Pepes ikan is a dish that is made by wrapping a whole fish, or occasionally pieces of fish, in banana leaves. The fish is generously coated in a spice paste that typically includes ingredients such as turmeric, candlenuts or macadamia, tomatoes, shrimp paste, palm sugar, lemon basil, tamarind, lemongrass, and chili peppers.
It is then neatly wrapped in banana leaves, and the parcels can be steamed or grilled. The fish is served in the leaf, and it is typically accompanied by lime or lemon wedges on the side. Variations of ikan pepes are found throughout East Timor and Indonesia, but the most popular variety is ikan pepes mas, made with carp.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Ikan goreng, translated to "fried fish" in English, is a dish originating from Indonesia. The preparation starts with marinating the fish in a mixture of spices and herbs, typically turmeric, garlic, shallots, tamarind, and sometimes even kacep manis, then deep-frying it until golden brown and crispy.
There are different versions of ikan goreng in different regions of Indonesia, and the type of fish used can vary widely, ranging from smaller fish like anchovies to larger fish like mackerel, snapper, and tuna. It's often served with rice and various side dishes such as sambal, fresh vegetables, tempeh, and tofu.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Pecel lele is a beloved Indonesian street food dish featuring deep-fried catfish (lele) served with sambal (spicy chili sauce), steamed rice, and fresh vegetables (lalapan). Originally popularized in Java, especially among Javanese roadside food stalls (warung lesehan), pecel lele has become a nationwide favorite for its affordability, bold flavor, and satisfying crunch.
Despite the word pecel traditionally referring to vegetables with peanut sauce (as in nasi pecel), in this dish, pecel simply denotes the serving style—fish with sambal and rice. The lele (catfish) is typically marinated with salt, garlic, and turmeric, then deep-fried whole until the skin becomes crispy and golden, while the flesh remains moist and flavorful.
MOST ICONIC Pecel lele
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