🇮🇩 Indonesia · Food
Tahu Petis
By eatmundo · August 4, 2026
🇮🇩 IDAI-generated imageA popular East Javanese snack consisting of fried tofu stuffed with a savory, sweet, and spicy fermented shrimp paste sauce. It's a perfect balance of textures and intense umami flavors.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Cut 400g of firm tofu into cubes and deep fry in hot oil until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, about 8 minutes.
- 2
Roast 100g of peanuts in a dry pan until fragrant, then crush them roughly in a mortar.
- 3
Prepare the sauce base by grinding 3 cloves of garlic, 2 bird's eye chilies, and 50g of palm sugar into a smooth paste.
- 4
Mix the ground spices with 1 tbsp tamarind paste, 3 tbsp soy sauce, and a pinch of salt to create a thick, savory dressing.
- 5
Add the crushed peanuts into the sauce mix, stirring until well incorporated.
- 6
Drain the fried tofu and slice each cube open to create a small pocket.
- 7
Stuff each tofu cube generously with the savory peanut and shrimp-paste style sauce.
- 8
Serve immediately with a handful of fresh bean sprouts for crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tahu Petis?+
Tahu Petis is an Indonesian street food consisting of fried tofu stuffed with bean sprouts and a savory-sweet black petis sauce. The sauce is prepared with fermented shrimp paste, palm sugar, tamarind, garlic, and chili. It is typically consumed as a snack.
Can I replace the shrimp paste?+
If petis (shrimp paste) is hard to find, a thick mixture of oyster sauce and soy sauce can mimic the umami, though it won't be identical.
Is the tofu supposed to be crispy?+
Yes, the exterior should be crunchy so it provides a good contrast to the soft filling.
How spicy is it?+
You control the spice level; adjust the number of bird's eye chilies to suit your heat preference.
Can I serve this as a main meal?+
It is traditionally an appetizer or street snack, but you can serve it alongside rice to make it more substantial.
🇮🇩 IDAI-generated image
