Tempe Tumis Sapi (Fried Tempeh with Beef )

The origin of Tempe / Tempeh is still considered a mystery until now. Some believe that Tempe is invented by Javanese. The record of Tempe is found in one of ancient Javanese Literature called Serat Centhini that's written in 16th century.

Other records also show that tempe might be produced using black soybeans before 16th century by Javanese Rural Community in Mataram.

The word tempe probably came from Javanese Ancient Word "tumpi".

But some also believe that Tempe was first introduced by Chinese immigrants who came to Java. They introduced 3 recipes made from soya beans called Tofu, Tom Ping, and Toya. Tom Ping is Tempe itself.

Enough the story, whether Tempe originally came from Java or China, It's an undeniable fact that Tempe is an Indonesian Traditional Food. And Indonesians eat most of the tempes in the world :)

Ingredients:

250 g tempe, chop into pieces
150 g beef, boil until softened and dice
50 g green chilies, chop into 1cm size
25 g red chilies, chop into 1cm size
100 g tomato, tear into pieces
6 shallots, slice
3 cloves garlic, slice
1 salam leaf
1 cm galangal, crush
250 cc water
5 tbs kecap manis
1 tsp salt

How to:

1. Heat oil in a frying pan. Fry garlic until brown, add shallots, green chilies, red chilies, salam leaf, galangal and tempe.
2. Add beef, tomato, water, kecap manis and salt, stir fry until the soup evaporate.

Reference:
http://indotempe.com
http://zumaladwi.blogspot.com/2008/06/original-of-indonesian-traditional-food.html

Recipe source:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/miho/selamatmakan/recipe/menulisteng.htm#zensai

Image source:
http://rucheechesse.wordpress.com/category/kuliner/

Gangan (Belitung style fish soup)

This is a Belitung / Belitong Style Fish Soup. Indonesian Popular Novelist Andrea Hirata who wrote the Tetralogi, "Laskar Pelangi", "Sang Pemimpi", and "Edensor" stated the menu as one of his favorite dishes in one interview.

Honestly, this is a very unique dish for me... It has Cassava cut into pieces and added into the soup, Hm.. that's very tempting...


Ingredients:
500 gr ikan bandeng (mackarel)
500 gr singkong (cassava)
1000 ml water
2 salam leaves
1 tsp asem (tamarind)
1 tsp palmsugar
1/2 tsp salt

Spices to grind:
2 shallots
3 candlenuts
4 cloves garlic
3 cm ginger
2 cm laos
3 cm turmeric
4 red chillies
1 tsp shrimp paste / terasi /belacan
1 lemon grass


Directions:

1. Clean the fish and slice it into pieces.
2. Slice the singkong (cassava) into small pieces.
3. Pound or grind the ingredients for the bumbu fine into a paste.
4. Heat in a pan the water and add the spices, the salam and the singkong (cassava).
5. Lower the heat and add the fish, the salt and the palmsugar and let it simmer slowly until the singkong and the fish are cooked.

Recipe source:
http://asianrecipe.eu/indonesian/sopsoto/616-gangan-fish-soup-with-cassave-from-belitung

Image source:
http://rustameffendie.multiply.com/journal/item/1

Sepat Banang (Fish Dish From Sumbawa)

Sumbawa is a beautiful island of Indonesia. It has unique cultures. Most of its residents are from Sasak, Bima, Sumbawa and Bali ethnic groups. But unfortunately its culinary richness is still not widely exposed even to Indonesians. So it's still a lot more to explore from this unique island that is still considered as a neighbor to Bali which most of foreigners already know.

The recipe below is taken from an Amazing book by the author that compiled many Original Indonesian Recipes, Sri Owen, in "Indonesian Regional Cooking"

Ingredients:

• 4 Medium Red Snapper
• 1 Lime Lime Juice
• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
• 8 Jumbo Shrimp
• 3 Large Macadamia Nuts
• 3 Medium Shallot
• 1 Large Red Chiles
• 2 Medium Bird's Peppers
• 1/2 Cup Chicken Broth
• 1 Large Eggplant -- Roasted
• 2 Medium Tomatoes -- Chopped
• Salt And Pepper -- To Taste
• 20 Leaves Basil -- Chopped

How to:

1. Marinate fish and shrimp in lime juices and salt for at least 2 hours.
2. Place nuts, shallots, both chilies and broth in a blender. Blend to a paste.
3. Skin the roasted eggplant and chop into small pieces.
4. Coat fish and shrimp in the paste. Remove and set aside. With the remaining paste, add the eggplant pieces, tomatoes,salt and pepper.
5. Saute fish and shrimp until done about 4 minutes per side. Heat the eggplant mixture to a serving temperature.
6. Serve fish over rice, topped with eggplant mixture and sprinkled with basil.