If there is one dish that I can eat every day with just plain white rice, it’s probably sambal udang (prawn sambal)—a popular Malay or Nyonya prawn dish that is much-loved by many people.
Made with a sambal paste and flavored with belacan (Malaysian shrimp paste), the gravy of sambal udang is best when drizzled on a serving of steaming hot rice…
There are many variations of sambal udang (prawn sambal), but the basic ingredients are more or less the same. This version is our family’s sambal udang recipe, passed down to us from my late mother.
She would always add some thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves to perfume the dish with its aroma. Every bite is bursting with the briny flavor of the prawn, follows by the complex flavor of the fiery sambal, and ends with a citrusy note of the kaffir lime leaves.
Here is my sambal udang recipe, which I made when I was in Penang, Malaysia. Try it out and I am sure you will want it every day!
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Sambal Udang (Prawn Sambal)
Sambal Udang (Prawn Sambal) recipe - Every bite is bursting with the briny flavor of the prawn, follows by the complex flavor of the fiery sambal, and ends with a citrusy note of the kaffir lime leaves.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1.5 lbs. prawn/shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons tamarind pulp mixed with 1/2 cup water and strained
- 3 kaffir lime leaves sliced thinly
- 2 teaspoons salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoons sugar or to taste
Spice Paste
- 10 dry red chilies deseeded
- 10 shallots peeled
- 30 g belacan
Directions
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1Pound the spice paste using a mortar and pestle or grind with a food processor. Set aside.
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2Heat up the cooking oil in a wok. Add the spice paste and stir-fry until aromatic.
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3Add the prawn and continue to stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes.
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4Add in the water, tamarind juice and bring it to a quick boil. Add in the kaffir lime leaves, salt, and sugar. Dish out and serve immediately.
Laura
Can I substitute belachan with prawn paste?
Rasa Malaysia
Don’t substitute anything just follow the instructions.
Moo
Hi! I am just wondering if I could use your sambal belacan recipe to substitute the spice paste in this recipe? Thanks!
Rasa Malaysia
No, it’s different.
Wenny Tan
Those dishes are also my late mother’s cook which my siblings miss so much. Thank you.
Wenny Tan
Those dishes are also my late mother’s cook which my siblings miss so much. Thank you.
Natalie
How many does this serve?
Rasa Malaysia
3 people.
maral
Thanks. Your shrimps looks so tempting!
NasleMusic
This is my all time favourite! I remember a friend’s mom, who is Nyonya, cooked really yummy sambal udang!
موزیک باز
I’ve never had prawn sambal before, but it looks delicious. Def going to have to give it a try this weekend. Try.
juhn
Your site is great. One of the best sites in this area.
hesam
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW
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