How to cook Sambal tumis ikan bilis

Certainly! Sambal tumis ikan bilis is a delicious Malaysian dish made with anchovies
(ikan bilis) cooked in a spicy, aromatic chili paste (sambal tumis). It's commonly
served as a condiment or side dish with rice, noodles, or other main courses. Here's a
step-by-step guide on how to cook sambal tumis ikan bilis:

Ingredients:

 200g dried anchovies (ikan bilis)

 10-15 dried red chilies (adjust according to your spice preference)
 4-5 shallots, peeled and roughly chopped
 3 cloves garlic, peeled
 2 tablespoons dried shrimp paste (belacan), toasted
 1 large onion, thinly sliced
 2 tablespoons tamarind paste, dissolved in 4 tablespoons water
 3 tablespoons palm sugar or brown sugar
 Salt to taste
 Cooking oil

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Anchovies (Ikan Bilis):

 Rinse the dried anchovies under cold water to remove any impurities.
 Pat them dry with a paper towel.
2. Fry the Anchovies:
 Heat some cooking oil in a pan over medium heat.
 Fry the dried anchovies until they turn crispy and golden brown.
 Once done, remove them from the pan and set them aside on a plate
lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
3. Prepare the Spice Paste (Sambal Tumis):
 Soak the dried red chilies in hot water for about 15-20 minutes to
soften them.
 Drain the chilies and remove the seeds if you prefer a milder sambal.
 In a blender or food processor, combine the soaked chilies, shallots,
garlic, and toasted shrimp paste. Blend until you get a smooth paste.
4. Cooking the Sambal:
 Heat some oil in a pan over medium heat.
 Add the sliced onion and sauté until it turns translucent.
 Add the blended spice paste (sambal) to the pan and stir-fry until
fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Seasoning:
  Once the spice paste is cooked, add the tamarind water and palm sugar
to the pan.
 Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
 Season with salt to taste.
6. Add the Fried Anchovies:
 Once the sambal is well-cooked and the flavors have melded together,
add the fried anchovies to the pan.
 Stir to coat the anchovies evenly with the sambal.
 Cook for an additional 3-4 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse.
7. Serve:
 Once everything is cooked and well combined, remove the pan from
the heat.
 Transfer the sambal tumis ikan bilis to a serving dish.
 Serve hot with steamed rice, noodles, or as a condiment to your
favorite dishes.

Enjoy your homemade sambal tumis ikan bilis! It's a delightful dish packed with spicy,
savory flavors that will surely tantalize your taste buds. Adjust the spiciness and
sweetness according to your preference, and feel free to experiment with additional
ingredients to make it your own signature dish.