Indonesian fish recipes

Spicy Fried Catfish with Aromatic Basil

Published: Oct 8, 2024
Reading time: 1 min
Collection: Indonesian fish recipes

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Ingredients:

Ingredients	Quantity
Catfish (Lele), cleaned	1 kg
Red chilies	5 pcs
Bird’s eye chilies (cabe rawit)	10 pcs
Shallots	5 cloves
Garlic	6 cloves
Ginger	1 thumb-sized piece
Turmeric	1 thumb-sized piece
Fresh basil (kemangi) leaves	1 bunch
Tomatoes, chopped	2 pcs
Sugar	To taste
Salt	To taste
Water	As needed

Instructions:

Step	Instructions
1	Clean the catfish thoroughly and remove the heads. Fry the fish until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
2	Fry the shallots, garlic, red chilies, bird’s eye chilies, ginger, and turmeric together until fragrant. Then, blend the fried ingredients to form a smooth spice paste.
3	Sauté the blended spice paste in a little oil until aromatic. Add the chopped tomatoes and season with sugar and salt to taste.
4	Add a small amount of water to the pan, then add the fried catfish and fresh basil leaves. Stir gently to combine and cook for a few minutes until the basil wilts.
5	Serve the spicy catfish with basil hot, paired with warm rice for a satisfying meal.

This vibrant and flavorful dish combines crispy fried catfish with a fragrant blend of chilies, garlic, and aromatic basil. Perfect for spice lovers and those seeking a bold Indonesian meal, it’s best enjoyed with a side of steamed rice.