Pempek

Pempek, mpek-mpek and also known as colloquially as empek-empek is a savoury Indonesian fishcake delicacy, made of fish and tapioca, from Palembang,^[1] South Sumatera, Indonesia. Pempek is served with rich sweet and sour sauce called kuah cuka or kuah cuko (lit. vinegar sauce), or just "cuko". Sometimes local people also eat the dish with yellow noodles and diced up cucumber to balance out the vinegar's sourness.^[2]

Origin

Pempek is the best-known of Palembang's dishes.^[3] Its origin is undoubtedly Palembang. However, the history behind the creation of this savoury dish is unclear. Traditional folklore connects it with Chinese influences. Some suggests that pempek probably originated from ancient kelesan, a steamed dish made of the mixture of sago dough with fish flesh, dated as early as Srivijayan era circa 7th century CE.^[4] Sago flour might be extracted from the trunk of sago palm or aren palm.

According to local tradition, around the 16th century there was an old Chinese immigrant who lived near the Musi river. He noticed an abundance of fish caught by the local fishermen. In the Sumatran tropical climate, before the invention of refrigeration technology, most of these unsold leftover fish decayed and were wasted. The indigenous people, however, had limited knowledge and techniques for processing fish. During that period, most of the indigenous people simply grilled, fried or boiled their fish instead of adding other ingredients to make new dishes. The old Chinese man mixed in some tapioca and other spices, which he then sold around the village on his cart. The people referred to this old man as 'pek-apek, where apek is a Chinese slang word to call an old man. The food is known today as empek-empek or pempek.

Another theory suggests that pempek was a Palembang adaptation of Southern Chinese ngo hiang or kekkian (fishcake) as a surimi (魚漿, yújiāng) based food. But instead of being served in soup or plainly fried, pempek is notable for its spicy palm sugar-vinegar based sauce.

Ingredients

Dough

Pempek dough is made from a mixture of boneless ground fish meat, most commonly tenggiri (wahoo), with water, salt and sago flour. Sometimes, people also add a little bit of cooking oil and/or wheat flour to improve the texture and to make the pempek not too chewy, they also add MSG to enrich the umami taste. Ikan gabus (snakehead) is also commonly made as pempek. Numerous pempek sellers and producers in Palembang use a cheap combination of fish, which has a strong scent. According to tradition, the best tasting pempek are made of belida or belido (Chitala lopis), but due to its rarity and superior taste, pempek made from this fish are usually more expensive.^[5] Pempek in Bangka Island are made from mackerel (ikan kembung) and its sauce is red chilli based, while in Jakarta or other cities they could be made from gourami fish. The latest variant is pempek udang, pempek made of minced shrimp originated from Sungsang area in Banyuasin near the Musi river estuary,^[6] it is noticeable with its pinkish color.

The dough is boiled in hot water or steamed until hardened as partly cooked dumplings, and stored to be fried later just before serving.

Sauce

Kuah cuko is produced by adding palm sugar, chili pepper, garlic, vinegar, and salt to boiling water. The color of this sauce is dark brown. Sometimes Tongcai and Ebi (ground dried shrimp) are also added to increase the flavor. This sweet, sour and spicy sauce is essential for flavouring the pempek, since the pempek dough is very mildly savoury. The sauce of Bangka pempek is chili based, made from the mixture of ground red chili and vinegar and its color is bright red. Traditionally all pempek sauces are served hot and spicy, the ground chilies are mixed in the sauce. However, since some people desire unspicy sauce, or cannot eat hot and spicy sauce, the ground chillis were often separated as sambals. In some pempek restaurants, the bottled kuah cuko sauce is left on customers' tables and they are welcome to pour on the amount of sauce they desire. There are two kind of sauces available, spicy hot and plain.

Serving

The boiled or steamed pempek dumplings are deep-fried in cooking oil until light pale brown right before serving. They are cut in bite-size, served with yellow noodles or rice vermicelli, showered in kuah cuko, and sprinkled with chopped cucumber and ebi powder. The additional fish krupuk crackers might be offered.

Variants

This fishcake dough can be made into various shapes and forms with additional ingredients. Just like pasta the shapes have their own distinctive names, although all are made from the same dough. There are many varieties of pempek;^[7] variants are:

• Pempek kapal selam: (Indonesian: submarine pempek), which is made from a chicken egg wrapped within the pempek dough and then deep-fried. The shape is similar to Chinese dumplings but larger in size. According to food science and technology scientist, the pempek kapal selam, with egg addition, is rich in protein, fat, vitamin A, mineral, and carbohydrate content, is the most nutritious variety.^[8] The name derived from the shape of pempek that resembles submersible midget submarine.
• Pempek telur kecil: (Indonesian: small egg pempek), filled with egg similar to pempek kapal selam, but smaller in size.
• Pempek lenjer: long cylindrical pempek, its shape is similar to sausages, also can served in big cylindrical.

• Pempek keriting: (Indonesian: curly pempek), the dough is made into small noodle ball. This similar process also applied to produce white krupuk.
• Pempek pistel: the shape and size is similar to pempek telur kecil, but filled with minced young papaya instead.
• Pempek kulit: (Indonesian: skin pempek), fish-skin pempek, the dough is mixed with minced fish skin, as the result it has stronger fishy aroma and darker color.
• Pempek adaan: ball shaped pempek.
• Pempek tahu: tofu sliced and filled with pempek dough.
• Pempek tunu: charcoal-grilled pempek stuffed with ebi, sweet kecap sauce and chilli sauce.
• Pempek model (model iwak): tofu wrapped inside pempek dough. Similar to pempek kapal selam, but egg is replaced with tofu. Instead of served with cuko, it is served in shrimp soup.
• Pempek uyen/bujan: curly pempek made from taro and fish from Bangka.

Most of those forms of pempek are deep fried in cooking oil until light brown, and are served with yellow noodles or rice vermicelli and kuah cuko, sprinkled with chopped cucumber and ebi powder.

The pempek fishcake can be used as a base ingredient of other dishes. The unfried cylindrical pempek lenjer is often cut and added as a mixture to the following dishes:

• Celimpungan: small pempek balls cooked in spicy coconut milk, served with chilli and sprinkled with bawang goreng (fried shallots).
• Laksan: often referred to as Palembang style pempek in laksa soup, sliced pempek fishcake served in coconut milk based soup.
• Lenggang: omelette with mixture of sliced pempek fishcake, also served in kuah cuko.
• Tekwan: chopped pempek fishcake soup with jicama, mushroom and fishballs.
• Model: fried pempek dough filled with tofu inside, also served with shrimp broth.

Outlets

As a local specialty, pempek can be commonly found on every street in Palembang with a concentration of outlets in downtown Palembang.^[9] Pempek can also be found in other regions, especially in major cities in Indonesia. However, the taste of pempek in other regions usually differs from Palembang pempek. The main ingredients such as fish and flour are scarce and/or difficult to find in other regions, causing the difference in taste.

Pempek is easy to find in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities, from the food-courts in malls and shopping centers to traveling pempek vendors on carts. The cheaper pempek version sold by traveling vendors on carts generally use less fish and more tapioca, resulting in less flavor. Pempek is also a popular dish in South Sumatra's neighboring province capital city Bandar Lampung.^[10] Some pempek establishments, such as Pempek Pak Raden and Pempek Bunga Mas are opening branches all over major food courts. In Jakarta, the notable pempek outlets are Pempek Megaria in Metropole cinema complex, Central Jakarta.^[11] It is among the oldest pempek establishments in the city. Other pempek outlets are those in Pasar Minggu market, South Jakarta. In Yogyakarta, one of the leading pempek establishments in the city is Pempek Ny. Kamto located near Malioboro street.

Outside Indonesia, pempek establishments can be found in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. As Palembang is not far from Singapore and Malaysia, to ensure the authenticity some pempek establishments import boiled unfried frozen pempek dumplings in vacuum packages straight from Palembang. These ready to cook pempek dumplings are also popularly sold in Palembang as oleh-oleh foodstuff gifts or souvenirs for visitors from other Indonesian cities.

See also

• Kemplang
• Surimi
• Kerupuk
• Ngo hiang, a similar dish made with fishes
• Lekor

References

External links

• Prof.Dr. Made Astawan, Departement of Food Science and Technology, Bogor Agricultural University. Pempek, Nilai Gizi "Kapal Selam" Paling Tinggi
• "9 Variants of pempek palembang"

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Indonesian cuisine by ethnicity

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Common Indonesian dishes	Abon Acar Ayam bakar Ayam goreng Ayam kecap Ayam kodok Bakmi Bakpau Bakso Bakwan Bihun goreng Bubur ayam Bubur kacang hijau Bubur ketan hitam Bubur sumsum Gado-gado Gorengan Gulai Ikan asin Ikan bakar Ikan goreng Jagung rebus Kacang rebus Kari Kari ayam Kari domba Kari kambing Kari udang Kuaci Ketupat Laksa Lontong Macaroni schotel Martabak Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi kuah Nasi campur Nasi goreng Nasi kari Nasi kuning Nasi bakar Otak-otak Panekuk Pastel tutup Perkedel Perkedel jagung Pindang Rendang Rijsttafel Roti bakar Roti bolen Roti meses Rujak Sambal Sambal goreng udang Satay Sayur bayam Sayur sop Semur Serundeng Sop buntut Soto Soto ayam Soto mi Sup ayam Sup ercis Sup makaroni Sup wortel Tahu Tahu goreng Telur asin Telur pindang Tempeh Tumis kangkung Tumpeng
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Arab	Asida Falafel Hummus Kofta Manakish Katayef Nasi kabsah Nasi mandi Maamoul Marak Roti maryam Roti pita Saltah Shawarma Tabbouleh Tharid
Balinese	Babi guling Betutu Be urutan Iga babi Laklak Lawar Matah Nasi bali Nasi jinggo Pai susu Rawon babi Rujak kuah pindang Sate babi Sate lilit Soto babi Tipat cantok
Banjarese	Bingka Laksa banjar Pekasam Soto banjar
Batak	Arsik Babi panggang Karo Dali ni horbo Dengke mas na niura Itak gurgur Lampet Manuk napinadar Mi gomak Na tinombur Ombusombus Pagit-pagit Pohulpohul Saksang Sasagun Sate kerang Tipatipa Tuktuk
Betawi	Asinan betawi Bubur cha cha Kerak telor Ketoprak Ketupat sayur Laksa betawi Lontong sayur Mi kangkung Nasi goreng kambing Nasi kebuli Nasi uduk Nasi ulam Pindang Roti buaya Roti gambang Rujak juhi Sate taichan Sayur asem Semur jengkol Soto betawi Soto kaki Soto tangkar Sup kambing
Buginese and Makassar	Burasa Coto makassar Dangke Jalangkote Kaledo Konro Mi kering Pallubasa Sop saudara
Chinese	Babi hong Babi kecap Bak kut teh Bakkwa Banmian Bihun goreng Cakwe Cap cai Chai tow kway Char kway teow Cha sio Fu yung hai Fish ball Haisom cah Ifumi Kembang tahu Kepiting saus tiram Kuaci Kwetiau ayam Kwetiau goreng Kwetiau siram sapi Lapchiong Locupan Lontong cap go meh Lumpia Mi ayam Mi lor Mi pangsit Mi tarik Mun tahu Nasi ayam hainan Nasi bebek Nasi campur Nasi tim Ngo hiang Pangsit Popiah Rujak shanghai Sapo tahu Sate babi Sekba Siomay Soto Sup hisit Sup sarang burung Swikee Tahu sumedang Tauge ayam Tee long pan Telur pitan Telur teh Tong sui Yong tau fu Yusheng
Cirebonese	Empal gentong Docang Kue gapit Mi koclok Nasi jamblang Nasi lengko Tahu gejrot
Gorontalese	Binte biluhuta Sate Tuna Ayam iloni Sagela Ilahe Bilentango Sate Balanga Ilabulo Nasi kuning cakalang Buburu Bubur sagela Nasi goreng sagela Tabu Moitomo Ikan iloni Pilitode
Indian	Ayam mentega Ayam tandori Chapati Chutney Dosa Idli Laddu Kari kambing Kari kepala ikan Korma Modak Naan Nasi biryani Raita Roti canai Sambar Samosa Satti Sorru
Indo	Ayam kodok Babi panggang Bitterballen Erwtensoep Hutspot Makaroni schotel Oliebol Ontbijtkoek Pannenkoek Poffertjes Shepherd's pie Spekkoek
Javanese	Apem Arem-arem Ayam bumbu rujak Ayam geprek Ayam goreng kalasan Ayam penyet Bakso Bakpia Bakpia pathok Botok Brongkos Buntil Gudeg Iga penyet Kamir Kelan antep Krechek Kuluban Lepet Lontong balap Lontong dekem Lontong kupang Lumpia Lumpia goreng Lumpia semarang Sumpia Mendoan Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi jawa Mi rebus Nasi ambeng Nasi bebek Nasi bogana Nasi empal Nasi gandul Nasi goreng Nasi goreng jawa Nasi kare Nasi kucing Nasi liwet Nasi megono Nasi pecel Nasi tempong Opor Opor ayam Pecel Pecel ayam Pecel lele Rambak petis Rawon Roti ganjel rel Roti konde Rujak cingur Rujak soto Sambal ulek Sate ambal Sate blora Sate kambing Sate hati Sate kelinci Sate kikil Sate klatak Sate madura Sate ponorogo Sate tegal Sate udang Sayur lodeh Selat solo Serundeng Soto babat Soto ceker Tahu campur Telur pindang Tempe bacem Tempe goreng Tempe mendoan Timlo [id] Tongseng Trancam Tumpeng Urap
Madurese	Rujak Rujak cingur Sate madura Serundeng Soto madura
Malay	Amplang Ayam goreng Ayam pansuh Bubur cha cha Bubur pedas Cincalok Epok-epok Gulai Ikan bakar Ikan patin Kangkung belacan Kari Kemplang Laksa Mi kari Mi rebus Nasi berlauk Nasi briyani Nasi dagang Nasi goreng Nasi goreng pattaya Nasi lemak Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pekasam Pulut Roti canai Roti jala Roti john Roti tisu Sayur lodeh Siput gonggong Soto Sup kambing Tahu goreng Tempoyak Ulam
Minahasan	Ayam rica-rica Brenebon Cakalang fufu Dabu-dabu Klappertaart Mi cakalang Nasi kuning Panada Paniki Rica-rica Rintek wuuk Tinorangsak Tinutuan Woku
Minangkabau	Asam pedas Ayam pop Balado Daun ubi tumbuk Dendeng Gulai Gulai ayam Gulai kambing Gulai otak Kalio Kepiting saus padang Keripik sanjai Lemang Lontong gulai pakis Nasi kapau Nasi kari Nasi padang Palai bada Rendang Sambal lada muda Sate padang Soto padang Udang balado
Moluccan and Papuan	Asida Babi bakar Bibingka Colo-colo Papeda Puding sagu Sagu Soto ambon
Palembang	Burgo Gulai Kemplang Laksan Lakso Mi celor Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pempek Pindang Tekwan Tempoyak ikan patin
Peranakan	Bubur cha cha Cincalok Laksa Pai ti Swikee
Sasak	Ayam taliwang Plecing kangkung Sate ampet Sate belut Sate pusut
Sundanese	Asinan bogor Batagor Empal gepuk Karedok Kupat tahu Laksa bogor Laksa tangerang Lalab Mi kocok Nasi timbel Nasi tutug oncom Oncom Pepes Rujak tumbuk Sate bandeng Sate maranggi Sayur asem Seblak Soto bandung Tauge goreng Uli bakar
Timorese	Feijoada Ikan bakar Katemak Pastel de nata Se'i

Snacks

Krupuk

Amplang Emping Kemplang Krupuk Krupuk ikan Krupuk kulit Krupuk udang Kripik Kripik sanjai Rempeyek Rengginang

Kue

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Bumbu

Spices

Adas manis Andaliman Asam jawa Bawang bombai Bawang merah Bawang perei Bawang putih Bunga lawang Bunga pala Cabai rawit Cabai merah Cengkih Daun bawang Daun jeruk Daun kari Daun kemangi Daun pandan Daun salam Jahe Jeruk purut Jeruk nipis Jintan Kapulaga Kayu manis Kecombrang Kencur Kemiri Ketumbar Keluak Kunyit Lengkuas Lada hitam Lada putih Lokio Pala Peterseli Seledri Serai Temu kunci Temu lawak

Seasonings and condiments

Abon Acar Balado Bawang goreng Budu Coconut jam Cuka Dabu-dabu Hagelslag Kecap asin Kecap ikan Kecap inggris Kecap manis Kerisik Lalab Mayones Minyak samin Minyak wijen Minyak zaitun Moster Muisjes Nata de coco Peanut sauce Petis Petis ikan Rica-rica Sambal Sambal goreng teri Serundeng Saus tiram Saus tomat Tapai Tauco Tempoyak Terasi Tongcai Tuktuk Vlokken

Influences and
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• Achat
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Related
topics

• List of Indonesian dishes
• Alcohol in Indonesia
• Jamu
• Bumbu (seasoning)
• Street food of Indonesia
  • Jajan pasar
• Sri Owen
• Nunuk Nuraini

•  Category: Indonesian cuisine