{{Short description|Indonesian savoury snack made of glutinous rice}} {{for|the German singer and actor|Ute Lemper}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Lemper | image = Lemper.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = ''Lemper'' wrapped in banana leaves | alternate_name = | country = Indonesia | region = Nationwide | creator = | course = | type = Snack | served = Warm or room temperature | main_ingredient = Glutinous rice; chicken, fish, ''abon'' (meat floss) or serundeng | variations = ''Semar mendem'' | calories = | other = }}
'''''Lemper''''' ({{IPA|id||-|Pelafalan Lemper - jajanan tradisional Indonesia.wav}}) is an Indonesian savoury snack made of glutinous rice filled with seasoned shredded chicken, fish, ''abon'' (meat floss) or serundeng. The specific ''lemper'' filled with seasoned shredded chicken is called '''''lemper ayam''''' (lit: chicken ''lemper'').<ref name="Food">{{cite web|title=Debbie's Indonesian Lemper|author= Chef PotPie|publisher=Food.com |url=http://www.food.com/recipe/debbies-indonesian-lemper-190166|access-date=25 June 2015}}</ref> The meat filling is rolled inside the rice, in a fashion similar to an egg roll; this is in turn rolled and wrapped inside a banana leaf, oil paper, plastic sheet, or tinfoil to make a packet ready for serving. If banana leaf is not available, corn husk can be used.<ref name="Food"/> ''Lemper'' are most often seen as snacks, but may sometimes be served as appetizers as well. ''Lemper'' usually has an elongated shape, similar to ''lontong''.
''Lemper'' is very similar to ''arem-arem'' and ''bakcang'' (Chinese zongzi), and also resembles Japanese onigiri.
==Ingredients and cooking method== The glutinous rice is soaked and cooked with coconut milk and salt. The filling is made of shredded chicken breast, chicken stock, garlic, candle nut, ground coriander, cumin, brown sugar, vegetable oil, minced shallot, coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves, salt and pepper.<ref name="Food"/> Other than chicken, shredded fish, ''abon'' (beef meat floss), or serundeng might be used as filling. When the cooked glutinous rice is cool enough to handle, the chicken filling is placed on the glutinous rice and rolled in a banana leaf, wrapped and secured with ''biting'' or ''lidi semat'', a small wooden "needle" made of coconut leaf midrib or bamboo. Then these banana leaf packages are steamed or grilled. This releases a distinct pleasant aroma of toasted banana leaf.<ref>{{cite web |title=Banana Leaf: Uses, Flavors and How to Cook with It |url=https://foodandroad.com/banana-leaf/ |website=Food and Road |access-date=3 June 2025}}</ref>
==Semar mendem== [[File:Semar mendem.JPG|thumb|right|''Semar mendem'' which is ''lemper'' wrapped in thin omelette.]] A variant snack almost identical to ''lemper'' is called ''semar mendem''. Both are glutinous rice filled with shredded seasoned chicken. Instead of banana leaf wrapping, ''semar mendem'' uses a thin omelette made from egg and flour as wrapper, hence rendering the whole package edible.
== See also == {{Portal|Food|Indonesia}} * Lamprais * List of steamed foods * Nasi bakar * Onigiri * Pastil * Rempah udang * Tamales
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.belindo.com/indonesia/indonesian-recipes/snacks/lemper-ayam/186 Lemper recipe] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20150429052621/http://allrecipes.asia/recipe/2142/lemper-ayam.aspx Lemper ayam recipe]
{{Kue}} {{Indonesian cuisine}} {{Rice cakes}}
Category:Indonesian rice dishes Category:Glutinous rice dishes Category:Kue Category:Steamed foods Category:Stuffed dishes