Spicy Tilapia with Yellow Pickled Vegetables Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 medium black tilapia fish (in Sumbawa, there are no yellow tilapia)
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 stalk of lemongrass
• 5 bird’s eye chilies
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 cucumber
• 1 lime

Spice Paste:

• 5 shallots
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 candlenuts
• 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger
• 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 7 bird’s eye chilies (adjust to taste if you prefer extra heat)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Fish:

   • Clean the tilapia thoroughly.
   • Rub the fish with lime juice and a pinch of salt.
   • Fry the fish until it is crispy. Personally, I prefer frying it until it’s extra dry for a delightful crunch.

2. Make the Spice Paste:

   • Grind all the spice paste ingredients into a smooth paste using a mortar and pestle or a food processor.
   • Crush the lemongrass stalk.

3. Prepare the Vegetables:

   • Julienne the carrot and cucumber (remove the seeds from the cucumber).

4. Cook the Spice Paste:

   • Sauté the spice paste along with the lemongrass and bay leaves until fragrant.
   • Add the whole bird’s eye chilies.
   • Stir in the carrots and add a little water. Cook until the carrots start to soften.

5. Finish the Dish:

   • Add the cucumber, salt, sugar, a dash of flavor enhancer (optional), and a squeeze of lime juice. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
   • Cook until the liquid reduces slightly but don’t let it dry out completely.

6. Combine:

   • Add the fried tilapia to the pan, making sure it gets coated with the flavorful sauce.
   • Your Spicy Yellow Pickled Tilapia is now ready to serve.

Enjoy your Ikan Nila Acar Kuning Pedas!

This delightful dish brings together the crispiness of fried tilapia with the zesty and spicy notes of a vibrant acar kuning sauce. Perfect for a flavorful and exciting meal.