Belacan Lan Pet Pet (Shrimp Paste)

Belacan Lan Pet Pet (Shrimp Paste)

Shrimp Paste is made from fermented ground shrimp mixed with salt. It is an essential ingredient in many Malaysian cuisines, gravies and sauces. Shrimp paste can be found in most meals in Malaysia and many Asian countries. It is often a crucial ingredient in dips for fish or vegetables.

Belacan, a Malay variety of shrimp paste, is prepared from krill, also known as geragau in Kristang (Portuguese creole spoken in Malaysia) or rebon in Sundanese and Javanese. In Malaysia, normally the krill would be steamed first and after that are mashed into a paste and stored for several months. The fermented shrimps are then prepared, fried and hard-pressed into cakes.

Belacan is used as an ingredient in many dishes. A common preparation is sambal belacan, made by mixing toasted belacan with chilli peppers, minced garlic, shallot paste and sugar and then fried. Sometime it is toasted to bring out the flavour, but that creates a strong odour.

How To Make A Simple Sambal Belacan With Belacan Lan Pet Pet (Shrimp Paste)

Sambal Belacan  is a Malaysian condiment made with fresh red chilies, lime juice, salt and sugar. Sambal Belacan is the building block of Malaysian cooking.

Ingredients:

1. 4 oz. (115 g) seeded chilies, thinly sliced
2. 1 tablespoon Belacan Lan Pet Pet (Shrimp Paste)
3. 1 – 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
4. 2 tablespoons Calamansi lime juice or lime juice
5. Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash the chilies with running water. Then de-seed and slice them. Transfer the chilies to a mortar.
2. Heat up a wok or pan on low heat and toast the belacan until aromatic. The texture of the belacan would turn dry and powdery after toasting. Transfer out and add to the chilies and start pounding with the pestle until fine.
3. Transfer out the pounded mixture to a bowl, add salt and sugar to taste. Add lime juice (or Calamansi lime juice). Blend well. You can keep the sambal belacan in the refrigerator for a couple of days, or freeze in the freezer for a longer period. Remember to seal it in an airtight container, bottle or zip lock bag so that the refrigerator does not get infused with the aromatic smell of the shrimp paste.
4. You can enjoy your fish, chicken, meat and vegetables with this sambal belacan.

Note:

If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can use a mini food processor to grind everything. If you like extra fiery kick in your sambal, you can add a few bird’s eye chilies.

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