Asian Salad Recipes - Malaysian Banana Flower and Dried Shrimp Sambal Salad (Jantung Pisang Kerabu) Recipe

Ingredients 

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil

• 1 tablespoon tamarind water1 tablespoon sugar

• salt

• 2 tablespoons grated coconut

• 1 banana flower lime juice, freshly squeezed

For the sambal dressing:

• 1 tablespoon dried shrimp

• 2 large dried chilies, soaked in warm water for 10 minutes

• 1 young lemon grass stalk, any hard outer layer discarded and thinly sliced

• 4 small shallots

• 2 large garlic cloves

Serves 4

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Method

1. Make the sambal dressing: in a mortar, pound the dried shrimp, chilies, lemon grass, shallots and garlic to a paste and set aside.

2. In a wok or frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil and add the reserved sambal paste, stirring constantly.

3. Add the tamarind water, sugar and salt to taste, stirring until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Transfer to a small bowl.

4. Heat the remaining oil, turn the heat to low, add the coconut and brown it. When crisp, remove and set aside.

5. Place the banana flower, sambal sauce and fried coconut in a bowl. Add lime juice to taste, mix well and serve.

Note: This can be served on its own or, as the flavor is quite strong, with an undressed lettuce salad; prefered the extra leaves. If you can't find a banana flower, use endive (chicory) which should not be boiled as it is sufficiently tender.