Sambal Belacan Recipe – Sybaritica

This Sambal Belacan Recipe uses the Dried Shrimp product known as Belcan, and a complex blend of spices to make a rich and fiery Curry Paste.

• 1 ½ cups fresh red chili peppers seeded and chopped
• 1 medium Tomato seeded and chopped
• 1 small Onion chopped
• 4 cm. thick slice of Belacan
• 6 cloves Garlic chopped
• 2 slices fresh Ginger chopped
• 1 3 ” piece of Lemongrass
• 1 slice dried Galanga
• 1 tbsp. Coriander seed
• 1 ½ tbsp. Sugar
• 1 ½ tsp. Salt
• 2 tbsp. Lime juice
• 1/3 cup Oil.

• Toast the coriander seeds in a dry pan and then grind them to a powder together with the dried Galanga
• Toast the Belacan in a dry pan, breaking it up as you do so to form a dry crumbly powder.
• Finely chop the lemongrass stalk and grind it to a paste along with the salt.
• Blend all the ingredients to a smooth paste in a mortar or a food processor.
• Cook the paste in a pan over moderate heat, stirring regularly, until the water content has evaporated and the oil begins to separate out from the mix.
• Allow to cool and then transfer to a suitable jar or other receptacle for storage.