Pempek

Pempek is an Indonesian fish cake made from ground fish meat and tapioca. This dish originated in the city of Palembang, which is located in the province of South Sumatra. According to the origin story of pempek, an old Palembang resident was tired of the traditional fried or grilled fish, so he devised a novel way to ground the meat, mix it with tapioca flour, and deep-fry it to create a crunchy and delicious snack.

He used to cycle around the city selling fish cakes to Palembang residents. Pempek gained popularity as a delectable snack over time, and it is now considered a traditional Indonesian delicacy. These round or rectangular cakes are typically steamed before being fried in vegetable oil and cut into bite-sized pieces just before serving.

Typical accompaniments include sliced cucumbers, noodles, or rice, and the traditional sweet and sour sauce is usually served on the side so that customers can customize the flavors to their liking.