Asam Pedas (Sour and Spicy Fish Curry)

Asam Pedas (Sour and Spicy Fish Curry)
It is an Indonesian, Malay curry dish. Vegetables like okra,  brinjal, potato and tomato are added in the dish along with the fish. Fish like mackerel, sting ray, prawns or sweet water fish can be used.

For the Wet paste
Ingredients
6 Shallots chopped
4 Garlic cloves
1 inch Ginger
2 stalks Lemongrass
1/2 tsp Shrimp paste
3 Candlenuts ( I did not have it so I used 5 Cashew nut)
6 Dry Red Chillies
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

2 tbsp Oil

 

Method
Grind all the above ingredients into a fine paste. 

For the Curry
Ingredients
6 pieces Rohu Fish marinated with 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder and salt.
2 Onions sliced
6 Okras cut vertically
1 Potato peeled and cut into wedges
1 small long Brinjal cut into wedges
1 Tomato cut into wedges
2 tbsp Tamarind paste
2 handful Laksa leaves (did not have so used coriander leaves)
Salt to taste
Wet paste
Oil to fry the Fish and make the Curry
2 cups of Water

Method
Heat the oil in a wok. Fry the fish until brown. Remove it and keep it aside. Remove the excess oil from the wok and let 2 tbsp of oil remain. Add the paste, saute it for 2 minutes. Add the potato, onion and brinjal.  Stir it. Add water and cook it till the vegetables are almost done. Add the tamarind paste, okras and green chillies. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes, salt and the fish pieces.
Lastly, put in the fried fish and coriander leaves.  Let it simmer for 2 minutes.  Serve it with hot steam rice.