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Snack

Keropok Lekor

Keropok Lekor is a traditional Malaysian snack made from fish and sago flour, seasoned and deep-fried to a chewy, crispy perfection. It's often served with a spicy chili dipping sauce. This recipe yields a savory and satisfying treat.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time
45 min
Serves
4
Difficulty
Medium

Allergen information: may contain fish. Always check ingredient packaging if you have an allergy.

Keropok Lekor

Mise en place

Ingredients

  • 500 gfish fillet, boneless, skinless, white fish
  • 250 gsago flour
  • 1 tspsalt
  • 0.5 tspsugar
  • 100 mlwater, cold
  • 500 mlvegetable oil, for deep frying

Equipment

slotted spoon · paper towels · deep pan · food processor · large pot · wire rack · knife · large mixing bowl

The method

Step by step

  1. 1

    Blend the fish fillet in a food processor until it forms a smooth paste.

    About 3 min

    Cook’s note: Ensure there are no bones left in the fish before blending.

  2. 2

    Transfer the fish paste to a large mixing bowl.

  3. 3

    Add the sago flour, salt, and sugar to the fish paste.

    About 1 min

  4. 4

    Gradually add the cold water, mixing continuously until a firm, pliable dough forms.

    About 5 min

    Cook’s note: Do not overmix; stop once the dough comes together.

  5. 5

    Divide the dough into several portions and roll each portion into a long, cylindrical shape, about 1-inch thick.

    About 10 min

    Cook’s note: Flour your hands lightly with sago flour if the dough is sticky.

  6. 6

    Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

    About 5 min

  7. 7

    Carefully place the rolled fish dough into the boiling water and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they float to the surface and are cooked through.

    About 15 min

    Cook’s note: Do not overcrowd the pot; boil in batches if necessary.

  8. 8

    Remove the cooked fish rolls from the water and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

    About 10 min

    Cook’s note: Allowing them to cool completely makes slicing easier.

  9. 9

    Once cooled, slice the fish rolls into thin, diagonal pieces.

    About 5 min

  10. 10

    Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan or wok over medium-high heat until hot.

    About 3 min

    Cook’s note: The oil should be hot enough to sizzle when a small piece of dough is dropped in.

  11. 11

    Deep-fry the sliced keropok lekor in batches until golden brown and crispy.

    About 5 min

    Cook’s note: Fry until they are crunchy but not burnt.

  12. 12

    Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

    About 1 min

  13. 13

    Serve hot, optionally with a chili dipping sauce.

Keep it good

Storage

Store leftover cooked keropok lekor in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Reheating

Reheat in an oven or air fryer until crispy, or refry briefly in hot oil.