Thursday 24 November 2016

Sambal Tempeh


I know some people don't like tempeh. I also know that many others love it, just like me. When I was in the university, the operator of our hostel cafeteria used to serve tempeh every now and then.

On tempeh day (which is unscheduled by the way), we girls would make a beeline for it and it was a dish that would sell out the earliest. 


Making this sambal tempeh is quite time consuming. You have to make a spice paste.


Then you have to fry your 3 components.


Tempeh,


peanuts and


ikan bilis.

Then you saute the spice paste till aromatic, pour in asam jawa juice and sugar and then throw in the tempeh, peanuts and ikan bilis. Kacau, kacau, kacau, (mix, mix, mix or in Hokkien we say kiow, kiow, kiow) and you are done.


The end result, a spicy nutty and crunchy amalgam of flavors well suited to the tastebuds of a tempeh connoisseur.

Mek kita ni sawan tempeh. Sawan habis!

I enjoyed this sambal tempeh to the max and would not hesitate to cook another batch anytime.

Sambal Tempeh
Recipe source : Adapted from Sajian Istimewa Sahriah Abdullah (page 56)

Ingredients :
- 2 pieces tempe, cut into sticks and fried till crispy
- 1/2 cup ikan bilis, fried till crispy
- 1/2 cup peanuts, fried
- 1 tsp asam jawa (tamarind) paste + 3 tbsp water+1 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste

Pounded ingredients :
- 15 dried chillies, soaked to soften
- 6 shalots
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp belacan

Method :
1. Heat oil in wok and saute pounded ingredients until aromatic and cooked through.
2. Add asam jawa mixture, stir briefly.
3. Add fried tempeh, ikan bilis and peanuts. Stir to coat.
4. Serve.


43 comments:

  1. I love tempe too ^_^ Kita genglah!

    Unfortunately, my husband and kids don't like this supersedap tempe and I don't know why. Rugilah depa nih! Makanan sedap tapi tak suka!

    Kalau I gian, I also will do tempe recipe for 2,3 days sampai my gian hilang. Tempe ni kalau letak dalam lodeh, wallaweyh, sedap sampai sedut jari youuuuu....!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. High 5 MD! I am ketagih tempe. Have loved it since uni days. Kalau I buat ni, I can eat everyday and not get tired of it. I think this weekend nak buat lagi hee..hee...

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  2. Aiyak, this month you featured a lot of my "unfavourite" things...first it was petai, then tempoyak and now tempeh! >.< You sure like a lot of those stinky stuff, don't you? How you never included stinky cheese is a shocker...haha! @_@ So, I think I'll have one order of your ikan bilis sambal minus the tempeh! ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, so sorry yah :) Hopefully I have other things you like next week.

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  3. My girl loves tempeh, dunno if it is gluten free or not though. Maybe it is now one of those things she has to avoid. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I am not mistaken, beans and grains are also a no no. Poor girl.

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  4. I always see tempeh being sold at my neighborhood supermarket but I never buy because don't know how to cook it and not sure if my family like it or not :P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you see it at Malay nasi campur stall, can buy a bit and try.

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  5. Let's recruit EWEW to join or stinky gang. I think the North Malaysians love to eat stinky and strong tastes. Like me, a Penang born with a Thai mother, I was exposed to all the strongest smelling food in Thailand esp the Duck Egg Dessert. Many people puked.

    Okay I know I won't get a chance to eat this Sambal Tempeh, so I should follow the recipe and make lah. All are invited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fish sauce, budu, belacan, tempoyak, all these smelly stuff make food delicious!

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    2. Thanks just the same for the invite, TM....but I'll have to politely decline your "stinky" membership.....wakakakaka! :D

      And PH...if fish sauce and belacan are members of the stinky family too, then it looks like I do eat some smelly stuff...yay! ^o^

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    3. There you go, Kris! You are normal after all muahahaha!!

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  6. Yes, I know this one, Malay Rice Stall always have this and you are right, I don't like tempeh

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  7. I am one who likes to eat tempeh. Tempeh is made from soybeans so it is somewhat like natto (Japanese food) which I like to eat too. Have you eaten natto?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, I have not eaten natto. I saw it on tv, very slimy >.<

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  8. Tempeh is a reasonably newly acquired taste for me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's a food that you acquire a taste for. I did not really like it when I first ate.

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  9. Aduhhh PH..one of my kesukaan ni.. bila makan ni mesti bertambah2.. klu mak sy kan, dia tambah buah tomato...tumis skali..memang meletop! haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sama geng lah kita ni, Atie :) Oh, tambah tomato, ya? Lenkali PH pun nak try letak.

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  10. My ex-colleague loves this. She would take this every time we go to malay stall for lunch

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  11. Hi Phong Hong, tempeh is my favorite too. Thanks for sharing this lovely dish. I will prepare this asap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kimmy! Glad to know you like tempeh too :)

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    2. Hi Phong Hong, I cooked this dish to serve with Nasi Lemak and added some onions. Yum Yum. TQ.

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  12. Kaknoor pun suka sambal macam ni PH
    Tapi kalau masak ni mesti banyak kacang sbb kaknoor hantu kacang hahaaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kak Noor, kalau tambah lebih kacang dan ikan bilis lagi terangkat. Dah gian nak makan lagi :)

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  13. Minta sikitlah PH... saya suka ratah2 ni....mesti lebih ikan bilis dengan kacang ha ha haaa...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Silakan Amie. Ambil sebanyak mana yang Amie nak hee..hee...

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  14. I tak berapa suka tempeh....tahap kesukaan i pada tempeh ni setakat boleh layan ajelah not like you sawan tempeh haha...

    Tapi kalau i buat sambal mcm ni PH, i prefer kentang lagi....
    Sedapnya.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh...takpe Hainom, tak semua orang suka tempeh. Yang sambal kentang tu pun PH suka. PH ni apa semua pun suka hee..hee..

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  15. when I roast the chicken, I put the chicken on the Wire Rack, do I need to put the Drip Pan below the Wire Rack?

    If I put the Drip Pan below the Wire Rack, will it prevent the heat from going up to the Wire Rack?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Libby, yes. put the drip pan below or else your oven will be dirty with the oil and juices dripping from the chicken. Line your drip with aluminium foil so that it is easy to clean.

      No, the drip pan won't block the heat. Show me your roasted chicken, yah?

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  16. i wish sambal tempeh like yours was more widely available! i love tempeh too - the unique flavour, the fun texture ... it'd be nice to also see tempeh in cafe food actually ... eggs benedict with tempeh maybe? :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, that's a great idea! I hope someone comes up with tempeh creations to serve at cafes. Bet it will be a hit with tempeh lovers :)

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  17. tempe goreng gabung ngan nasik panas, alahaii.. sedap tu. Diet tak makan nasik, makan mcm tu saja pon lagi sedap

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  18. That looks beautiful! I love tempeh, especially when it's carefully prepared. I've eaten it both deep-fried and stir-fried, but never with sambal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Time to try the one with sambal. It's my all time favorite way to enjoy tempeh.

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  19. Unsangkerable la you PH, mostly melayu and jawa je like this sambal tempe, but me not jawa, haha..
    I give you one tip..the tempeh must cut nipis2 so that tempeh crunchy je bila you goreng, and nak lagi sedap, you add kacang kancang, pun you kena potong nipis.
    Sambal tempeh just nice with nasi putih, no need other lauk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh...thank you Azimah! Next time I hiris nipis nipis. I suka lah makanan Melayu and Indon. Suits my taste :)

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