Title: Tempe Meleset (Tempe with Spicy Red Sauce)
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Tempe (fermented soybean cake) | 1/2 kg |
| Red chili peppers (cabe merah) | 20 pieces |
| Bird’s eye chili (cabe rawit merah) | 29 pieces |
| Shallots (bawang merah) | 6 bulbs |
| Garlic (bawang putih) | 3 cloves |
| Galangal (kencur) | 1/2 thumb (approximately 2.5 cm) |
Steps:
-
Prepare the Tempe
Begin by cutting the tempe into thick slices. Create a small hole in the center of each slice to hold the flavorful filling. Be careful not to cut through the edges completely—just enough to form a small pocket. -
Make the Spice Paste
Using a mortar and pestle, grind the red chili peppers, bird’s eye chili, shallots, garlic, and galangal together until you form a smooth paste. This fragrant spice mixture will give the tempe its signature heat and depth of flavor. -
Sauté the Spice Paste
Heat some oil in a pan, then add the ground spice paste. Sauté it until the spices become aromatic and lightly browned. This will unlock the flavors and give it a rich, fragrant base for the tempe. -
Stuff the Tempe
Once the spice paste is ready, take the sautéed mixture and carefully stuff it into the pockets of the tempe. The paste should fill the holes in the tempe slices well, ensuring every bite will be infused with that fiery, fragrant paste. -
Coat the Tempe
In a separate bowl, mix some flour with seasoning (such as Masako, or any savory seasoning powder of your choice) and water to create a light batter. Dip each stuffed tempe slice into this batter, coating it thoroughly on all sides. -
Fry the Tempe
Heat oil in a deep frying pan, and fry the coated tempe slices until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside. Turn them occasionally to ensure an even fry. Once they are crispy, remove them from the oil and drain on paper towels. -
Serve
Serve your crispy and flavorful Tempe Meleset while hot. This dish is perfect as a snack or side dish to accompany rice or a fresh vegetable salad. Enjoy the spicy, crunchy goodness of this unique Indonesian-inspired dish!
This Tempe Meleset is a delicious, spicy dish that combines the earthy flavor of tempe with aromatic spices and a crispy, golden coating. Simple yet satisfying, it offers a bold and flavorful bite, making it a perfect snack for spicy food lovers!
