Sambal Goreng Tempeh – Indonesian Spicy Sweet Fried Tempeh
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Sambal Goreng Tempeh (tempe) is a crunchy, spicy Indonesian dish made with fried tempeh coated in a rich, caramelized sambal chili sauce. This easy recipe makes a flavorful side that adds texture and a kick of sweet heat to rice dishes.
I have to admit, growing up tempeh was never my favorite side dish. It was part of almost every selamatan, the food festivities at family gatherings, and I was never looking forward to finding tempeh on my plate. That is until I ate it prepared in this way. Crispy, spicy, and sweet. Yes, please. I like tempeh after all!
The tempeh is cut into thin strips and deep-fried until crispy. A sauce is made by sautéing garlic, shallots, ginger, galangal, and shrimp paste, then adding chili sambal sauce, tamarind, and palm sugar. The crispy tempeh is coated in this sticky sauce, resulting in a flavor-packed crunchy bite.
Continue below for the full recipe with ingredients and step-by-step instructions.
This tempeh dish fits a gluten-free diet and can be vegan or vegetarian if you leave out the shrimp paste. It will still be delicious!
Sambal Goreng Tempe is usually eaten as a side dish in Indonesian meals. It complements rice dishes like nasi goreng or nasi kuning, and is also eaten with other side dishes like perkedel (fried potato patties) or stir-fried vegetables.
If you have a wadjang or wok, use them to stir fry your tempeh! The wadjang pan is traditionally used in Indonesian cuisine. It resembles a wok but typically has handles on either side for easier handling.
Ingredient Notes
Gula Jawa (unrefined palm sugar): A natural sweetener made from the sap of palm trees. It has a sweet, rich, caramel-like flavor and is commonly used in Indonesian dishes. Known as Gula Melaka in Malaysia. You could use coconut or brown sugar as a substitute.
Sambal Oelek (chili paste): Made from fresh red chilies, salt, and sometimes a bit of vinegar or lime juice. It is widely used in Indonesian cuisine to add heat. You can add more or less to your level of spiciness preference. Substitute sambal oelek with any hot chili paste or sauce like Sriracha, though the flavor will be slightly different.
For a homemade sambal oelek, check out my step-by-step sambal recipe!
Terasi (Fermented Shrimp Paste): Adds depth and umami. It is made from shrimp that has been salted, fermented, and ground into a paste. It has a strong (stinky) smell that fades during cooking, leaving a savory taste. Fish sauce or anchovy paste can be used as a substitute, though it will slightly change the flavor.
Check out my article about Indonesian pantry ingredients if you want to know more.
Sambal Goreng Tempeh
Sambal Goreng Tempeh is a gluten-free, savory dish from Indonesia. Fried tempeh coated in a sweet and spicy sambal sauce, creates this simple yet flavorful recipe.
Leave out the shrimp paste to make this dish vegan or vegetarian.
Ingredients
- 300 g tempeh
- 1 onion (or 2 shallots)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp ginger powder (djahe)
- 1/2 tsp galangal powder (laos)
- 1 tsp shrimp paste (terasi)
- 1/2 tbsp chili paste (sambal oelek)
- 1 tbsp tamarind mixed with 1 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp palm sugar (gula jawa)
- salt to taste
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Slice the tempeh into thin strips.
- Peel the onions and garlic, and finely chop them.
- Heat oil in a wadjan or wok pan, and fry the tempeh until crispy. Drain the tempeh on a sieve.
- Remove all but 1 tablespoon of oil from the pan.
- Sauté the onions and garlic on medium heat,
- Add ginger powder, galangal, shrimp paste, and sambal chili paste, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add tamarind water, palm sugar, and salt to taste. Let it cook down into a thick, syrupy sauce, Add a little water if needed.
- Toss the fried tempeh in the sauce until evenly coated.
Notes
Fry the tempeh in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, ensuring it stays crispy.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. You can freeze it for up to 1 month, but it may lose some crispiness.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 75 gAmount Per Serving: Calories: 244Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 396mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 16g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated. These figures should be considered estimates.
