8/6/2023 0 Comments Substitute for shrimp paste![]() Google research led me to a study that show that shrimp paste can reduce the enamel erosion by acidic food and re-harden softened enamel. When recovering from a cut, they believe that this is something that we shouldn't eat as it will slow/interfere with healing. The Malaysian Chinese believe that prawns and things made from it is 'toxic'. I found that powdered belacan is not as fragrant (or smelly, depending on how you see it). In that case, I suggest buying toasted belacan in sliced rather than powdered form. If you don't have a kitchen with good ventilation or live very near to your neighbour, your kitchen will smell and your neighbour may not be pleased. However, toasting belacan will release a very strong smell. (Read: How to Toast Belacan Shrimp Paste) After toasting, I like to crush it into smaller pieces so that it's easier to use. This way, you can get the best quality belacan and make it fresh. If you value taste more than convenience, I suggest buying raw belacan and toast it yourself. The different type of belacan you can get in Malaysia: raw, sliced then toasted, and powdered Cooked belacan are either sliced or blended into powder. You can get belacan in the raw or cooked (toasted) form. Types of belacan: raw, sliced & toasted, powder Raw belacan need to be cooked or toasted before used. Note that you can buy both raw and toasted belacan. I have bought some belacan in powder form that barely smell and another that makes the whole kitchen smells. The smellier, the better! I think that's the easiest way to see it. So it's available everywhere that sells fresh produce e.g supermarket, market, convenience store, or independent grocer. But they have different names in Malaysia and cannot be substituted with each otherīelacan is a very important ingredient in Malaysian and Singaporean cuisine. These are both called shrimp paste in English. At my cooking class, I refer to belacan as shrimp paste powder and petis udang as shrimp paste sauce. However, in English they are both called shrimp paste (source: Wikipedia).īelacan is hard and normally come in blocks. However, fermented shrimp paste in english can also mean petis udang, another entirely different product. Do not be confused.īelacan and petis udang are both different, and cannot be used as substitution for each other. ![]() In Malaysia and Singapore, this fermented shrimp paste is called belacan. Belacan has a very distinct taste (and smell). It's a clever idea if you really cannot get belacan.īoth belacan and fish sauce are made from fermented seafood and has similar umami taste. I did read in cookbooks written by Malaysian overseas (such as Norman Musa) use fish sauce as substitute. ![]() Korean guest that came to my Nasi Lemak Cooking Class mentioned that they love the nasi lemak sambal (which contains belacan) because they are familiar with fish sauce. Some people likened it to fish sauce and suggest using that as a substitute. Raw belacan need to be toasted before use. ![]() Many Americans and Europeans that come to my cooking class dislike the smell, but love the taste of it. The prawns/shrimp and fermentation process gives is a deep umami taste. For me and other Malaysians, belacan smells good and we use 'fragrance' to describe the smell of this pungent seafood produce.Īs it is made with salt, it's very salty. The smell of belacan has been compared to a decaying corpse! (Read: Malaysian French Neighbour In Paris Mistakes Belacan For Stench of Dead Body)īut I believe fragrance lies in the nose of the beholder. So important it is that when Malaysians leave their country to work or study, this is something that they will bring along. It is used in a lot of our important dishes like nasi lemak and also made into salad dressing and dips ![]() In Malaysia, it plays a major role in our food. I have bought one from the Portuguese-Malaccan community at Melaka However, some families at fishing villages makes it themselves too. It's then sun-dried and cut into blocks for sale. It's made mainly from shrimp and salt, then fermented for a few weeks. Belacan is a fermented cooking produce used in Asia. ![]()
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