Pempek Recipe

Pempek at glance: A fish cake delicacy from Palembang, usually made from mackerel and tapioca. It’s often served with a sweet and sour vinegar sauce called cuko.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb mackerel fillet, minced
• 1 cup tapioca flour
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• Water, as needed

Sauce (Cuko):

• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup palm sugar
• 4 cloves garlic
• 5-6 bird’s eye chilies
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Mix the minced mackerel, tapioca flour, garlic, egg, salt, and sugar. Add water as needed to form a dough.
2. Shape the dough into oval patties or cylinders.
3. Boil the patties in water until they float. Remove and set aside.
4. For the sauce, blend the garlic and chilies. Boil water, palm sugar, and tamarind paste until the sugar dissolves. Add the garlic and chili mixture. Simmer until thickened.
5. Serve the pempek with the sauce on the side.