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Ikan Pesmol

Ikan Pesmol is a fish dish from West Java, Indonesia that has a refreshing tangy and spicy flavour.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 7
Calories: 784 kcal
Course: Main Course , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: Indonesian

Ingredients

  • 2.2 pounds firm flesh fish.
  • 1 teaspoon tamarind paste.
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powder.
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder.
  • 1- inch ginger minced.
  • 6 cloves of garlic minced.
  • 1 red onion chopped.
  • 15 Kemiri/ candlenuts.
  • 2 salam leaves.
  • 2 lemongrass.
  • ½ - inch galangal.
  • 1 tablespoon sugar.
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Salt + extra for the marinade.
  • 2 teaspoons White vinegar or juice from one lemon.
  • 1 cup water.
  • 5-7 fresh bird’s eye chillies.
  • 4 tablespoons cooking oil

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Clean, scale, cut, and wash the fish. Marinate it with tamarind paste and 1 teaspoon of salt. Set aside.
  2. Using pestle and mortar, or a food processor, pound the ginger, garlic, chopped onion, candlenuts and galangal into a paste. Set aside.
  3. Grill the fish until it’s thoroughly cooked. Or, if you want to do it traditionally, you can deep fry the fish. Set aside.
  4. Heat 4 tablespoons of oil on a large cooking pan or a wok. Put the pounded spices, chilli powder, turmeric, Salam leaf, lemongrass, salt, and sugar in. Let it fry until the spices release aroma, and it looks shiny. 
  5. Add in the vinegar or lemon juice. Cook further for a minute.
  6. Then add the water in, give it a stir and let it cook with a lid on. Until the water is reduced and you have a nice thick sauce.
  7. Put the fish in the sauce. Stir carefully until all the fish is coated with the spice. Leave it to cook with a lid on for about 3 minutes. 

Notes

  • If candlenuts are not available, you can substitute them with macadamia nuts. Or you can omit altogether.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1g Calories 784kcal (39%) Carbohydrates 27g (9%) Protein 44g (88%) Fat 60g (92%) Saturated Fat 9g (45%) Polyunsaturated Fat 48g Cholesterol 82mg (27%) Sodium 1334mg (56%) Fiber 6g (24%) Sugar 12g (24%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 7Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 784

% Daily Value*

Serving 1g
Calories 784kcal 39%
Carbohydrates 27g 9%
Protein 44g 88%
Fat 60g 92%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Polyunsaturated Fat 48g 282%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 1334mg 56%
Fiber 6g 24%
Sugar 12g 24%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.