A term for the female descendants of a Chinese ethnic group having relocated to the Malay Archipelago during the 15th century, ‘Nyonya’ cooking (or Perankan) typically blends Chinese ingredients with various distinct spices and cooking techniques used by the Malay/Indonesian community. One such ubiquitous dish that’s gradually become globally renowned: sambal is a hot sauce often taken for granted, regularly enjoyed as a meagre side dish.
With over 300 varieties – ranging from mild to extremely hot – sambal udang (prawn sambal) is a particularly popular variant. The prawns are, technically, the main draw, but never detract from the rich sauce, heady with chilli and garlic. Notting Hill restaurant ULI have shared their Nyonya prawn sambal recipe that’s simple to recreate at home. Serve with rice and plenty of sauce.
Ingredients
Fresh green beans, 300g
Raw tiger prawns, 300g, deshelled and deveined
White onion, 1
Salt, to taste
Small onions, 8, pounded,
Garlic, 4 cloves, pounded
Candlenuts, 2, pounded
Belacan (shrimp paste), 30g, pounded
Chilli paste, 3 Tbsp
Sugar, 2 Tbsp
Cooking oil
Method
Heat 3 Tbsp of oil in a wok, stir-fry the small onions, garlic, candlenuts and belacan with chilli paste and sugar until fragrant.
Add all remaining ingredients and stir-fry until cooked.