While visiting the traditional market in Indonesia, the most fun thing to do is sampling Jajanan Pasar, a traditional Indonesian snack with vibrant colors, flavorful, and affordable. The most notable feature of Jajan Pasar is the main ingredients, which combine flour, soybeans, rice, and cassava. There are so many types and so many flavors to choose from, ranging from sweet to savory.
Jajanan Pasar serves as either an appetizer or dessert. Some people serve these snacks during functions and important events such as weddings. So, while visiting the country, don't miss out on this flavorsome treat. But if you get confused about what to pick, here are some snacks in no particular order you can try.
As a guide, you can refer to the picture for the name of each snack that I mentioned.
Pastel
Pastel is the most generic Jajanan Pasar that you can find anywhere in the country. It is a deep-fried savory pasty with vermicelli as fillings and sometimes a mixture of chopped vegetables, egg, and chicken with flour.Kue Cum Cum
You can find Cum Cum almost everywhere. This one is a sweet-savory pasty with sugar coating the horn-like shape. The modern version filling is chocolate and garnished with raisin.Dadar Gulung
For those of you who like coconut, this is a sweet little treat perfect for you. The word Dadar in English means omelet, while Gulung in English means to roll. So, the dough is crepe-like made from flour, coconut milk, salt, and egg. While the filling consists of sweet grated coconut. The color of this snack is often green or dark brown. Often, people make it with pandan leaves, but these days, people use food coloring.Kue Lapis
From its name, lapis means layered. This rather bland layered steamed snack is one of the most colorful and inviting jajanan pasar that you can find. The main ingredient of this snack is rice flour pudding. Kue Lapis is very famous and easily spotted across the country.Kue Lumpur
In English, Kue Lumpur can be translated as mud cake; this sweet cake is similar to Pasteis de Nata. The texture of the filling is soft, sweet and gives you a melting sensation inside your mouth. Some of the main ingredients are flour and coconut milk. However, there are also various ways of making this cake, including with potato or pumpkin.
There are many more in that tray, but you can always ask me if you want to know the snack name and how it tastes.
 |  |  |
Next to this jajanan pasar seller, various Indonesian meals are served in the open without any cover. The food in the traditional market is often served this way, which can often be unhygienic. So, if you are not a local, it feels like gambling eating this type of food. Of course, there are upscale bakeries that sell traditional snacks, and if you don't dare to eat straight from the market, you can always get these from the upscale bakeries.
 |  |  |
Sometimes it can feel like I am someone from a distant place. I always try to take a picture of unique or bizarre things I found around me. Sometimes I am quite shy in capturing these things. But I try not to care since I don't take pictures of people. I also don't take pictures where it has a sign " no picture" so I suppose, I am in the clear.
After visiting the traditional market, I wonder how some people can live their life eating food from a vendor that sells food without any covers. They are probably blessed with a strong gut. Nevertheless, my experience visiting the traditional market was fun.
~ Mac
