Stir-Fried Vegetables with Belacan

[Shiewie]

Stir-Fried Vegetables with Belacan

Here's a recipe for kangkung belacan. You can also use green beans, long beans, four-angled winged beans or asparagus in place of the kangkung.

• 10 oz of kangkung / grean beans / long beans / four-angled winged beans / asparagus
  
• 1 T dried prawns (look for this in an Asian Grocery)
  
• 4 shallots
  
• 2 cloves of garlic
  
• 1-1/2 tsp of belacan (shrimp paste)
  
• 4 red chillies (adjust this to the level of spiciness you are comfortable with, remove the seeds if you want it less spicy)
  
• 3 T oil
  
• 1/2 tsp salt (or adjust to taste)
  
• 1/2 tsp sugar (or adjust to taste)
  

1) Soak the dried prawns for 1/2 hour to 1 hour till softened. Drain.

2) Pound the drained dried prawns, shallots, garlic, belacan and chillies with a mortar and pestle until fine. Alternatively, blend the mixture in a blender or food processor with a little bit of the oil.

3) Heat the wok/pan until it is very hot, then add the oil. Add the pounded / blended dried prawn and spice mixture. Stir-fry the mixture quickly over high-heat and then turn the heat down to medium-low. Slowly stir-fry the prawn and spice mixture until fragrant - the colour of mixture will change from a bright red to a dark reddish-brown.

4) Add the vegetables, salt and sugar. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.

Keywords: Southeast Asian, Vegetables, Shrimp, Hot and Spicy

( RG560 )