Janet Cooking Fun : How to make Sambal Belacan

Sambal belacan is one of the essential condiments for many delicious Malaysian recipes. It is commonly used for Kerabu and Ulam (Malaysian Salads).

Sambal Belacan is popularly served as the sauce for dips, it is an appetizer that goes well with fresh, raw and green vegetables and peas.

Ingredients for Sambal Belacan :

. 6 red chillies
. 1 piece of Belacan (dried shrimp paste)
. Lime, 2 tablespoon
. Sugar, 3 Tbsp or to taste

 How to make Sambal Belacan :

.Take off the stalk of chillies, take off the seeds, clean well with running water. Cut chillis into small segments.
  Transfer all chillis to a mortal, pounding with the pestle until fine.
. Use wok or non-stick pan, toast the Belacan on low heat until aromatic . Add the toasted Belacan to the chillis in the mortar, pounding until the compound is well blended.
.Add sugar and salt to taste. Blend well.
. Add fresh lime juice, blend well.
Transfer out to a bowl.
. With air tight container, you can keep the Sambal Belacan in the refrigerator upto a few days.

. Add fresh lime juice at the time of serving, this step is optional.

Sambal Belacan is an essential building block for many delicious Malaysian Recipes like Nasi Ulam, Sambal Asparagus , Sambal Water Spinach (Kangkung), etc....Delicious !