Fiery Shredded Tuna with Spicy Lime Sambal

Spicy Shredded Tuna (Ikan Tongkol Suwir Pedas)

Ingredients:

Ingredients for the Spice Paste (to be ground):

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Tuna:

   • Begin by thoroughly cleaning the tuna. Rinse under cold water and pat it dry with paper towels.
   • Season the fish with a sprinkle of salt and lime juice to reduce the fishy smell. Let it marinate for about 15 minutes to absorb the flavors.

2. Frying the Tuna:

   • After the marinating time, heat oil in a pan on medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the tuna to the pan.
   • Fry the fish until the outer skin turns golden brown. Be cautious not to let the inner flesh of the fish dry out; you want the inside to remain moist for easier shredding later.
   • Remove the fried tuna from the oil and allow any excess oil to drain off. Set aside until it cools down enough to handle.

3. Shredding the Tuna:

   • Once the fish has cooled, gently shred the flesh using your fingers or a fork. Avoid shredding too finely so that the texture of the fish remains intact. Place the shredded tuna in a bowl and set it aside.

4. Preparing the Spice Paste:

   • In a separate pan, heat a little oil and sauté the ground spice paste (a mixture of garlic, red chilies, shallots, and bird’s eye chilies) along with the kaffir lime leaves until fragrant. The aroma should be rich and spicy.

5. Simmering the Fish:

   • After the spices are aromatic, add water to the pan along with salt, powdered broth, and sugar. Stir everything together to combine well.
   • Allow the mixture to cook down, simmering until the sauce thickens slightly and the water evaporates. The sauce should bubble and become more concentrated.

6. Combining the Shredded Tuna:

   • Add the shredded tuna to the thickened spice mixture. Stir thoroughly to coat the fish evenly in the sauce.
   • Lower the heat and continue cooking, allowing the flavors to absorb fully into the tuna. Cook until the mixture dries out slightly and the tuna becomes lightly crisp.

7. Serving:

   • Once the tuna is dry and the flavors have melded together, remove it from the heat. Serve your spicy shredded tuna on a platter.
   • This dish pairs beautifully with steamed rice or can be enjoyed as a flavorful side dish.

Nutritional Information:

Enjoy this spicy and flavorful dish, perfect for a quick and easy meal packed with bold Indonesian flavors!