Nasi timbel is a traditional Indonesian rice dish originating from West Java. This extremely simple nasi dish is made with rice that’s wrapped in a banana leaf, then steamed until tender. Nasi timbel is rarely eaten on its own – instead, it’s served with various hot dishes and sides such as fried chicken, fried fish, tofu, tempeh, vegetables, soups, or sambal.
In Sundanese, Nasi timbel is referred to as Sangu Lead, which is rice that is wrapped. While Lead is a circle on a fishing rod. So, Nasi timbel is described as rice wrapped in banana leaves and shaped like lead. While the rice is rice as it is usually consumed. This food is usually used for Sundanese people who want to travel or want to travel to wrap rice to make it more economical and practical. The reason is, in the past, banana leaves were the easiest food wrapping media to find.
This traditional food was originally a food consumed by the middle and lower class people, but now this special culinary has been widely displayed in restaurants and enjoyed by all groups. Along with its development, Nasi timbel, which was originally wrapped in oval or elongated, can now be shaped into squares or triangles according to creativity.
In urban areas, Nasi timbel is consumed by the upper middle class as a remedy for homesickness for rural Sundanese cuisine. While in the village, this Sundanese food is usually used to entertain guests or as part of the food in celebration of traditional ceremonies.