Murtabak
Encyclopedia
Martabak or murtabak, also mutabbaq, is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread which is commonly found in Saudi Arabia
(especially the Hejaz
region), Yemen
, Indonesia
, Malaysia, Thailand
, Singapore
, and Brunei
. Depending on the location, the name and ingredients can significantly vary. The name mutabbaq (or sometimes mutabbag) in Arabic means "folded".
In Malaysia, where it is called "Murtabak", it is sold by Mamak
salesmen, and usually includes minced mutton, along with garlic
, egg
and onion
, and is eaten with curry
sauce. Murtabak also usually includes mutton in Yemen. In Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, it is called "martabak", and has two versions: a sweet one, and a savory one. Vegetarian murtabaks exist, too, and can be found around Singapore's "Little India
" neighborhood, among other places.
(1206-1526). Through traders, murtabak has been brought to numerous countries in Muslim Southeast Asia
during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate, and has continued to be a popular meal in many of these nations.
and West Java
, Indonesia, these sweet, thick pancake
s are also known as "terang bulan" or "kue pinang bangka". Also known as "apam balik" in Malaysia.
Usually made by street vendors in the evening, martabak manis is pan-cooked, using a specially shaped pan, usually with a diameter of about 25 cm and 3 cm thickness. After cooking, the pancake is topped with a lot of butter or margarine and a variety of toppings according to the customer's taste. The two major flavors are chocolate and cheese. Common toppings for chocolate flavor include a lot of chocolate muisjes
or chocolate sprinkles, coarsely ground peanuts, sweetened condensed milk and sesame seeds. As for the cheese flavor, grated cheese and condensed milk are used. After the toppings are added, the pancake is cut into two, and one side is flipped onto the other. A large amount of butter or margarine is then added onto the outer part or the skin of the martabak. The martabak can also be made half chocolate and half cheese, or both chocolate and cheese together which is usually called "martabak spesial". Banana as a topping is also becoming more popular recently.
Martabak telur or egg martabak, also called "martabak asin" or salty/savory martabak, is a crepe-like dish with egg filling. The filling commonly includes duck eggs - up to six eggs for a large one - onion, green onions, cooked ground beef and seasonings. The martabak's "skin" is made by spinning the pastry until very thin, like filo pastry. Then it is shallow-fried in a custom made flattened heavy wok. While the skin or pastry is laid flat on the wok, the egg mixture is then poured in. Then the pastry is folded quickly while being fried, making a rectangular wrap. This requires a mastery in cooking technique. When it is done, the martabak is cut into smaller squares for serving. It is often enjoyed together with pickled diced cucumber, and a dark brown sauce made of vinegar and palm sugar
.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
(especially the Hejaz
Hejaz
al-Hejaz, also Hijaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined primarily by its western border on the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan. Its main city is Jeddah, but it is probably better known for the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina...
region), Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, Malaysia, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
. Depending on the location, the name and ingredients can significantly vary. The name mutabbaq (or sometimes mutabbag) in Arabic means "folded".
Mamak stall
A mamak stall, is a food establishment which serves mamak food. In Malaysia, the term mamak refers to Tamil Muslims, who generally own and operate them. Although traditionally operated from roadside stalls, some modern mamak stall operators have expanded their businesses into restaurant or...
salesmen, and usually includes minced mutton, along with garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
and onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
, and is eaten with curry
Curry
Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
sauce. Murtabak also usually includes mutton in Yemen. In Indonesia, particularly Jakarta, it is called "martabak", and has two versions: a sweet one, and a savory one. Vegetarian murtabaks exist, too, and can be found around Singapore's "Little India
Little India, Singapore
Little India is an ethnic neighbourhood found in Singapore that has Tamil cultural elements. Little India lies to east of the Singapore River—across from Chinatown, located west of the river—and north of Kampong Glam. Both areas are part of the urban planning area of Rochor...
" neighborhood, among other places.
History
Murtabak originated in India, during the Delhi SultanateDelhi Sultanate
The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty...
(1206-1526). Through traders, murtabak has been brought to numerous countries in Muslim Southeast Asia
Muslim Southeast Asia
Muslim Southeast Asia refers to those areas of Southeast Asia that have significant populations of Muslims. It includes:* Indonesia* Malaysia* Brunei* Southern Philippines * Southern Thailand...
during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate, and has continued to be a popular meal in many of these nations.
Indonesian martabak
Martabak is a popular dish in Indonesia. There are two kind of Indonesian martabaks, sweet and savory. In way of cooking, they have no similarities at all. Although they have completely different taste, looks and way of cooking, they usually can be found next to each other, i.e. a sweet martabak seller usually also sells the savory one.Martabak manis
Martabak manis or sweet martabak, is a rich-flavoured pancake-like sweet dish which is popular in Indonesia. Sometimes referred to as "martabak bangka", where Bangka is an island in Sumatera. In JakartaJakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
and West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
, Indonesia, these sweet, thick pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
s are also known as "terang bulan" or "kue pinang bangka". Also known as "apam balik" in Malaysia.
Usually made by street vendors in the evening, martabak manis is pan-cooked, using a specially shaped pan, usually with a diameter of about 25 cm and 3 cm thickness. After cooking, the pancake is topped with a lot of butter or margarine and a variety of toppings according to the customer's taste. The two major flavors are chocolate and cheese. Common toppings for chocolate flavor include a lot of chocolate muisjes
Muisjes
Muisjes are a traditional Dutch open-faced sandwich topping, very similar to nonpareils. While customary on bread, their most typical use is on beschuit, or rusk. Muisjes are made of aniseed sprinkles with a sugared and colored outer layer...
or chocolate sprinkles, coarsely ground peanuts, sweetened condensed milk and sesame seeds. As for the cheese flavor, grated cheese and condensed milk are used. After the toppings are added, the pancake is cut into two, and one side is flipped onto the other. A large amount of butter or margarine is then added onto the outer part or the skin of the martabak. The martabak can also be made half chocolate and half cheese, or both chocolate and cheese together which is usually called "martabak spesial". Banana as a topping is also becoming more popular recently.
Martabak telur
Palm sugar
Palm sugar was originally made from the sugary sap of the Palmyra palm, the date palm or sugar date palm . Now it is also made from the sap of the sago, arenga pinnata and coconut palms, and may be sold as "arenga sugar" or "coconut sugar".-Description:It is quickly gaining popularity in the...
.
See also
- Cuisine of Saudi ArabiaCuisine of Saudi ArabiaFood staples in Saudi Arabian cuisine include lamb, grilled chicken, falafel , shawarma , mutabbaq and Ful medames. Arabic unleavened bread, or khobz , is eaten with almost all meals, and is often used as an edible utensil to scoop foods. Kabsa, rice with chicken and lamb, is very popular and is...
- Cuisine of MalaysiaCuisine of MalaysiaMalaysian cuisine reflects the multicultural aspects of Malaysia. Various ethnic groups in Malaysia have their own dishes, but many dishes in Malaysia are derived from multiple ethnic influences. Food preparation differs from place to place, although many of the foods used are alike...
- Cuisine of SingaporeCuisine of SingaporeSingaporean cuisine is indicative of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore, as a product of centuries of cultural interaction owing to Singapore's strategic location...
- Cuisine of IndonesiaCuisine of IndonesiaIndonesian cuisine is diverse, in part because Indonesia is composed of approximately 6,000 populated islands. Many regional cuisines exist, often based upon cultural and foreign influences. Indonesian cuisine varies greatly by region and has many different influences...
- Mamak stallMamak stallA mamak stall, is a food establishment which serves mamak food. In Malaysia, the term mamak refers to Tamil Muslims, who generally own and operate them. Although traditionally operated from roadside stalls, some modern mamak stall operators have expanded their businesses into restaurant or...