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Cakwe served with spicy sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds
Crispy Indonesian Cakwe served with a side of spicy dipping sauce

Cakwe with spicy dipping sauce

Author: Flavelo
Recipes Vegetarian & Vegan Quick Meals
Cakwe (or Youtiao) is Chinese cuisine's gift to Southeast Asia: long, deep-fried, airy dough sticks that are crisp on the outside and soft and web-like inside. In Indonesia, instead of being eaten for breakfast with soy milk (as in China), they are often enjoyed as a savoury snack with a distinctive vinegar-sugar-chilli dipping sauce. This dish is a play on textures: the oily fried dough is perfectly 'cut' by the acidity and heat of the sauce.
🕒 Prep Time 20 mins
🍳 Cook Time 15 mins
⌛ Total Time 35 mins
🍽️ Servings 4 servings
🔥 Calories 250 kcal
🌍 Cuisine Indonesian

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

  • Deep frying pan or wok for frying
  • Mixing bowl
  • Rolling pin
  • Skewer (for shaping)

Allergen Information

⚠️ Cereals containing gluten
⚠️ Soya
⚠️ Sesame

Instructions

1 ✓

If working with raw dough: roll out into a rectangle, cut strips. Place two strips on top of each other, and press down lengthways in the centre with a skewer so they stick together.

Tip: This characteristic 'butterfly' shape helps the centre open up and cook during frying.
2 ✓

Prepare the dip: crush the garlic and chilli into a paste (or chop very finely).

Tip: Crushing in a mortar brings out the flavours best.
3 ✓

In a small bowl, mix the water, vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. Add the chilli-garlic paste. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Taste it: the sweet-sour-spicy balance is key.

Tip: Let it sit for 10 minutes for the flavours to meld.
4 ✓

Heat oil in a deep pan to approx. 180-190°C. Add the dough. Continuously turn them with chopsticks or tongs.

Tip: Continuous turning is crucial! This ensures it expands evenly and becomes round, not flat.
5 ✓

Fry until golden brown and crisp (approx. 2-3 minutes). Remove and drain on a rack or kitchen paper.

Tip: A rack is better so the bottom doesn't get soggy from its own steam.
6 ✓

Cut the fried Cakwe into bite-sized pieces (easiest with scissors).

7 ✓

Serve the pieces drenched in the dip or with the dip on the side, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.

Recipe FAQ

Why didn't the dough puff up?
The baking powder or bicarbonate of soda wasn't fresh, or the oil wasn't hot enough. The dough needs thermal shock for sudden gas production.
Can I use ready-made dough?
Pizza dough isn't quite right; Cakwe dough is softer and contains more leavening agents. It's worth kneading at home.
What oil should I use?
Neutral tasting oil with a high smoke point (sunflower, rapeseed).

Ingredients

  • 6 pcs Cakwe dough sticks (pre-fried or raw dough)
  • 3 cloves Garlic
  • 2 pcs Chilli peppers (fresh, e.g. Bird's eye)
  • 2 tbsp Soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Sugar
  • 1 tbsp Vinegar (rice vinegar or table vinegar)
  • 4 tbsp Water
  • 1 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
  • 300 ml Oil for frying