Pempek Palembang - Indonesian Fried Fish Cake Recipe

by Yufo

Pempek Palembang is an Indonesian delicacy from Sumatera which is made of fish and sago. Pempek is eaten together with a dark sauce called cuka or cuko (in bahasa Palembang). Cuko is produced from adding brown sugar, chili pepper, garlic, vinegar, and salt into hot boiling water.

There are many variety of pempek Palembang and the most famous pempek is "pempek kapal selam" ("kapal selam" means "submarine" in English). This pempek is actually made of egg (usually chicken), wrapped together with the pempek dough and being deep fried. Scientific says that pempek kapal selam is the most nutritious, high in vitamin, protein, mineral, and carbohydrate. Besides "pempek kapal selam", there are also "pempek telur kecil", "pempek keriting", "pempek pistel", "pempek kulit ikan", "pempek adaan", "pempek lenjer", and "pempek tahu".

According to legend, around 1617 there was an old Chinese Man who lived nearby Musi river. He noticed abundant fishes caught by the local fishermen, however this indigenous people did not know how to cook the fishes properly. During that time, most of the indigenous people only fried the fishes instead of adding with some other ingredients to make new dishes. This old Chinese Man began a new alternative by mixing with sago and some other spices. He sold this newly created dish around the village by riding his bicycle. As the indigenous people began to call this old Chinese Man "pek ... apek" ('Apek' is a Chinese slang for an old man), thus the food is known as empek-empek or pempek today.

The most famous pempek palembang outlets in Palembang, Indonesia can be found in Jalan Slamet Riyadi. Some of the famous pempek outlet in palembang are "warung pempek Pak Raden", "warung pempek Dempo", "warung pempek Saga", "Pempek Noni", etc.

Here is how you could make a delicious dish of Pempek palembang right at your own home :

Main Ingrdients:

* 250 gr Cod or any white meat fish * 125 gr Tapioca or corn flour * 2 tbsp light soya sauce * Salt and pepper * 1 tbsp oil (to prevent the dough sticky)

Soup Ingredients:

* 5 Bird eye chilies * 100 gr Palm sugar * 2 tbsp sugar * Salt and pepper * 2 tbsp light soya sauce * 2 tbsp ebi (dried prawn) * Handful diced Cucumber * 4 tbsp rice vinegar * 1 tsp tamarind * 250 ml water

Soup Preparation Boil all soup ingredients into sauce pan

Pempek Palembang Preparation First Step, Blend all the ingredients into food processor until the smooth like a dough , you could put splash of water if you need it

Second step, Put enough fish cake into you hand and put half boil egg in the middle and cover it with the dough and put into boil water until they float.

Last, Drain all the water, deep fry it for 5 minutes and put them all on a dish when ready. Pour some of the soup on it while its hot.

Serve while the Pempek Palembang is still hot and crispy from the fryer. Delicious.

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