Indonesian Selar Fish in Savory Tauco Coconut Sauce

Tauco Ikan Selar in Coconut Sauce

Dive into the delightful flavors of Indonesian cuisine with this recipe for Tauco Ikan Selar, a rich and savory dish featuring fried selar fish simmered in a fragrant coconut sauce with tangy tauco. This dish blends the umami of tauco (fermented soybeans) with the freshness of green chilies, creating a satisfying and aromatic meal that’s perfect for any occasion. Here’s how to bring this Indonesian favorite to your table.

Ingredients:

• 10 selar fish (also known as mackerel scad or selar, cleaned and gutted)
• 1 packet of tauco (fermented soybean paste, approximately Rp1000)
• 1 1/2 ounces of green chilies, sliced lengthwise
• For the ground spices:
  • 3 shallots
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 2 red chilies
• For the sautéed spices:
  • 2 shallots
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 cm ginger
  • 1 cm galangal
  • 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised
• 1 coconut, for extracting coconut milk

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Fish:

   • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the selar fish until golden brown and cooked through. Once done, remove the fish from the pan and set aside.

2. Cook the Aromatics:

   • In the same pan, use a little oil to sauté the thinly sliced shallots and garlic until fragrant and translucent.

3. Add Ground Spices:

   • Incorporate the ground spices (shallots, garlic, and red chilies) into the pan. Sauté for about 3 minutes, allowing the spices to release their flavors.

4. Add Sautéed Spices:

   • Next, add the sautéed spices (shallots, garlic, ginger, galangal, and lemongrass) to the pan. Stir and cook until the mixture is well combined and aromatic.

5. Incorporate Green Chilies:

   • Add the sliced green chilies to the pan. Cook for approximately 2 minutes until the chilies begin to soften.

6. Add Tauco:

   • Stir in the tauco. Since tauco is already salty, be cautious when adding salt. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed.

7. Pour in Coconut Milk:

   • Add the coconut milk (extracted from 1 coconut) to the pan, stirring well to combine with the other ingredients.

8. Simmer with Fish:

   • Gently place the fried selar fish into the sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer until the coconut milk starts to boil and the flavors meld together.

9. Serve:

   • Once the sauce has thickened slightly and the fish is well-coated, remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice or your favorite side dishes.

Enjoy this hearty and flavorful Tauco Ikan Selar with its creamy coconut sauce and aromatic spices that bring a taste of Indonesia right to your home!