My mum used to cook Sambal Prawns and remember eating it with fond memories. This is similar to her recipe but because of availability of certain ingredients, I have substituted or omitted some of the ingredients. In Malaysia, this dish is called Sambal Udang. Traditionally, the paste is pounded in a pestle and mortar, which can be therapeutic but time consuming. But if you have a blender, the preparation time is reduced.
Ingredients
500g raw prawns(peeled and devein)
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp tamaind paste
4 tbsp oil
4 tomatoes, quartered
Paste Ingredients
10 red chillies (deseed and cut into pieces) - check how spicy the chilli that you are using is and reduce the number if very spicy
12 red shallots (I used 1 red onion - cut into small wedges)
1 stalk lemon grass (cut into small pieces)
3 candelnuts (I used 8 blanched raw almonds)
1.5 x 2.5 x 0.5 cm piece of shrimp paste/belacan (I omitted this)
Steps
- Season peeled and deveined prawns with sugar and salt.
- Blend the paste ingredients in a blender or if you prefer in a pestle and mortar.
- Prepare 1 cup tamarind juice by pouring a little more than 1 cup of hot water to the tamarind paste in a cup or bowl. Strain it.
- Heat oil in a wok or pan and fry the blended ingredients till well cooked (about 4-5 minutes).
- Add prawns and stir until prawns are lightly cooked.
- Add tomatoes and tamarind juice. Stir and simmer until the prawns are cooked.
- Season with salt and sugar according to taste.
- Serve with some cooked rice.
Blend the paste ingredients in a blender.
Frying the blended paste in a wok under medium heat.
Prawns are lightly cooked. Add tomatoes and tamarind juice. Stir and simmer until prawns are cooked.
Season with salt and sugar. Ready to be served with some cooked rice.