Pecel: a culinary reflection of Javanese cultural heritage, food ecological knowledge, and plant-based nutrition (opens in new tab)

Pecel is a traditional Javanese dish consisting of blanched, boiled, or steamed vegetables accompanied by Sambel Pecel, a sauce based on peanuts. Beyond its role as a daily staple, Pecel serves as a cultural emblem of identity, resilience, and ecological knowledge. Despite its centrality in Javanese culinary traditions, Pecel has received limited scholarly attention as an ethnic food that integrates biodiversity, symbolism, and health. This narrative review integrates interdisciplinary perspe...