The Fascinating History of Pempek

Pempek: Unraveling the Enigmatic Journey of Palembang's Culinary Pride

Edisi Indonesia: Sejarah Menarik Pempek

Palembang Culinary

Did you know that behind the deliciousness of pempek lies a fascinating and unique story? Pempek, also known as empek-empek, is a food made from soft and savory fish dough, becoming one of the culinary pride of Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia. However, the intriguing story surrounding this tasty dish doesn't end there.

The history of pempek involves a legendary figure known as Apek, a Chinese immigrant who lived on the banks of the Musi River in the 16th century AD. Despite his advanced age, Apek possessed remarkable culinary skills. With his creativity, he processed local fish catches into a delicious dish, later known as pempek.

The story of pempek is not only captivating but also attention-grabbing due to the fusion of culture and culinary ingenuity from the past. This story begins with the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the city of Palembang during the reign of the Palembang Darussalam Sultanate under the leadership of Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II in the 16th century AD.

According to legend, pempek was first sold around the city by a Chinese man known as Apek, around the year 1617 AD. The name Apek, which means uncle or old man in Chinese, was called so because of his age, which was around 65 years old at the time. Living on the banks of the Musi River, Apek had a brilliant idea to utilize the abundance of fish in his surroundings by processing them into a new food besides just stewing or frying.

Pempek was first produced by mixing fish caught by Apek with flour, creating a unique texture and tantalizing flavor. Similar to the meatballs brought by Chinese traders to Palembang, pempek immediately caught the attention of the local community. When customers wanted to buy, they would call Apek by cutting his name "peek..peek," which eventually inspired the name of the new food.

From there, the history of pempek continued to evolve, creating a distinctive culinary identity for Palembang. Although pempek has its roots in Chinese dishes like ngo hiang and kekkian, this culinary delight has its own unique characteristics. Its most famous feature is its serving with cuko, a unique sauce that combines sweet, sour, and spicy flavors, providing an unmatched taste experience.

Thus, the history of pempek is a story that demonstrates the importance of cultural acculturation in creating diverse and captivating culinary wealth.