Meals

Lontong Sayur Medan is a traditional breakfast dish from Medan, North Sumatra, celebrated for its rich, aromatic coconut milk broth and an incredibly diverse array of colorful toppings. Unlike standard Indonesian lontong sayur (compressed rice cakes in vegetable soup), the Medan version stands out due to its unique combination of savory, spicy, tangy, and crunchy elements all layered in a single bowl.

1. The Base

• Rice: Jasmine or long-grain rice wrapped in banana leaves (or plastic pouches) and boiled until compressed into dense cakes (lontong).

2. The Vegetable Soup (Sayur Gurih)

• Vegetables: Chayote squash (labu siam), long beans, or bamboo shoots, julienned.
• Aromatics & Spices: Lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves, turmeric, shallots, garlic, and candlenuts.
• Liquid: Fresh, rich coconut milk.

3. The Star Topping: Tauco Udang (Fermented Soybean Shrimp)

• Fermented yellow/brown soybean paste (tauco).
• Fresh small shrimp or prawns.
• Stink beans (pete) and bird's eye peas (rimbang or leunca).
• Green and red chili peppers, sliced diagonally.

4. Iconic Accompaniments & Garnishes

• Mie Gomak: Thick, dried stick noodles (spaghetti-like) boiled and tossed in light spices.
• Anchovies & Peanuts: Tiny dried anchovies (teri) and raw peanuts, deep-fried and tossed in a sweet-spicy chili paste (sambal).
• Serundeng: Grated coconut flesh toasted with garlic, shallots, palm sugar, and coriander.
• Protein: Hard-boiled eggs or tofu fried and simmered in red chili paste (balado).
• Crackers: Pink tapioca crackers (kerupuk merah).

serving of Lontong Sayur Medan (approx. 450g–500g bowl with standard toppings like a boiled egg and crackers)
• Calories: 520 – 650 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 60g – 68g
• Fat: 24g – 35g
• Protein: 18g – 22g
• Sodium: 800 – 1,000 mg
• Fiber: ~5g