Sambal Udang Recipes

Steps:

• Put the anchovies in a bowl of cold water and soak for 5 minutes. Put the dried chiles in a small pot, add water to cover and boil for 5 minutes or until chiles begin to soften. Drain the chiles, remove stems, slice open lengthwise and scrape out seeds. (Chile seeds can irritate the skin, so wear rubber or plastic gloves.) Remove and discard seeds from the Thai and red chiles and slice. Transfer all chiles to a food processor, pulse to blend and set aside.
• In a ramekin or small bowl, combine the belacan with 1 teaspoon water, mixing and adding more water as needed until there are no lumps. Drain the anchovies and add to the chiles in the food processor, along with the hydrated belacan, shallots, garlic, diced tomato and 1/3 cup of canola oil. Process into a smooth purée. (If the mixture still seems chunky, add more oil, a tablespoon at a time, and process until smooth.) In a separate ramekin or small bowl, mix tamarind paste with 2 teaspoons water until the paste is smooth and loose.
• Heat the remaining 1/3 cup of oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the sambal purée and lemongrass stalks; stir tamarind into the sambal until combined and add salt to taste. Cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, stirring often, until the oil begins to separate and the sambal has thickened and turned brownish-red.
• Add the sambal to dish of your liking, such as mee goreng, or serve with fried tempeh. (Once it's added to a dish, remove the lemongrass. If storing the sambal for later use, keep the lemongrass.) When stored in small containers, sambal tumis can last for up to one week in the refrigerator, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the potatoes on a sheet pan and toss with 2 tablespoons vegetable or other neutral oil. Roast until potatoes are golden brown and tender, tossing occasionally, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the bell peppers and chiles along with a pinch of salt. (The cooking chiles can irritate; you may want to turn on an exhaust fan or open a nearby window.) Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer peppers and chiles to a food processor and set aside.
• Put the remaining 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in the same pan and set over medium heat. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt, and cook, stirring often, until they turn a deep golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add shallots to the food processor along with the tomato; process into a smooth purée. Transfer the sambal purée back to the same pan, adding the sugar, lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the oil starts to separate and the sambal has thickened and turned a deep red, about 30 minutes.
• Stir the shrimp and cooked potatoes into the sambal; cover and cook until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately, or at room temperature with a side of rice. (Before serving, remove the lemongrass, galangal and lime leaves.)