Crispy Tempe Jeletot with Spicy Sambel

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!