Nila Masak Woku: A Flavorful Indonesian Fish Dish
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of Nile tilapia
- 1 handful of basil leaves
- 1 stalk of lemongrass
- 1 pandan leaf (or 2 if they’re shorter)
- 5 kaffir lime leaves (remove the central rib)
- 1 stalk of scallion, sliced
- 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
- 3 curly red chilies, sliced diagonally
- 200 ml of water
- Salt and sugar to taste
For the Spice Paste:
- 7 shallots
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 candlenuts
- 5 red curly chilies
- 8 bird’s eye chilies
- 1/2 thumb-sized piece of ginger
- 3 cm piece of turmeric
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Fish:
- Clean the tilapia and make shallow cuts along the body.
- Rub with lime juice and salt, and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
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Make the Spice Paste:
- In a blender or food processor, combine shallots, garlic, candlenuts, red curly chilies, bird’s eye chilies, ginger, and turmeric. Blend until smooth.
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Cook the Aromatics:
- Heat a little oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Sauté the spice paste with lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves until fragrant.
-
Add the Fish and Herbs:
- Stir in the pandan leaf, sliced red chilies, and marinated tilapia.
- Cook, gently stirring, until the fish is cooked through.
-
Simmer:
- Pour in the water and add sugar and salt to taste.
- Add the tomato wedges and simmer until the liquid reduces slightly.
-
Finish and Serve:
- Add the sliced scallion and adjust the seasoning.
- Stir in the basil leaves and cook for a few more moments.
- Remove from heat and serve hot.
Enjoy the aromatic and delicious flavors of this traditional Indonesian dish! 😋
