Indonesian tempe recipes

Crispy Tempeh Penyet with Spicy Garlic Sambal Recipe

Published
Oct 3, 2024
Reading time
2 min
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Tempe Penyet with Sambal Bawang is a beloved Indonesian dish featuring crispy, fried tempeh mashed with a fiery and flavorful garlic chili sambal. It’s a simple yet tantalizing recipe that brings together the crunch of tempeh with the kick of sambal, perfect for spicy food lovers. Let’s dive into this delicious recipe that’s sure to ignite your taste buds!


Ingredients:

Ingredient Quantity
Tempeh (soybean tempeh) As desired
Garlic cloves 2 cloves
Bird’s eye chilies (rawit) As desired (adjust heat)
Shrimp paste (terasi) A pinch
Sugar (white) To taste
Red chili (large) 1 chili

Nutritional Information (Per Serving):

Nutrient Amount
Calories 210 kcal
Protein 15g
Carbohydrates 10g
Fat 12g
Fiber 4g
Sodium 150mg

Instructions:

  1. Prepare and Fry the Tempeh
    Start by cutting your tempeh into slices or blocks, depending on your preference. Season the tempeh with a pinch of salt and a bit of garlic if you wish. Fry the tempeh in hot oil until it turns golden brown and crispy on the outside.

  2. Prepare the Sambal Bawang
    While waiting for the tempeh to cook, start preparing the sambal. Using a traditional mortar and pestle (cobek), add the garlic, bird’s eye chilies, large red chili, shrimp paste, and sugar. Grind the ingredients together into a coarse paste, adjusting the level of chili based on your heat tolerance.

  3. Combine and Mash the Tempeh
    Once the tempeh is crispy and golden, remove it from the oil. No need to drain it thoroughly; a little oil adds flavor. Place the fried tempeh directly into the mortar (cobek) with the sambal paste. Mash the tempeh lightly into the sambal, allowing the flavors to meld together.

  4. Serve and Enjoy
    Your Tempe Penyet with Sambal Bawang is ready to serve! The slight heat from the sambal combined with the crunch of the tempeh makes this a perfect side dish or snack. Serve it with steamed rice for a complete meal or enjoy it as is.


Tips for the Perfect Tempe Penyet:

  • For Extra Crispiness: You can marinate the tempeh in a mixture of garlic, salt, and turmeric for an added flavor punch before frying.
  • Adjust the Spice: If you prefer a milder sambal, reduce the amount of bird’s eye chili and replace it with more large red chilies, which are less spicy.
  • Add a Squeeze of Lime: For a fresh, tangy kick, add a squeeze of lime juice over the sambal before serving.

Enjoy the simplicity and bold flavors of this authentic Indonesian dish!