ 35 min🔥 195 kcalEasy
✨ NewSnacks

Krupuk (Indonesian Crackers — Homemade)

The definitive guide to making Indonesian krupuk from scratch: tapioca crackers sun-dried then flash-fried into airy, crunchy chips.

⏱ 40 min🔥 120 kcalHard
✨ NewSnacks

Satay Peanut Sauce (Bumbu Kacang)

Indonesia's iconic satay peanut sauce: roasted peanuts, kecap manis, galangal, and shrimp paste cooked into a thick, complex dipping sauce.

⏱ 30 min🔥 210 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Satay Padang (West Sumatran Spiced Beef Satay)

Padang-style beef satay smothered in a thick turmeric-golden spice sauce — from the fiery Minangkabau highlands of West Sumatra.

⏱ 150 min🔥 380 kcalHard
✨ NewLunch

Java Peanut Tofu Rice Bowl

Java Peanut Tofu Rice Bowl brings indonesian flavor into a practical home recipe with chicken thighs, coconut milk, kecap manis, chiles and peanuts, and a finish of lime leaves.

⏱ 70 min🔥 500 kcalHard
✨ NewSoup

Bali Coconut Chicken Soup

Bali Coconut Chicken Soup brings indonesian flavor into a practical home recipe with white fish, coconut milk, kecap manis, chiles and peanuts, and a finish of lime leaves.

⏱ 50 min🔥 522 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Sumatra Chili Eggplant Skillet Dinner

Sumatra Chili Eggplant Skillet Dinner brings indonesian flavor into a practical home recipe with lamb mince, coconut milk, kecap manis, chiles and peanuts, and a finish of lime leaves.

⏱ 48 min🔥 544 kcalMedium
✨ NewSalads

Sulawesi Turmeric Fish Salad

Sulawesi Turmeric Fish Salad brings indonesian flavor into a practical home recipe with roasted carrots, coconut milk, kecap manis, chiles and peanuts, and a finish of lime leaves.

⏱ 59 min🔥 566 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Ayam Goreng Kremes (Indonesian Crispy Fried Chicken)

Chicken simmered in aromatic spices then fried until deeply crisp, topped with crunchy fried batter bits, an Indonesian fried chicken classic.

⏱ 60 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
✨ NewSnacks

Tahu Isi (Indonesian Stuffed Fried Tofu)

Fried tofu pockets stuffed with seasoned vegetables and coated in a light batter, a popular Indonesian street food snack.

⏱ 40 min🔥 240 kcalEasy
✨ NewBreakfast

Indonesian Nasi Goreng Breakfast Plate

Indonesia's beloved fried rice topped with a fried egg and served with crackers and pickled vegetables, a hearty everyday breakfast.

⏱ 30 min🔥 420 kcalEasy
✨ NewLunch

Martabak Telur Wraps (Indonesian Stuffed Egg Pastry)

Thin dough wrapped around a spiced ground beef and egg filling, pan-fried until crisp, an Indonesian street food favorite.

⏱ 50 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
✨ NewSalads

Urap Sayur (Indonesian Vegetable Salad with Spiced Coconut)

Blanched vegetables tossed with a spiced, toasted grated coconut mixture, a fresh and fragrant Indonesian salad served at room temperature.

⏱ 30 min🔥 200 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Semur Daging (Indonesian Sweet Soy Beef Stew)

Beef slow-braised in a sweet soy and clove-scented sauce until fall-apart tender, a comforting Indonesian stew with Dutch colonial roots.

⏱ 120 min🔥 520 kcalMedium
🥕
✨ Newstarter

Sayur Lodeh (Indonesian Vegetable Coconut Stew)

A mild, comforting coconut milk stew with eggplant, long beans and tempeh, a beloved everyday Indonesian vegetable dish.

⏱ 45 min🔥 260 kcalEasy
✨ Newstarter

Siomay (Indonesian Steamed Fish Dumplings with Peanut Sauce)

Steamed dumplings of ground fish and tapioca starch, served with vegetables and a rich peanut sauce, a popular Indonesian street food.

⏱ 60 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
✨ NewSnacks

Bakwan Jagung (Indonesian Corn Fritters)

Crispy fried corn fritters studded with scallion and a light spice blend, a beloved Indonesian street snack served with chile sauce.

⏱ 30 min🔥 260 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Sayur Asem (Indonesian Tamarind Vegetable Soup)

A tangy, tamarind-soured Indonesian vegetable soup loaded with corn, peanuts, and melinjo leaves.

⏱ 61 min🔥 530 kcalHard
✨ NewLunch

Roti Bakar (Indonesian Grilled Toast Sandwich)

Sweet-savory Indonesian street toast, griddled until crisp and filled with condensed milk, cheese, or spiced meat.

⏱ 73 min🔥 407 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Sambal Goreng Kacang Panjang (Indonesian Spicy Long Bean and Tomato Stir-Fry)

A spicy, tomato-rich Indonesian stir-fry of long beans and tempeh in a fragrant sambal sauce.

⏱ 69 min🔥 553 kcalEasy
✨ NewBreakfast

Telur Dadar (Indonesian Fluffy Garlic Omelet)

A thick, fluffy Indonesian omelet packed with garlic, shallots, and scallions, fried until puffed and golden.

⏱ 72 min🔥 377 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Ikan Bakar Asam (Indonesian Tamarind-Glazed Grilled Fish)

Whole fish marinated in tamarind and tomato, then grilled until charred and glazed with a sweet-sour sauce.

⏱ 40 min🔥 552 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Martabak Telur (Indonesian Savory Stuffed Egg Pancake)

A crisp, pan-fried Indonesian pastry stuffed with spiced ground meat, egg, and scallions, finished with a sesame-flecked crust.

⏱ 46 min🔥 539 kcalHard
✨ NewSalads

Urap (Indonesian Coconut Vegetable Salad)

A vibrant Indonesian salad of blanched vegetables tossed with spiced fresh coconut and ginger.

⏱ 49 min🔥 190 kcalEasy
✨ NewSnacks

Lontong Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice Cakes)

Compressed Indonesian rice cakes sliced and pan-fried until crisp outside and tender within, dusted with smoky spice.

⏱ 52 min🔥 297 kcalMedium
✨ NewSoup

Pangsit Kuah (Indonesian Dumpling Soup)

Light, gingery Indonesian chicken dumpling soup with green chile heat and a clean, savory broth.

⏱ 55 min🔥 362 kcalHard
✨ NewDinner

Ayam Bakar (Indonesian Citrus-Marinated Grilled Chicken)

Indonesian grilled chicken marinated in citrus, garlic, and spices, basted with a sweet-savory glaze until charred.

⏱ 58 min🔥 523 kcalEasy
✨ NewDinner

Terong Balado (Indonesian Spicy Tomato Eggplant Bake)

Fried eggplant baked in a fiery Indonesian tomato-chili sambal until soft and richly coated.

⏱ 61 min🔥 514 kcalMedium
✨ NewLunch

Ayam Bumbu Rica-Rica Bowl (Spiced Tomato Chile Chicken)

Rice bowl topped with Indonesian rica-rica chicken, simmered in a fiery tomato-chile spice paste.

⏱ 45 min🔥 460 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Nasi Goreng Seafood with Crispy Shallots

Indonesian fried rice loaded with shrimp and squid, tossed in kecap manis and topped with crispy fried shallots.

⏱ 35 min🔥 460 kcalMedium
✨ NewLunch

Coconut Lentil and Vegetable Bowl (Sayur Lodeh-Style)

A coconut milk vegetable stew inspired by sayur lodeh, given extra body with red lentils and rice.

⏱ 45 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Sambal-Spiced Stuffed Peppers with Beef and Tomato

Bell peppers stuffed with a spicy sambal beef and tomato filling, baked until tender and fragrant.

⏱ 55 min🔥 380 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Nasi Liwet (Indonesian Coconut Rice Casserole)

Rice cooked in coconut milk and aromatics until fragrant, baked with crispy fried shallots on top.

⏱ 55 min🔥 420 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Satay-Spiced Beef Burger with Peanut Sauce

A beef burger seasoned with Indonesian satay spices, topped with a rich peanut sauce and cucumber.

⏱ 35 min🔥 640 kcalMedium
✨ NewDinner

Indonesian Holiday Platter with Beef Rendang and Sambal

A festive spread of slow-braised beef rendang, coconut rice, sauteed peppers and fresh sambal.

⏱ 180 min🔥 620 kcalHard

Choosing & preparing garlic

How to choose

Pick firm, heavy heads with tight, papery skin and no green shoots or soft spots. Fresh garlic far outperforms jarred pre-minced, which tastes flat and slightly sour.

Prep & storage

Crush to release more of its pungent compounds, slice for a milder bite, or roast whole until jammy and sweet. Add minced garlic late and keep it moving — it burns and turns bitter in seconds.

Nutrition

Eaten in small amounts, but a source of allicin and other sulphur compounds linked to heart and immune benefits.

Classic flavour partners: olive oil, chilli, ginger, parsley, lemon, butter

Indonesian Garlic Recipes — FAQ

How long do Indonesian garlic recipes take to make?

Most of these 64 Indonesian garlic recipes are ready in around 70 minutes from start to finish. The quickest, Sambal Oelek, takes about 10 minutes, while the slower-cooked dishes run up to 270 minutes.

How many calories are in Indonesian garlic dishes?

Across this collection they range from about 20 to 640 kcal per serving, averaging 419 kcal — Sambal Oelek is the lightest option at 20 kcal.

What is the easiest Indonesian garlic recipe for beginners?

Indonesian Nasi Goreng is a great place to start — it's rated easy and comes together in about 30 minutes. 34% of the recipes here are beginner-friendly.

What goes well with garlic in Indonesian cooking?

In these recipes, garlic is most often paired with shallots, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, kecap manis, soy sauce and eggs. Indonesian kitchens also lean on shallots, garlic, candlenut, lemongrass, kecap manis and sambal.

More Indonesian Recipes by Ingredient

Garlic Recipes from Other Cuisines