INDONESIA

Satay Kakul – Balinese Snail Satay

Although satay can be found all over Indonesia, satay kakul is a unique and traditional snack from Ubud on the island of Bali. What makes this satay different is that is uses snails! 

In the past, people from Ubud often made satay kakul because snails were easily found in the rice fields – the hallmark of the region. Today, satay kakul has transformed into a culinary dish that is loved by many people.

As it’s a satay, it is quite easy to make. First of all, the snails are cleaned and then put onto a skewer stick for the BBQ grill. Before being grilled, the snail meat is coated with a mixture oyster sauce, hazelnut powder, soy sauce and tomato paste. Grilled fish seasonings such as brown sugar with shallots are often applied to the baking process. 

Although the ingredients and cooking method are simple, the taste is extraordinary. These satay flavours tend to be spicy, so if you like hot cuisine then you need to try this satay. It’s guaranteed to make you sweat. But if you don’t like spicy food, don’t worry. You can ask the seller not to use too many chilies.

The snail meat itself is chewy and a little sweet and is usually served with a plate of warm rice. However you can also choose to eat satay kakul with ares or banana stem soup, which is typical for Bali. 

When in Ubud, you can find stalls around Singakerta Village where a portion of Satay Kakul costs only IDR 25.000.

Source: Visitbali – Sate Kakul, A Unique And Delicious Culinary In Ubud

Image source: Visit Bali / Dapur Kobe / Cookpad