How To Make Pempek Ayam Saus Cuko (step-by-step guide)
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Indonesian, Indonesian Chinese
Prep Time: 40 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 27 minutesminutes
Total Time: 1 hourhour7 minutesminutes
Servings: 6servings
Author: Marvellina
Learn how to make Pempek Ayam Saus Cuko (Savory Chicken Cakes with Sauce) with this easy to follow step-by-step guide. A twist from the classic fish pempek.
Cut the chicken meat into small pieces. This will make the job easier on the food processor. Place the meat and the rest of the ingredients, except for the tapioca starch and cooking oil in the food processor and process into a fine meat paste
Transfer the meat paste to a large mixing bowl. Gradually add tapioca flour, start with about 350 gr of tapioca starch and mix the dough with a spatula until you can form a big mass that is still slightly sticky to touch. Take care not to add too much flour or you will end up with chicken cakes that are tough and too springy
Adjust seasoning as needed:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. When the water is rolling boil, pinch off a small amount of the paste and boil in the water. Have a taste. Adjust the seasonings by adding more salt and/or sugar if needed. If you are happy with the taste, proceed to shaping the pempek below.
Shaping the pempek:
I found that it helps to rub my palms with a bit of cooking oil instead of dusting with tapioca flour. The more flour you add, the chewier and tougher the pempek will be. Shape the dough into either patties or logs
Proceed to cooking the pempek:
Add the pempek into boiling water and boil for 5-8 minutes, depending on how big of the cakes they are. You can pick one up and cut the log to check and make sure it is cooked through inside. Remove from the water into a plate and let them cool down. Just because they float to the top doesn't mean they are cooked through. I've discovered that several times :)
Let the boiled pempek cool down for at least 15 minutes. Deep fry the boiled pempek until golden brown before serving
Make the cuko sauce:
Place the peppers, garlic,dried shrimp, and about 100 ml of the water in food processor and process into a smooth paste
Transfer to a saucepan and add the rest of the ingredients for cuko sauce. Cook over medium heat until sugar is melted. Have a taste. The sauce should be sweet, spicy, and tangy. Add more sugar if needed
Serving:
Slice the fried pempek into large chunks and place some cucumber chunks and drizzle with cuko sauce. Serve immediately