Spicy Flaked Tuna with Kaffir Lime and Galangal

Spicy Flaked Tuna (Tongkol Suwir Pedas)

Ingredients:

• 1 whole fresh tuna (about 1 kg), cleaned and cut
• 4 kaffir lime leaves
• 2 cm galangal, thinly sliced
• 3 bay leaves
• Salt, sugar, and kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) to taste

For the Spice Paste:

• 10 shallots
• 8 cloves garlic
• 25 bird’s eye chilies (adjust to taste)
• 8 red chilies (adjust to taste)
• 1 cm kencur (aromatic ginger)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Tuna:

   • Clean the tuna pieces thoroughly. Squeeze with lime juice, let it sit briefly, then rinse well.
   • Steam the tuna for about 15-20 minutes, or alternatively, lightly fry it. Once cooked, shred the tuna into flakes.

2. Prepare the Spice Paste:

   • Optionally, briefly fry the shallots, garlic, bird’s eye chilies, red chilies, and kencur to ease the grinding process. If you prefer, you can skip this step and grind the ingredients raw.
   • Blend the fried or raw spices into a smooth paste.

3. Cook the Dish:

   • Heat some oil in a pan and sauté the spice paste along with the kaffir lime leaves, galangal slices, and bay leaves until fragrant.
   • Add the shredded tuna to the pan. Season with salt, sugar, and kecap manis. Mix well.
   • Cook for a few more minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld together. Adjust seasoning to taste.

4. Serve:

   • Once the flavors are well combined and the tuna is thoroughly coated with the spicy paste, remove from heat. Serve hot with steamed rice or as a side dish.

Enjoy this flavorful and aromatic Spicy Flaked Tuna, perfect for adding a spicy kick to your meal!