Balado Lele: Spicy Fried Catfish in a Fragrant Chili Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 kg catfish (lele), cleaned and cut into two pieces (head and tail) or left whole
- 2 lime (jeruk nipis), juiced
- 10 red chilies (cabai keriting)
- 5 bird’s eye chilies (cabai rawit)
- 8 shallots (bawang merah)
- 8 cloves garlic (bawang putih)
- 1 cm ginger (jahe)
- 1 stalk lemongrass (serai), smashed
- 4 kaffir lime leaves (daun jeruk)
- Cooking oil, as needed
- 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder (kaldu bubuk)
- 1 tsp salt (garam)
- 1 tsp granulated sugar (gula pasir)
- Water, as needed
Instructions:
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Prepare the Catfish: Clean the catfish thoroughly, then cut it into two sections (head and tail) or leave it whole if preferred.
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Marinate the Fish: In a bowl, combine the garlic and salt, and mash until smooth. Add the lime juice and a little water, mixing well to create a marinade. Submerge the catfish in this marinade, ensuring it’s well-coated. Let it marinate for 10 minutes.
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Prepare the Spice Paste: While the catfish marinates, blend the red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, shallots, 4 cloves of garlic, and ginger into a smooth paste.
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Fry the Catfish: Heat a generous amount of oil in a pan. Fry the marinated catfish until it is crispy and cooked through. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
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Make the Balado Sauce: In the same pan, heat 3 tablespoons of oil. Sauté the spice paste along with the smashed lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant and the oil starts to separate.
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Season the Sauce: Add the sugar, chicken bouillon powder, and salt to the spice paste. Stir to combine and cook for a few minutes to let the flavors meld.
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Combine and Serve: Add the fried catfish to the pan with the sauce. Gently toss to coat the catfish evenly with the sauce, cooking for an additional 4 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
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Finish and Enjoy: Remove from heat and serve the Balado Lele warm. Enjoy this spicy, aromatic dish with steamed rice or as a flavorful addition to your meal.
This vibrant and flavorful Balado Lele brings a delightful blend of spices and textures to your table, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of heat in their meals.
