When people think of Balinese food, dishes such as babi guling and ayam betutu often come to mind. But Bali also has plenty of traditional dishes that don't contain meat, including be pasih, a simple and flavorful rice-based meal centered around sea fish and vegetables.
For travelers looking for meatless or pescatarian food in Bali, be pasih is a dish worth discovering.
What Does Be Pasih Mean?
Be pasih literally translates to "sea fish" in Balinese. It is also the traditional Balinese name used for this particular style of meal, which brings together rice, several preparations of fish, vegetables, peanuts, and sambal.
Rather than being a single preparation, be pasih is more like a traditional Balinese rice plate, with several different components served together.
What's in Be Pasih?
A typical serving of be pasih can include:
- Rice: The base of the meal, usually served warm alongside the other dishes.
- Pepes ikan: Fish meat mixed with Balinese spices, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed or grilled over charcoal. The banana leaf helps keep the fish moist while infusing it with the fragrant spices.
- Sate ikan: Pieces of seasoned fish meat skewered and grilled, giving the fish a slightly smoky flavor.
- Fish soup: A light, flavorful soup made with fish and Balinese seasonings.
- Grilled peanuts: Crunchy peanuts that add texture to the otherwise soft and tender components.
- Sambal matah: A famous Balinese condiment made with finely sliced shallots, lemongrass, chili, lime, and other seasonings. Fresh, spicy, and slightly acidic, it adds a bright kick to the meal.
The vegetable component can vary, but two common options are plecing kangkung and sayur urab.
Plecing kangkung is water spinach, locally known as kangkung, blanched or cooked and served with a fresh, spicy tomato and chili sambal.
Sayur urab (also known as urap) is a mixed vegetable dish tossed with seasoned grated coconut. It is typically fresh and lightly crunchy, with the coconut and spices giving it a distinctive Balinese flavor.
A Traditional Meatless Option in Bali
Although be pasih contains fish, it doesn't contain meat such as pork or chicken, making it a natural option for pescatarians or travelers simply looking for a traditional Balinese meal without meat.
It also offers a nice introduction to Balinese cuisine because you get several different flavors and textures on the same plate: steamed and grilled fish, fragrant rice, vegetables, crunchy peanuts, and the fresh heat of sambal matah.
If you're exploring Bali and want to go beyond the island's better-known meat dishes, keep an eye out for be pasih — literally, "sea fish."
