Pempek Palembang

Pempek or Mpek-mpek is a delicacy from Palembang, South Sumatra. It is made of fish and sago flours and served together with a dark, rich sauce called cuko. Cuko is made from brown sugar, chilli pepper, garlic, vinegar, and salt to boiling water.

There are many varieties of Pempek. The most famous one is the Pempek Kapal Selam (Indonesian: "submarine"), which is made from a chicken egg wrapped within the Pempek dough and then deep-fried. This type pempek contains of high vitamin, protein, mineral, and carbohydrate content, is the most nutritious variety. As a local staple, Pempek can be commonly found on every street in Palembang

According to some stories, Pempek had been already in Palembang since 16th century when Chinese traveller came to the region. Around 1617 there was an Apek (Chinese slang for an old man) who lived near Musi river. He noticed an abundance of fish caught by the local fishermen. During that period, most of the people simply just fried and grilled their fish. The old Chinese Man then tried other alternative by adding fish meat with sago flour and other spices, which he then sold around the village on his bicycle. The people referred to this old man as 'pek-apek'. The food is known today as Empek-empek or Pempek.

Due the lack of some ingredients, I finally successfully made by myself. I substituted sago flour with tapioca and for the cuko, instead of using vinegar I used tamarind for having a sour taste.

Ingredients

Fish Cake
- 250 gram flesh of Spanish mackerels, grinded
- 5 tablespoons ice water
- 100 g tapioca flour or sago flour
- 20 g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon salt

Soup (Cuko)
- 125 g palm sugar
- 1 cloves of garlic, crushed/smashed
- 2 bird's eyes chillies cut thinly
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoons of tamarind (depend how sour you want the soup is)
- 250 ml water

Additional Ingredients
- Cucumber
- Egg noodle, cooked
- Grinded dried shrimp (ebi) - optional

Directions
1. Grind the fish fillet. Then add ice water and salt. Mix them well.
2. Then gradually add all the flours into the fish mixture until it doesn't stick anymore and you can easily shape it. Then shape pempek as you wish (usually long and round). Then deep fry and set aside.
3. Make the soup (cuko): boil the water with tamarind and palm sugar until sugar is dissolved. Filter, and then add the garlic, chillies and salt. Continue cooking for 3-5 minutes.
4. Serving: place the pempek in plate (you can cut into small pieces), add the noodle and then pour with the soup. Garnish with the cucumber. Some people like to add ebi (grinded dried shrimp).

source : tasty-indonesian-food.com

Grilled Fish Sambal Dabu-dabu (Ikan Bakar Sambal Dabu-dabu)

Grilled fish or Ikan bakar is very popular in Indonesia, especially in Sulawesi and Maluku where most of the people work as the seaman/fisherman. Ikan bakar sambal dabu-dabu is a speciality from Gorontalo (Nothern Sulawesi), which is grilled fish served with special chillies salad called 'sambal dabu-dabu'

Ingredients

- 1 medium fish (you can use any fish like seabass or ikan kakap, indian mackarel or ikan tude, Silver/White Pomfrets or ikan Bawal)

For Marinate

* 1st marinate :
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon salt

** 2nd marinate :
- 4 garlics
- 4 candlenuts, pan-broil
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1/2 cube chicken bouillon
- 1/2 teaspoon popper powder
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil

For sambal dabu-dabu (chillies salad)
- 2 big red chillies
- 3 or more small chillies (cabe rawit)
- 4-5 small tomatoes
- 3 shallots
- lime juice
- pinch of salt
- 4 leafs fresh lime basil (daun kemangi) - optional;

Directions
1. Marinate the fish with 1st marinate. Leave it for 30 minutes.
2. After 30 minutes, clean the fish with water so it won't be too sour.
3. Blend all the ingredients to make paste, then marinate the fish with it. Leave the fish for 1 hour or so ... the more the better.
4. Grill the fish in the oven or charcoal.
5. For sambal dabu: thinly cut the chillies, shallots, and tomatoes thinny. Put them in a bowl, then add salt, lime juice and olive oil.
6. Serving suggestion : pour the sambal dabu over the grilled fish, and serve with steamed rice.

tasty-indonesian-food.com

Classic Chocolate Cake

Ingredients (serves 8)

* 1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour
* 2 tbs cocoa
* 1 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
* 200g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
* 225g unsalted butter, softened, chopped
* 1 cup (220g) caster sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 4 eggs
* 1/2 cup (125ml) milk
* Chocolate ganache icing and chocolate curls, to decorate

Method

1.Preheat the oven to 160°C. Grease and line a 24cm round springform cake pan.
2.Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Set aside.
3.Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (don't let bowl touch water). Cool slightly.
4.Beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. With beaters on medium speed, add vanilla, then add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in cooled chocolate and beat until well combined. Beat in a third of sifted ingredients, followed by a third of the milk. Repeat until all ingredients are incorporated, beating until smooth.
5.Pour mixture into the pan and bake for 45-55 minutes until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto rack to cool completely.
6.To serve, spread the icing over the top and sides of the cake using a hot palette knife, then decorate with chocolate curls.
7.To make chocolate ganache: Melt 150g chopped good-quality dark chocolate with 125ml pure cream and 20g unsalted butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water). Stir until well combined, then set aside for 30 minutes to cool and thicken before use.
8.To make chocolate curls: Using a palette knife, spread melted chocolate 2-3mm thick on a hard clean surface such as a glass chopping board or marble slab that you can move. Stand at room temperature until almost set. Shave curls using a peeler or palette knife, pulling towards you at an angle. If the chocolate breaks, it is set too hard - leave in a warm place until more pliable. To make small curls, simply run a peeler along the side of a block of chocolate.

Notes

*It's best to use good-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids for cooking, but you can use milk chocolate if you prefer.
*To melt chocolate, chop it, then place in a dry, heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering (not boiling) water. The bowl shouldn't touch the water. As the chocolate melts, stir very gently with a wooden or metal spoon to ensure it melts evenly. As soon as the chocolate is smooth, remove the bowl from the heat. If the chocolate overheats, or if water is in contact with it as it's melting, it will 'seize' and become hard and unusable.
*Storing the cake: Cool cake completely before storing in an airtight container. Keep un-iced cake at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. You can freeze any leftover cake in plastic wrap for up to 6 months. To defrost, thaw out in the fridge, then at room temperature.
*Variations
*Soft-centred chocolate puddings: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease eight 200ml ramekins. Omit the cocoa, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and milk from the master recipe above, reduce the plain flour to 50g, and replace the caster sugar with 1/2 firmly packed cup (100g) brown sugar. Make a batter as per the master recipe method, adding the flour all at once rather than in stages. Spoon the mixture into the ramekins. Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until set on the surface but still slightly soft in the centre. Remove from the oven, dust with icing sugar and serve immediately with thick cream.
*Choc-macadamia ice cream layer cake: Halve all the quantities for the master recipe, then make the cake as per the master recipe method, instead using a greased and lined 7cm-deep, 25cm x 10cm loaf pan. Cool as for the master recipe, then carefully cut a thin layer from the top of the cake and discard. Slice the remaining cake horizontally into 3 long pieces. Place cake slices on a tray, with plastic wrap or baking paper between each layer, and freeze for at least 1 hour. Clean loaf pan, then line with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhanging to cover the top. Return bottom layer of cake to pan. Working quickly, use a hot palette knife (dip it in hot water) to evenly spread about 1 1/2 cups ice cream (we used macadamia) over the cake, right to the edges. Repeat with another layer of cake and ice cream, then top with remaining piece of cake. Cover with overhanging plastic, then freeze for at least 3 hours. Remove cake from pan, using plastic wrap to help, then cut into 6-8 slices. Serve drizzled with chocolate sauce, if desired.
*Chocolate & hazelnut petits fours: Halve all the quantities for the master recipe, then make the cake as per master recipe method, instead using a greased and lined 7cm-deep, 25cm x 10cm loaf pan. Carefully slice cooled cake in half horizontally. Cut each piece into 3 long strips, then cut each strip into 8 pieces to make 48 cubes. Set aside. To make chocolate icing, place 100g chopped good-quality dark chocolate, 60g unsalted butter and 3 tbs water in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (don't let bowl touch the water) until chocolate melts. Stir in 1/2 cup (75g) sifted icing sugar, then remove bowl from heat and cool slightly. You should have a thin, glossy icing - add a little water if too thick. Place cakes on a rack. Top each with 1/4 tsp Nutella (or other hazelnut spread). Gently press in a hazelnut or macadamia. Using a small palette knife, drizzle and spread icing over cakes. Sprinkle with flaked chocolate garnish (from supermarket baking aisle), then leave to set at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

source : taste.com.au

Eggless Sponge Cake

Ingredients
1/2 tin (200 grams) condensed milk
140 gms self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
60 ml melted butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla essence

Method

1. Sieve the flour, baking powder and soda bi-carbb together.
2. Mix the flour mixture, condensed milk, melted butter, essence and 75 ml. (2 1/2 fl. Oz. ) water and beat well.
3. Pour the mixture into a greased and dusted 150 mm. (6") diameter tin.
4. Bake in a hot oven at 200 degree c (400 degree f) for 10 minutes. Then reduce the tempreture to 150 degree c (300 degree f) and bake for a further 10 minutes.
5. The cake is ready when it leaves the sides of the tin and is springy to touch. When ready, take out from the oven and leave for 1 minute. Invert the tin over a rack and tap sharply to remove.
6. Cool the cake.

source : tarladalal.com

Devil's Food Cake

Ingredients
2 cups (440 g) sugar
½ cup + 2 tablespoons (140 g) butter, softened
3 eggs, separated
2 cups (220 g) all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup boiling water
1 cup sour cream

Ingredients for frosting
3 cups (660 g) white sugar
1 cup water
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar (optional)
4 egg whites
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F (Gas mark 4 or 180 deg C) and grease two 9 in (23 cm) cake tins.
2. Put cocoa in small bowl; add boiling water and mix until smooth. Let cool.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for approximately 5 minutes. Add egg yolks and mix well.
4. Sift in flour, baking powder and baking soda, add cocoa mixture, sour cream, and vanilla extract and mix well.
5. Whisk egg whites until stiff and fold gently into the cake mixture. Divide into two equal portions and transfer to the cake tins.
6. Bake at 350 degrees until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, approximately 40-50 minutes. Let the cakes cool.
7. Slice each cake through the middle to make altogether four layers; if necessary remove the top of the cake by using a knife.
8. For the frosting, combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Cook until candy thermometer reaches 242 degrees F (115 degrees C) or until a teaspoon of mixture dropped into cold water forms a ball when removed from water. Add cream of tartar and a pinch of salt to the egg white, and beat them until stiff. Add hot syrup in a slow stream, beating constantly. Stir in vanilla. Use approximately one fifth of the frosting between each layer of the cake, coat the cake with the remaining two fifths of the frosting.
9. Cool the cake in the fridge. Place the cake at room temperature 1-2 hours before it is served.

Variations

1. You may add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the cake mixture for a hint of spice.
2. Instead of white frosting you may use either whipped cream or chocolate frosting (made with chocolate, syrup, butter and coffee; double recipe).


source : cacaoweb.net

Rice Pudding

Ingredients:

2 ½ cup of milk.
½ cup of long grain rice.
1/3 cup of sugar.
1/3 cup of raisins or dried cranberries.
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.
½ teaspoon of salt.
Light cream (optional).

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan, combine the milk, long grain rice, sugar, raisins (or cranberries), vanilla extract and salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook, covered, over very low heat until the rice is tender and milk is absorbed (about 45 minutes), stirring frequently.

source : puddingrecipes.net

Sambal Goreng Petai

pict by : dewiyuhana.wordpress.com

Ingredients: 7 eggs, 4 strings of "petai", 3 cups thick coconut milk, 250 gr ground beef, 4 pieces garlic, 6 pieces of shallots, 6 piece of red chili peppers, 20 gr javanese lemon, 1 tea spoon sugar, salt and pepper.

Direction:

* Remove the yoke of the eggs (use just the whites) Skin petai
* Slice shallots, brown a little bit.
* Mix ground beef with 2 egg whites, mix with sald, pepper to taste.
* Form small balls.
* Let the javanese lemon sit in a cup of water The rest of the egg whites put in a place holder, and steam cook
* Cut into cube sized pieces
* Grind chili, garlic, and add sugar
* Heat pan with a little cooking oil, add shallots and the garlic mix above, followed by the petai a few minutes later.
* Put in the javanese-lemon water, followed by the ground beef balls, add salt and pepper.
* Let simmer for a while, then add the rest of the coconut milk and the egg-white cubes.
* et simmer for another 3 minute.

Perkedel

Ingredients: 1 chicken, 250 gr of bread flour, 40 gr of sagu, 80 gr of onion, 8 pieces of shallots, 1 egg, salt and pepper.

Direction:

* Remove bones from the chicken, cut very thinly
* Cut onion into very small pieces
* Grind shallots
* Evenly mix all the above with bread flour
* Add salt and pepper
* Make mix into small discs about 2-2.5 inch in diameter
* Heat oil on a pan
* Put each disc and fry until dark golden

Opor Solo

Ingredients :
1 chicken, 4 cups of coconut milk, 6 pieces of shallots, 3 pieces of garlic, 120 gram candle nut, 10 gram corriander, 5 gram jintan, 3 helai bay leaves, 1 batang daun sereh, 100 gr lengjuas, salt and pepper.

instructions :
* Cut chicken into pieces
* Grind shallots, garlic, candle nut, corriander, and jintan
* Brown for a little bit.
* Boil chicken with 2 cups of coconut milk, put in sereh and galanga.
* When chicken is about done, put in more coconut milk along with the spice mix above. Add salt and pepper to taste