Otak-otak

Otak-otak
Otak-otak served in Jakarta
Alternative namesOtah[1]
Place of originIndonesia[2][3][4][5]
Region or stateSoutheast Asia
Associated cuisineIndonesia[4] Malaysia, Singapore[1]
Main ingredientsFish, spices, leaves

Otak-otak (lit. brains in Malay and Indonesian; Thai: โอตัก-โอตัก) is a Southeast Asian fish cake made of ground fish mixed with spices and wrapped in leaf parcels. Otak-otak is traditionally served steamed or grilled, encased within the leaf parcel it is cooked in, and can be eaten solely as a snack or with steamed rice as part of a meal.

The earliest preparations of otak-otak is believed to have originated in Palembang cuisine of South Sumatra, where it takes the form of grilled banana leaf parcels filled with a mixture of ground fish, tapioca starch and spices.[6] Regional varieties which bear the name otak-otak are widely known across Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries,[7] though they may have little in common with the Palembang version. In Singapore and southern Malaysia, the reddish-orange or brown colour of its contents is acquired from chili, turmeric and other spices.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Otak-otak". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ Johan Sompotan (18 August 2011). "Otak-Otak Enak dari Palembang!". Okezone.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  3. ^ Rizky Tyas Febriani (20 August 2020). "Fakta Unik Otak-otak, Kuliner Khas Palembang yang Tak Kalah Populer dari Pempek". Tribunews.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b Ferdiansyah, Rendy (25 January 2018). "Otak-Otak, Makanan Favorit Semua Kalangan". Media Indonesia (in Indonesian). Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Makanan Khas Palembang Ini Terbuat dari Ikan, tapi Kenapa Disebut Otak Otak". Tribunnews (in Indonesian). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. ^ Peppy Nasution (27 April 2011). "Otak-Otak Bakar Recipe (Indonesian Grilled Fish Cake)". Indonesia Eats. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  7. ^ Sara Schonhardt (15 August 2011). "40 of Indonesia's best dishes". CNN. Retrieved 4 September 2014.