Introduction: Fried eel is one of the most popular dishes in various regions in Indonesia, especially in Java. Known for its crispy texture on the outside and soft on the inside, fried eel is often served as a side dish with rice and chili sauce. In addition to its delicious taste, eel is also rich in nutrients, such as protein, vitamin A, and calcium.
Making fried eel is actually quite easy, but there are some tips to make the eel more savory, crispy, and not fishy. This article will guide you through the steps on how to make delicious and crispy fried eel.
1. Ingredients Needed
Main Ingredients:
500 grams of fresh eel (about 4-6 medium-sized eels)
2 tablespoons of lime juice (to clean the eel)
Marinade Seasoning:
5 cloves of garlic
3 cm turmeric (can be replaced with 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder)
2 cm ginger
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon tamarind water (optional)
Coating Ingredients (Optional for Flour Fried Eel):
100 grams of rice flour
50 grams of cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
Ingredients for Frying:
Sufficient cooking oil (to fry until the eel sinks)
2. Eel Preparation
Before frying, the eel must be cleaned and seasoned first. Here are the steps:
A. Cleaning the Eel:
Wash the eel with clean water to remove the mucus. You can use salt or lime juice to help remove the mucus from the eel's body.
After the mucus is gone, cut off the eel's head and remove its stomach contents. You can cut the eel into several pieces according to taste (usually cut into 2-3 pieces per tail) or leave it whole.
Wash the eel again with clean water, then drain. Make sure the eel is completely clean from dirt.
B. Marinate Eel:
Puree the garlic, turmeric, ginger, coriander, salt, and pepper using a pestle or blender. Add a little water to make it easier to puree.
Coat the eel with the fine spices until evenly distributed. If you like a fresher taste, you can add tamarind water to the marinade.
Let the seasoned eel sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour so that the spices are absorbed properly. You can put it in the refrigerator while marinating.
3. How to Fry Eel
There are two ways to fry eel: regular fried eel (without flour) and fried eel with flour. Here are the instructions:
A. Frying Regular Fried Eel:
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Make sure there is enough oil so that the eel can sink when fried.
Once the oil is hot, add the eels one by one to the pan. Fry the eel until it is brown and crispy, usually taking about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the eel and drain the oil using tissue paper or a strainer so that it is not too oily.
Serve the fried eel while it is hot to get a crispy texture.
B. Frying Flour-Fried Eel:
Mix the rice flour, cornstarch, salt, and pepper in a container. Stir until evenly mixed.
After the eel is marinated, roll the eel in the flour mixture until all parts of the eel are evenly covered with flour.
Heat the oil in a frying pan until it is really hot.
Fry the eel that has been coated with flour until it is golden brown and crispy. Do not turn the eel too often when frying so that it does not fall apart.
Remove and drain the eel from the oil, then serve.
4. Serving Fried Eel
Fried eel is best served with warm white rice and chili sauce. You can serve it with:
Terasi Sambal: Spicy and savory terasi sambal will add to the flavor of fried eel.
Onion Sambal: For a stronger spicy flavor, onion sambal can also be a perfect accompaniment.
Fresh vegetables: Add fresh vegetables such as cucumber, basil leaves, or cabbage to complement the fried eel dish. Slot Raffi Ahmad 77
Additional Tips:
Removing Slime: If the eel is still slimy after washing, rub coarse salt or ash on the eel's body, then rinse again until clean.
Crispy Texture: If you want the eel to be crispier, add a little baking powder to the flour mixture when frying the eel with flour.
Stable Hot Oil: Make sure the oil is at a stable heat so that the eel is evenly cooked and not oily. Avoid frying eel with too high a heat because it can make the outside burn quickly but the inside is not cooked perfectly.
Marinate: If you have time, let the eel marinate longer (up to overnight) in the refrigerator to allow the spices to soak in.
Conclusion:
Fried eel is a delicious dish that is easy to make at home. With simple ingredients and the right technique, you can enjoy crispy fried eel that is savory and appetizing. Perfect served with warm rice, chili sauce, and fresh vegetables, fried eel can be a special dish for the family. Congratulations