Otak-Otak: Fish Cake in Banana Leaf

Otak-otak (literally "brain-brain" — referring to the grey, slightly gelatinous texture of the fish paste, which was fancied to resemble brain tissue) is a grilled fish cake preparation with two major regional expressions that are distinct enough to constitute different preparations: the Makassar version and the Palembang version. Both involve a seasoned fish paste wrapped in banana leaf and cooked over charcoal, but the fish species, the spice profile, and the resulting texture are sufficiently different that ordering otak-otak in Makassar and then in Palembang produces categorically different experiences. A third variant — the boat-shaped otak-otak of Batam and Singapore, sold from pushcarts — is the version most widely encountered outside Indonesia.

Otak-Otak — The Grilled Fish Paste of Makassar and Palembang

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