Indonesian tempe recipes

Spicy Indonesian Sayur Lodeh with Tempe, Tofu, and Shrimp

Published
Oct 9, 2024
Reading time
3 min
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A flavorful Indonesian coconut milk stew with tempe, tofu, and a kick of rawit chili.


Ingredients:

Main Ingredients Quantity
Tempe (fermented soybean cake) 1 block (papan)
Tofu (firm, cut into pieces) 1 block (papan)
Small shrimp (peeled) 1/4 cup (small-sized)
Galangal (laos), smashed 2-inch piece
Kaffir lime leaves (daun salam) 3 leaves
Coconut milk (santan) 1 sachet
Rawit chili (small bird’s eye chili) 200 grams (both green and red)
Salt To taste
Sugar To taste

Ground Spices (Bumbu Halus)

Spice Quantity
Garlic (bawang putih) 8 cloves
Red onion (bawang merah) 7 cloves
Candlenuts (kemiri) 2 nuts
Large red chili (cabe merah besar) 2 pieces

Instructions:

  1. Prepare Ingredients:

    • Rinse the shrimp thoroughly and set aside.
    • Cut the tofu and tempe into small cubes.
  2. Prepare the Spice Paste:

    • In a mortar and pestle, grind the garlic, red onion, candlenuts, and large red chilies into a smooth paste.
  3. Sauté the Spice Paste:

    • Heat a bit of oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ground spice paste and sauté for about 1 minute, until fragrant and cooked through. Set aside.
  4. Cook the Tofu and Tempe:

    • In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add the tofu and tempe, cooking until both are fully heated through and slightly tender.
  5. Add the Shrimp:

    • Once the tofu and tempe are cooked, add the shrimp to the pot. Let it simmer until the shrimp turns pink and is cooked through.
  6. Add the Spices:

    • Stir in the sautéed spice paste into the pot with the tofu, tempe, and shrimp. Add the smashed galangal and kaffir lime leaves (daun salam) for added flavor.
  7. Simmer the Stew:

    • Allow the stew to come to a boil. Season it with sugar and salt to balance the flavors. Stir well.
  8. Add Chilies and Coconut Milk:

    • Toss in the whole rawit chilies (both red and green). Pour in the coconut milk and stir the mixture gently to combine.
  9. Final Cooking:

    • Simmer the stew until the coconut milk is fully cooked and the flavors meld together. Be sure to stir occasionally to prevent the coconut milk from separating.
  10. Taste and Serve:

  • Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or sugar if necessary. Once satisfied with the flavor, the dish is ready to be served hot with steamed rice.

Nutritional Information (Approximate Per Serving):

Nutrient Amount per Serving
Calories 250 kcal
Protein 15 g
Carbohydrates 20 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Fat 15 g
Saturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 50 mg
Sodium 350 mg
Sugar 2 g

Sayur Lodeh with Tempe, Tofu, and Cabe Rawit is a hearty and spicy Indonesian coconut milk-based stew. It brings together tender tempe, tofu, and shrimp, all infused with the rich flavors of ground spices, fresh galangal, and kaffir lime leaves. The dish is finished with a generous helping of rawit chilies and coconut milk, offering a satisfying balance of heat and creaminess.

Enjoy this dish as a comforting side or a main dish paired with steamed rice!