Crispy Dori Fish with Spicy Sambal Matah

Ingredients

• For the Dori:

  • 4 pieces of dori fish fillets
  • 1 lime (for marinating)
  • 1 large egg (beaten)
  • All-purpose seasoning flour
  • Bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil (for frying)

• For the Sambal Matah:

  • 5 green bird’s eye chilies, sliced
  • 4 red bird’s eye chilies, sliced
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • ½ piece of grilled shrimp paste (terasi), crushed
  • 4 shallots, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, sliced
  • ¼ stalk of lemongrass, thinly sliced
  • 1 kaffir lime leaf
  • 1 lime (for juice)
  • Salt to taste
  • Sugar to taste
  • Hot vegetable oil (for pouring)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dori:

   • Begin by marinating the dori fish fillets with lime juice. Allow the fish to absorb the flavors for about 10 minutes.
   • Dip each fillet into the beaten egg, ensuring it’s well-coated. Then, dredge the fillet in all-purpose seasoning flour, followed by another dip in the egg, and finally coat with bread crumbs.
   • Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the breaded fillets until they are golden brown and crispy on both sides. Once done, drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

2. Make the Sambal Matah:

   • Thinly slice the green and red bird’s eye chilies, shallots, garlic cloves, tomato, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaf.
   • In a mortar and pestle, crush the grilled shrimp paste, salt, and sugar until finely ground.
   • Combine all sliced ingredients into the mortar with the crushed shrimp paste mixture. Mix thoroughly.
   • Heat a small amount of vegetable oil until it is very hot, then pour the oil over the sambal mixture. This will release the flavors and give it a vibrant taste. Add lime juice to the sambal and mix well.

3. Assemble the Dish:

   • Arrange the crispy dori fillets on a serving plate.
   • Spoon the freshly made sambal matah generously over the fillets.

4. Serve:

   • Your Dori Sambal Matah is now ready to be served. Enjoy this deliciously spicy and tangy dish with steamed rice or as a flavorful appetizer!

This recipe blends the crispy texture of dori fish with the vibrant, aromatic flavors of sambal matah, creating a dish that’s both visually appealing and bursting with taste. Perfect for those who appreciate a combination of crispy and spicy in their meals!