Indonesian tempe recipes

Spicy Tempe Jeletot: Crispy Stuffed Tempe with Sambal Filling

Published
Oct 11, 2024
Reading time
2 min
Start cooking Add a note

Private editorial report

What needs our attention?

Only needed if you would like the site operator to ask a follow-up question.

Community taste test

How much did you love this recipe?

—/ 5 Be the first to rate

Tap a heart to leave your rating.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients Quantity
Tempe, cut into thick slices As needed
Filling Ingredients
Red chili (cabe rawit), whole 25 pieces
Curly chili (cabe keriting), whole 10 pieces
Shallots (bawang merah), peeled 6 cloves
Garlic (bawang putih), peeled 2 cloves
Shrimp paste (terasi), crushed 1 package
Salt To taste
Batter Ingredients
All-purpose flour (tepung terigu) As needed
Ground pepper (lada bubuk) To taste
Garlic powder (bawang putih bubuk) To taste
Ice water (air es) As needed

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Tempe:
    Start by slicing the tempe into thick pieces, then make a shallow slit in the middle of each slice to create a pocket for the filling.

  2. Cook the Filling:
    Heat some oil in a pan and fry the red and curly chilies, shallots, garlic, and shrimp paste until they are half-cooked. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.

  3. Prepare the Sambal:
    Once cooled, roughly crush the fried ingredients in a mortar or food processor, then add salt to taste. Drizzle a small amount of the oil used for frying to give it a rich flavor and blend everything well.

  4. Stuff the Tempe:
    Take each tempe slice with a slit and fill it generously with the spicy sambal mixture.

  5. Prepare the Batter:
    In a bowl, mix the flour, ground pepper, and garlic powder. Gradually add ice water to create a thick batter.

  6. Fry the Tempe:
    Dip each stuffed tempe slice into the prepared batter, ensuring it is evenly coated. Heat oil in a pan and fry the battered tempe until golden brown and crispy. Once cooked, remove and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  7. Serve:
    Serve the tempe jeletot warm and enjoy the perfect combination of crispy tempe and spicy sambal!


This dish, known as Tempe Jeletot, is a popular street food in Indonesia, offering a spicy punch in every bite with the crispy and savory tempe. Pair it with rice or enjoy it as a tasty snack!