Sweet Soy Tempeh (Tempe manis)

This traditional dish from central Java, Indonesia, gets its stickiness from one of the country’s greatest culinary exports: kecap manis, sweetened soy sauce. It also happens to be an excellent way to cook tempeh, one of its other famous foods. Serve with red or brown rice, or another favorite grain.

1⁄4 cup coconut oil or sunflower

oil, plus more as needed 1 pound tempeh, cut into 1-inch

cubes

1⁄2 teaspoon fine sea salt, divided,

plus more to taste 2 tablespoons light or dark brown

sugar

2 tablespoons water

3 large shallots (6 ounces), thinly

sliced

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

4 long red chiles, such as Asian finger peppers, thinly sliced (deseeded if you prefer less heat)

1 lemongrass stalk, smashed and

tied in a knot 4 makrut lime leaves (may

substitute 2 bay leaves)

6 thin slices unpeeled fresh ginger 8 ounces snow peas, trimmed

3⁄4 cup (4 ounces) unsalted

roasted peanuts

3 tablespoons kecap manis (may substitute 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar)

Instructions: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Add half the tempeh and fry until golden, turning as needed to get most sides browned, 3- 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a plate lined with paper towels or a clean dish towel, and sprinkle with 1⁄4 teaspoon salt. Repeat with the remaining tempeh and salt, adding a little more oil, if needed.

In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar and water.

Add the shallots, garlic, chiles, lemongrass, lime leaves and ginger slices to the now-empty skillet and cook, stirring, until the shallots soften, about 2 minutes. Add the snow peas and cook, stirring, until they are barely crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Add the fried tempeh and peanuts, then add the kecap manis and sugar-water mixture, stirring until the sauce is bubbling and clinging to the other ingredients, about 1 minute. Taste, and season with more salt, if needed.

Discard the lemongrass stalk, lime leaves and ginger slices, and serve hot.

Notes: The finished tempeh can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Kecap manis can be found in Asian and large international supermarkets. If you don’t see a bottle with that name, look for something labeled “sweet soy sauce” or “dark sweet soy sauce” from Indonesia.

Makes 4 servings

Adapted from “Coconut & Sambal” by Lara Lee (Bloomsbury, 2020).