Indonesian Spicy Catfish in Creamy Coconut Sauce

Pecak Lele: Indonesian Spicy Catfish Stew Recipe

Ingredients:

• For the Catfish:

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  • 7 pieces of catfish
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

• For the Spice Mix:

  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled
  • 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric, peeled
  • A pinch of black pepper
  • Salt, to taste

• For the Ground Spice Paste:

  • 7 shallots
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 candlenuts
  • 4 red curly chilies
  • 6 bird’s eye chilies
  • 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric, peeled
  • 1 kaffir lime leaf
  • Sugar, to taste
  • Salt, to taste

• Additional Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch of Thai basil leaves
  • 1 medium tomato, sliced
  • 1 can coconut milk (Santan Kara)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Catfish:

   • Clean and gut the catfish. Marinate with lime juice, salt, and black pepper. Set aside for about 15 minutes.

2. Fry the Catfish:

   • Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry the marinated catfish until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.

3. Make the Spice Paste:

   • In a blender or food processor, blend the shallots, garlic, candlenuts, red curly chilies, bird’s eye chilies, turmeric, and kaffir lime leaf into a smooth paste.

4. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • In the same pan used for frying the catfish, heat a little oil. Sauté the ground spice paste until fragrant and cooked through.

5. Add the Coconut Milk:

   • Pour in the coconut milk and stir to combine with the spice paste. Let it simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

6. Combine Catfish and Sauce:

   • Add the fried catfish to the pan with the coconut milk mixture. Stir gently to coat the fish with the sauce.

7. Season and Simmer:

   • Adjust seasoning with sugar and salt to taste. Let the mixture simmer until the sauce has reduced to your desired consistency.

8. Add Fresh Herbs and Tomato:

   • Add the Thai basil leaves and sliced tomato. Stir briefly until the basil is wilted and the tomato is slightly softened.

9. Finish and Serve:

   • Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Enjoy the rich, spicy flavors of Pecak Lele, a delightful Indonesian dish that combines crispy catfish with a creamy, aromatic coconut sauce.