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Pempek, Palembang, South Sumatra
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Pempek

Palembang, South SumatraSumatraStreet Food

Chewy fish cakes from Palembang, served with a sweet-sour-spicy cuko sauce.

Pempek is made from ground fish — traditionally belida or mackerel — mixed with tapioca, then boiled and fried. The best-known shape is the kapal selam ('submarine'), filled with a whole egg.

It is always eaten with cuko, a dark sauce of palm sugar, vinegar, chilli and garlic.

Cultural context

Palembang's signature food, eaten from breakfast to late-night snacks.

Key ingredients

  • Mackerel or belida fish
  • Tapioca
  • Egg
  • Cuko sauce: palm sugar, vinegar, chilli, garlic

Good to know

  • Fish and tapioca
  • Kapal selam has an egg inside
  • Served with cuko sauce

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