Murtabak

Murtabak

A cook making murtabak
Origin
Alternative name(s)	Murtabak, mutabbaq
Place of origin	Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Type	Pancake

Martabak or murtabak, also mutabbaq, (Arabic: مطبق‎) is a stuffed pancake or pan-fried bread which is commonly found in Saudi Arabia (especially the Tihamah and the Hejaz regions), Yemen, India, 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 Indonesia, the Murtabak is one of the most popular street food menu and is well known as Martabak.

In Malaysia, where it is called "Murtabak", it is sold in Indian Muslim restaurants and stalls, and usually includes minced mutton, along with garlic, egg and onion, and is eaten with curry gravy, sliced cucumber, onions and tomato sauce. Murtabak also usually includes mutton in Yemen. In Indonesia, particularly Jakarta and other cities, it is called "martabak", and has two versions: a sweet one, and a savory one with egg and meat. Lately, vegetarian murtabaks and other forms of murtabaks with chicken and other stuffings exist and can be found in many Indian Muslim restaurants in Singapore, most famous being those restaurants facing the Sultan Mosque near Arab Street.

History

Murtabak originated in Yemen, which has sizable Indian population; through Indian traders it has spread back to their home countries, to India and southeast of Asia. The word mutabbaq in Arabic means "folded". The dish referred to as Murtabak is a multi layered pancake that originated in the state of Kerela where the people referred to disparagingly as "mamak's" (or uncle) hail from. The word "mutabar" is the correct name for the particular dish referred to incorrectly as "murtabaq". "Mutabar" is an amalgam of two words, "muta" (being the Kerelite word for egg, a significant component of the dish) and "bar", an abbreviated form of the word barota, or "bratha roti" (the bread the egg is added on to make the dish). The bread base or pancake on which it is then spread over is referred to in Hindi as "pratha roti" or "pratha". (Note the difference in pronunciations, pratha and brata).

There are similar versions of the bread in places as Yemen and other regions of the Arabic world and in Persia. All of these places in the Middle East were visited by Indian traders centuries ago and it would not be unusual for them to have learned from each other or to have adopted each other's culinary habits and practices. However, the word "mutabar" is the correct name for the egg chilli and onion flavoured multi layered pancake.

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 coklat kacang

Martabak manis coklat kacang is a type of sweet martabak ("martabak manis") consisting of a thick spongy pancake folded around layers of chocolate, chopped peanuts, cheese or condensed milk.

Martabak telur

Martabak telur (egg martabak)

Martabak telur or egg martabak, also called "martabak asin" or salty/savory martabak, is a famous Indonesian Murtabak with egg, onions, and meat filling. The filling commonly includes duck eggs or chicken 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.

See also

• Saudi Arabian cuisine
• Malaysian cuisine
• Singaporean cuisine
• Indonesian cuisine
• Mamak stall

External links

• The Culinary Kingdom
• Photos of Arabic mutabbaq being prepared