Tempe Jeletot (Spicy Tempe Bites)
Ingredients
- 1 block of tempe
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- All-purpose flour (for batter)
- Sambel (Chili Sauce) Ingredients:
- Red chili peppers (as desired)
- Bird’s eye chili peppers (to taste)
- 3 shallots, peeled
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 small tomato
- Sugar (to taste)
- Salt (to taste)
- Seasoning (to taste)
- Cooking oil for frying
Instructions
-
Prepare the Tempe:
Begin by cutting the tempe into pieces, about 2 cm in thickness. Make a slit down the center, but be careful not to cut all the way through. Once cut, soak the tempe in a mixture of salt and crushed garlic for a few minutes to let the flavors penetrate. -
Prepare the Sambel (Chili Sauce):
In the meantime, grind the sambel ingredients together using a mortar and pestle or a blender. You want a coarse texture for the sambel, not too fine. Blend together the red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, shallots, garlic, tomato, sugar, salt, and seasoning until you have a well-mixed sambel paste. -
Fry the Sambel:
Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat and fry the sambel paste until fragrant. Once it starts to release its aroma, set it aside and allow it to cool down to room temperature. -
Combine Sambel and Tempe:
After the sambel has cooled, spread it generously onto the prepared tempe pieces. Let the tempe soak in the flavors for a few minutes. -
Prepare the Batter:
In a separate bowl, mix the flour with finely chopped scallions. Season the batter with salt and pepper to taste. You want the batter to have a nice, smooth consistency, perfect for coating the tempe. -
Fry the Tempe:
Heat oil in a pan over low heat, and then dip each piece of tempe into the prepared flour batter, making sure it’s well-coated. Gently fry the tempe until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Keep the heat low to ensure the tempe cooks through without burning the batter. -
Serve and Enjoy:
Once the tempe bites are crispy and golden, remove them from the oil and let them drain on a paper towel. Serve hot and enjoy your Tempe Jeletot, a deliciously spicy and crunchy Indonesian snack!
Tip:
Pair this with your favorite dipping sauce or enjoy it as a savory side dish to complement your meals. The spicy sambel gives a delightful kick to the crisp tempe bites!
