Tahu goreng facts for kids
Indonesian Tahu goreng and omelette arranged on a plate garnished with bean sprouts, cucumber and carrot
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| Alternative names | Tauhu goreng (Malaysian and Singaporean spelling) |
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| Associated national cuisine | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore |
| Main ingredients | tofu |
Tahu goreng (say "TAH-hoo GOH-reng") is a super popular fried tofu dish. You can find it in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It's a yummy snack or part of a meal that many people enjoy!
How to Make Tahu Goreng
To make Tahu goreng, chefs take firm blocks of tofu and deep-fry them. They cook the tofu until it turns a beautiful golden-brown color.
A common way to serve this dish is to cut the fried tofu in half. It's often placed on a plate with fresh bean sprouts, slices of cucumber, and chopped scallions.
The dish usually comes with a special thick sauce. This sauce is made from ingredients like shallots, garlic, chili peppers, and a little shrimp paste. It also has soy sauce and tangy tamarind juice to give it a unique flavor.
Where Did Tahu Goreng Come From?
The words tauhu or tahu mean 'tofu' in the Malay language and Indonesian. The word goreng simply means 'fried'.
Tofu itself first came from China. Chinese immigrants brought tofu to Southeast Asia a long time ago. Fried tofu is eaten a lot in Asian cultures. It has also become popular in Western countries, especially for people who eat vegetarian meals.
Different Kinds of Tahu Goreng
In Indonesia, there are many exciting ways to enjoy Tahu goreng. It can be lightly fried or deep-fried. Sometimes it's plain, and sometimes it's covered in a batter.
People in Indonesia often eat Tahu goreng with sambal kecap. This is a spicy sauce made from kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) and chopped chili peppers and shallots. Some versions might even use a peanut sauce with chili instead.
Here are a few popular types:
- Tahu isi: This means "filled tofu." It's one of the most popular kinds in Indonesia. Tofu is filled with bean sprouts, carrots, and sometimes even minced meat. Then it's covered in batter and deep-fried. You can often buy it from street vendors who sell fried snacks. People usually eat it with cabai rawit (bird's eye chili) for an extra kick!
- Tahu sumedang: This type of tofu comes from the city of Sumedang in West Java. A famous tofu shop called Tahu Bunkeng, started by Chinese immigrants in 1917, first made it popular.
- Tahu gejrot: This dish is fried tofu served in a thin, hot, sweet, and sour sauce. It has shallots and chilies and comes from Cirebon city in West Java.
- Tahu campur: This means "mixed tofu." It includes slices of beef, vegetables, beansprouts, and noodles or rice vermicelli. It's all served in a light broth. This dish is common in cities like Malang, Surabaya, and Lamongan in East Java.
- Tahu telur: This means "tofu with egg." It's made with an omelette, beansprouts, peanuts, and lontong (a rice cake). It's served in a thin, sweet, and sour soy sauce. This dish also comes from Surabaya in East Java.
- Tahu bulat or bola-bola tahu: These are "round tofu" or "tofu balls." This is a newer type of fried tofu from Tasikmalaya. The tofu is mixed with seasonings, shaped into balls, and then deep-fried.
- Kupat tahu: This dish combines ketupat (a rice cake) with tofu and beansprouts. It's served in a thick, sweet, and spicy peanut sauce. You can find it all over Java, but popular versions come from Kuningan, Magelang, Solo, and Surabaya.
