lauttimur.com - Pempek is a type of fishcake that is a popular dish in Palembang, a city in South Sumatra, Indonesia. It is made from fish paste, tapioca flour, and other ingredients such as garlic, salt, sugar, and egg, which are mixed together to form a batter. The batter is then shaped into various forms such as balls, sausages, or rolls, and either boiled or fried until cooked. 

Pempek is typically served with a spicy and sour sauce made from vinegar, sugar, chili peppers, garlic, and salt, which is poured over the fishcakes before serving. It is a delicious and unique dish that is a must-try for anyone visiting Palembang or Indonesia.

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Here is a recipe for making pempek:

Ingredients:

• 500g boneless fish fillets (preferably mackerel or tenggiri)
• 150g tapioca flour
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 500ml water
• Cooking oil

For the sauce:

• 100ml vinegar
• 50g palm sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 red chili peppers, chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt

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Instructions:

1. Blend the fish fillets in a food processor until it becomes a smooth paste.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the fish paste, tapioca flour, minced garlic, salt, sugar, and egg. Mix well.
3. Gradually add water to the mixture while stirring continuously until it becomes a smooth batter. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes.
4. In the meantime, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan, mix together vinegar, palm sugar, minced garlic, chopped red chili peppers, and salt. Cook over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce has thickened slightly. Set aside.
5. Heat cooking oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
6. Take a small portion of the batter and shape it into a ball. Flatten it slightly to form a patty. Repeat until all the batter is used up.
7. Fry the fishcakes in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.
8. Serve the fishcakes with the sauce on the side. You can also add slices of cucumber and lettuce for garnish.

Enjoy your homemade pempek!

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