Pempek from Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia, ranks third in the July 2024 TasteAtlas list of the world's 50 Best Seafood Dishes.
With a score of 4.6 stars, pempek surpasses famous seafood dishes such as sushi from Japan, just 0.1 points behind first-place kaisendon (score 4.7) from Japan. Meanwhile, Camarones enchipotlados (score 4.6) from Mexico came in second. The TasteAtlas ratings are based on 100 seafood dishes from different countries.
Pempek is a type of fish cake from Palembang made from ground fish meat and tapioca flour. It comes in various shapes and forms, such as round, rectangular, filled with egg, or other. Pempek is usually fried before serving.
As a side dish, pempek is usually served with slices of cucumber and noodles. Cuko sauce, a traditional sweet and sour sauce from Palembang, accompanies it to enhance the flavor.
Legend has it that pempek was created by an elderly Palembang resident who was tired of the usual fried or grilled fish. He innovatively ground fish meat, mixed it with tapioca flour and fried it, resulting in a crispy and delicious snack now known as pempek.
Over time, pempek has become one of Indonesia's most popular delicacies. Its savory taste and chewy texture make it popular among different groups.
In addition to pempek, other Southeast Asian dishes in the TasteAtlas Top 50 Seafood Dishes list include Canh Chua Ca (Vietnam's sweet and sour soup) from Vietnam, ranked 27th with a score of 4.5, and Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) from Indonesia, ranked 49th with a score of 4.4.
