Crispy Ikan Bilis

By Azlina Zainal Ariffin

Ingredients

• 3 cups of ikan bilis (soaked in cold water for 15mins and drained to remove excess salt. Refrigerate for an hour or so.)
• 5 garlic cloves (washed and crushed with the skin)
• 2 big onions (finely sliced)
• 5 chopped chilli padi (bird's eye chilli. Add more if you like it more spicy)
• 1 tbsp tamarind paste or 2 tbsp of lemon juice
• Oil for frying
• Dried shallots for seasoning
• Sugar to taste

Method

Deep fry the ikan bilis until brown and crispy.
In another pan, use the same oil to fry the onions until slightly brown.
Add in garlic.
Then, add the tamarind juice or lemon juice.
Add the chilli padi.
Lower the heat and stir fry all the ingredients until the mixture becomes quite dry and light in texture.
Finally, add the fried ikan bilis and mix well. Then add the dried shallots and mix thoroughly.
Remove from the wok and serve.