Grilled Gurame with Padang Spices

This delightful recipe for Grilled Gurame with Padang Spices offers a flavorful and aromatic twist on traditional fish dishes, making it a perfect choice for gatherings or family meals. Whether you’re using Gurame or any other fish, the rich blend of spices will elevate your culinary experience to new heights.

Ingredients

For the Fish

1 large Gurame fish (or any fish of your choice)

Ground Spice Blend

10 shallots
5 cloves of garlic
2 candlenuts
1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric
2 cm ginger
5 red curly chilies
4 bird’s eye chilies
5 peppercorns

Additional Ingredients

1 crushed galangal
1 crushed lemongrass stalk
3 bay leaves
2 kaffir lime leaves
1/2 can of coconut milk (Kara)
2 tablespoons sweet soy sauce

Seasoning

Beef-flavored Masako seasoning (or any stock powder)
Salt
Sugar

Preparation Steps

Prepare the Spice Blend: Begin by finely grinding the shallots, garlic, candlenuts, turmeric, ginger, red curly chilies, bird’s eye chilies, and peppercorns until you achieve a smooth paste. This aromatic mixture will serve as the heart of your dish.
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Sauté the Spices: In a hot pan, sauté the ground spice blend until fragrant, allowing the flavors to develop fully. This step is crucial for creating a delicious base for your fish.
Add Additional Ingredients: Incorporate the crushed galangal, lemongrass, bay leaves, and kaffir lime leaves into the sautéed spices. Continue to stir and cook for a few more minutes.
Incorporate Coconut Milk and Soy Sauce: Pour in the coconut milk and add the sweet soy sauce. Stir well and let the mixture simmer gently, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Season to Taste: Taste your sauce and adjust the seasoning with Masako, salt, and sugar according to your preference. This step ensures that the balance of flavors is just right.
Prepare the Fish: Cut the fish in half to ensure even cooking and better absorption of the spices.
Grill the Fish: Use a non-stick frying pan (teflon) to grill the fish, basting it with the sautéed spice mixture you prepared earlier. Cook until the fish is golden and cooked through, allowing the spices to permeate the flesh.
Serve: Once cooked, remove the fish from the heat and serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs if desired. This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice or a fresh salad, making it a wholesome and satisfying meal.

Enjoy this exquisite Grilled Gurame with Padang Spices as a centerpiece for your dining table, and delight your family and friends with the rich flavors and aromatic essence that only this recipe can provide!