Discover and enjoy authentic and delicious Magelang specialties, from mangut beong to sup senerek, for an unforgettable culinary experience in Central Java.
Magelang, a city in Central Java that is famous for its natural beauty and rich history, also has a culinary wealth that is worth exploring.
From soup dishes to mouth-watering snacks, Magelang offers a variety of specialties that are not only delicious but also hard to find elsewhere. Here are 10 specialties from Magelang that you must try when visiting this city.
1. Catfish Mangut
Mangut lele is a traditional Magelang dish that is much sought after. Catfish is fried or grilled and then doused in a spicy coconut milk sauce that is rich in spices. This mangut sauce is thinner than gulai but has a distinctive savory and spicy taste.
The cooking process involves sautéing the spices until fragrant, then the coconut milk and catfish are cooked together, resulting in a perfect dish that represents Typical Magelang Food to be eaten with warm rice.
2. Beong’s Mangut
Unlike catfish mangut, beong mangut uses catfish, an endemic fish that can only be found in the Progo River. This fish is larger than catfish and its meat is thicker.
Mangut beong has a spicy coconut milk sauce, which not only provides a savory taste but is also effective in removing the fishy smell of fish. This dish is very popular in Magelang and offers a unique taste sensation for culinary lovers.
3. Rice porridge
Sego godog, or boiled rice, is a dish that is quite unique to Magelang. Rice boiled with stir-fried spices gives a savory taste that is different from ordinary rice.
Other ingredients such as shredded chicken, eggs, vegetables, and yellow noodles add to the deliciousness of this dish. Sego godog has a savory taste with a touch of sweetness, and is usually served with additional chili sauce for those who like it spicy.
4. Rice Lesah
Nasi lesah is a typical Magelang dish that is similar to soto, but with a thicker and richer sauce. Nasi lesah sauce is made from a mixture of coconut milk and chicken stock, giving it a strong savory taste.
This dish is served with bean sprouts, shredded chicken, rice vermicelli, and sliced cabbage. Usually, nasi lesah is also accompanied by various additional side dishes such as tempeh mendoan, perkedel, shellfish satay, and chicken feet.
5. Kupat Tahu Magelang
Kupat Tahu Magelang offers a culinary experience that combines ketupat, tofu, bean sprouts, and other vegetables in one dish.
The thin and sweet peanut sauce is the hallmark of this kupat tahu, different from the thicker peanut sauce in kupat tahu in other regions. This dish is served with additional bakwan and sprinkled with fried onions, making it a filling and delicious meal.
6. Duck Opor
Opor entok is a variation of opor that uses entok or duck meat as the main ingredient. The chewy duck meat gives a different texture from chicken opor.
The cooking process is also longer because the duck meat is grilled first before being cooked in coconut milk sauce rich in spices. Opor entok is served with warm rice and spicy green chili sauce, creating an extraordinary combination of flavors.
7. Taro Leaf Buntil
Buntil is a traditional food that is usually made from cassava or papaya leaves. However, in Magelang, buntil uses taro leaves as its wrapper.
The filling of this buntil is grated coconut seasoned with spices and foreign shrimp, which is then cooked in a savory coconut milk sauce. This dish has a spicy and savory taste, making it one of Magelang’s unique and must-try specialties.
8. Senerek Soup
fresh and light taste. This soup contains red beans, carrots, potatoes, and chicken or beef, with a clear, savory broth. Senerek soup is often also called red bean soup, and is usually served with hot rice. Its fresh taste is perfect to enjoy on a cold day or as a healthy lunch dish.
9. Jombor Noodles
Bakmi Jombor is one of the must-try foods when visiting Magelang. This noodle has a thicker and darker sauce than most noodles, giving it a distinctive sweet and savory taste.
There are two choices of noodles, namely simple noodles and special noodles which are served with chicken and egg pieces. The delicious taste of Bakmi Jombor often makes tourists want to return to Magelang just to enjoy this dish.
10. Slondok
Slondok is a typical Magelang snack made from cassava and processed into crispy crackers. With various flavors such as original, balado, and cheese, slondok is a favorite snack that is suitable to take home as a souvenir.
Slondok is widely sold in souvenir centers in Magelang along with other typical snacks such as geblek and getuk crackers. Magelang is not only known for its magnificent Borobudur temple, but also for its delicious culinary delights.
From soupy dishes like mangut and nasi lesah to crunchy snacks like slondok, each Magelang specialty offers a unique and unforgettable culinary experience.
Don’t forget to try these 10 special foods when you visit Magelang, and make sure to explore some Typical Jogja Food to experience the authentic culinary delights that only exist here.
