The ingredients are vegetables; usually beansprouts, shredded cabbages and carrots, battered and deep fried in cooking oil.

[3] It is similar to Japanese yasai tenpura (vegetable tempura), Korean pajeon, Bruneian cucur, Indian pakora, Burmese A-kyaw or Filipino ukoy.

Bakwan usually consists of vegetables, however another variation called 'bakwan udang' adds whole shrimp to the batter and is sold in snack stands at the marketplace.

[5] In East Java, bakwan refers to fried wonton with filling; served with tofu, noodles and meatballs in a soupy broth.

Originally Bakwan comes from a Chinese Indonesian cuisine recipe along with Bakpao (Meatbun), Bakso (Meatball), Bakmie (Meat Noodle), and bakpia.