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Indonesia · Food

Tahu Tek Surabaya

45 min
470 kcal
4 servings

By eatmundo · August 4, 2026

Tahu Tek Surabaya🇮🇩AI-generated image

Same ingredients, elsewhere in the world

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Dishes from other countries' kitchens, made from the same core ingredients as Tahu Tek Surabaya. The percentage is the share of ingredients the two recipes have in common.

Same technique: Composed plate27 recipes from 11 countries

A famous East Javanese street food dish consisting of fried tofu, bean sprouts, and lontong in a savory peanut sauce.

According to eatmundo's ingredient comparison, the closest dish to Tahu Tek Surabaya from another cuisine is Telur Dadar Tofu (Malaysia): the two share 53% of their ingredients.

Ingredients

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Adapt this recipe:
4 servings

How to Make It

  • 1

    Cut the tofu into small cubes and fry them in a pan with 3 tablespoons of oil until golden brown.

  • 2

    Briefly blanch the bean sprouts in boiling water for 30 seconds, then drain immediately.

  • 3

    Toast the peanuts in a dry pan until fragrant, then crush them using a mortar and pestle.

  • 4

    Add garlic, chilies, palm sugar, and 0.5 tsp of salt to the mortar, grinding into a coarse paste.

  • 5

    Stir in the soy sauce, 30 g petis udang (black shrimp paste) and 60 ml warm water to create a thick, pourable peanut sauce.

  • 6

    Place the fried tofu cubes and 400 g sliced lontong (compressed rice cake) onto a plate.

  • 7

    Top with the blanched bean sprouts and generously pour the peanut sauce over the ingredients.

  • 8

    Serve immediately while warm, optionally topped with fried shallots and crackers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tahu Tek Surabaya?

Tahu Tek Surabaya is an Indonesian street food dish originating from Surabaya, consisting of fried tofu and bean sprouts served with a savory peanut, garlic and shrimp paste sauce. It is typically consumed as a main meal and is often accompanied by crackers.

What is lontong?

Lontong is compressed rice cake wrapped in banana leaves; you can substitute it with cooked jasmine rice.

Can I use store-bought peanut butter?

Traditional Tahu Tek uses freshly crushed toasted peanuts for the signature texture, but natural peanut butter is a viable shortcut.

How spicy is the sauce?

You can adjust the heat level by reducing the number of chili peppers used in the paste.

Is Tahu Tek a main course?

Yes, it is often served as a hearty lunch or dinner street food due to the filling rice cake and tofu.

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