VegetiveFrançais

Tempeh goreng

Local name : Tempe goreng

Slices of tempeh marinated with garlic and coriander seed then fried until crisp, the quintessential Javanese snack.

VeganGluten-free#tempeh#fried#garlic#coriander#snack
Tempeh goreng

Photo : Fido Cahya · CC BY-SA 4.0

Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy

Method

  1. Mix the garlic, coriander, salt, tamarind and water in a shallow dish.
  2. Add the tempeh slices and marinate for 10 minutes, turning halfway.
  3. Heat 2 cm of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat.
  4. Drain the tempeh and fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden and crisp.
  5. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with sambal, rice, or alongside a gado-gado.

Tempeh, born in Java, is soybeans fermented into a firm, nutty block. The quick marinade seasons it right through.

Nutrition · per serving

Calories
209 kcal
Protein
20.7 g
Fat
11 g
Carbohydrate
11.6 g
Fibre
0.6 g

An estimate computed from the recipe quantities and the USDA food composition database. Real values vary with the products used.

Frequently asked questions

Why a water-based marinade rather than an oily one?

Tempeh is porous and drinks the brine right through in ten minutes, which an oil marinade would not do. It is also why you must drain it well before frying: water left on the surface makes the oil spit.

How thick should the slices be?

About 5 mm. Thicker and the middle stays soft while the surface is already brown; thinner and they dry out and turn hard. At this thickness two to three minutes a side is enough.

What can replace the tamarind?

Lime juice, given as the alternative in the recipe, plays the same sour role in the marinade. Tamarind brings a rounder, slightly fruitier acidity, but either one is mainly there to balance the salt and garlic.

Have you cooked this dish?

No ratings yet.

Give it a rating

More recipes from Indonesia

PecelIndonesia

Pecel

Blanched vegetables under a peanut and kencur sauce, served with crisp rice crackers on the side.

⏱ 40 min·EasyVeganGluten-free
Sayur lodehIndonesia

Sayur lodeh

Javanese coconut milk vegetable stew with chayote, long beans and tempeh, thickened by a candlenut spice paste.

⏱ 55 min·MediumVeganGluten-free
Vegetarian nasi gorengIndonesia

Vegetarian nasi goreng

Indonesian fried rice glazed with sweet kecap manis and sambal heat, with crisp tempeh and a runny fried egg.

⏱ 30 min·Easy