West Papua is widely known as a majestic place for travellers worldwide to visit. Besides all of its splendid panorama, both land and sea, this place is also the perfect destination for the foodies.
Since oceans surround the province, its marine is an excellent food source. This results in delicious traditional fish-based menus. Here’s what West Papua offers.
West Papua’s Fish-based Menu You Shouldn’t Miss Out
- Yellow Broth Fish
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This food is a simple delicacy enriched with local herbs and spices. Usually, the fish used is mackerel, tuna, snapper, and others.
The main point of this dish is the fish and the yellow broth. It is completed with lime juice or starfruit to add a sour taste. As a result, the broth is particularly rich and fresh with a hint of spiciness.
In addition, it is common for local people to eat this menu with Papeda, another iconic local cuisine in the form of Sago flour porridge. Even so, you can always choose between Papeda or regular rice to suit your taste.
- Smoked Skipjack
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Smoked skipjack might be a common dish in some of the areas near the sea in Papua. But, what makes this dish special is the way the skipjack is being smoked.
Usually, smoked skipjack is done by putting the fish horizontally above the fire. Meanwhile, this one is cooked by putting it vertically. This method is believed to make sure the fish is cooked well inside and out.
If you are looking for a savoury local fish dish, this one is definitely a must-try.
- West Papua’s Wrapped Fish
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Actually, wrapped fish is a common Indonesian dish. You can easily find it in any part of Indonesia. Even so, this one is a special one that you can only find in West Papua because it is cooked differently.
Usually, wrapped fish is served using banana leaves as the wrapper, but not this one. West Papua’s wrapped fish uses taro leaves to wrap the fish. Moreover, this particular dish uses only marine fish, not freshwater fish.
In addition, the usage of salt is critical in cooking to neutralise taro sap. As a result, you will taste the savoury and rich flavour while devouring the food.
- Manokwari’s Grilled Fish
Grilled fish is a classic dish that can easily be found in a tourist destination, especially beside the ocean. Even so, the typical grilled fish in Manokwari is still nothing but special.
The type of fish used for this menu is either mackerel or tuna. This menu special is the spicy seasonings combined with Manokwari’s special spices.
Those will result in a tasty and rich in taste grilled fish. It would be more special if you ate it by the beach while listening to the sound of the waves and feeling the soft breeze.
- Grilled Fish with Colo-colo Sauce
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While grilled fish is a typical dish in the seaside of the West Papua area, there is one more menu that levels up the taste of the original grilled fish. The main character here is Colo-colo sauce.
Colo-colo sauce is a spicy and fresh sauce containing chilli, lime, and other rich seasonings. Combining those spices will result in a sour yet savoury and spicy taste.
Eating it with the grilled fish will taste a tasty flavour you won’t find anywhere else.
West Papua offers many delicious fish-based menus that you must try when you visit this place. Once you try one fish dish, you will never leave this place with an empty stomach and a content mind.
