Tongkol Cabe Ijo: Mackerel Tuna with Green Chillies

Method10 steps · about 1 hr

1. 1

   Step 1: Prepare cleaned fish, cut into 3 or 4 pieces depending on size, and pat dry. Season with a little salt (to taste) and the juice of half a lemon.

   Uses 500 g tongkol (mackerel tuna) · ½ lemon, juiced · Salt to taste

2. 2

   Step 2: Thinly slice: shallots (8), garlic (4 cloves), chillies, green tomatoes (2), ginger (2 cm) and galangal (2 cm). Set aside.

   Uses 8 shallots, peeled · 4 cloves garlic, peeled · 4 big green chillies · 5 small green chillies · 2 small green tomatoes · 2 cm ginger, peeled · 2 cm galangal

3. 3

   Step 3: Deep-fry the fish until golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side; it should reach 63°C (145°F) or be opaque and flake readily. Turn as needed and use the timer for each side, then set aside.

   Fry fish: each side · 4 minUses salt-lemon seasoned tongkol pieces · Cooking oil for deep-frying fish (quantity unspecified)

4. 4

   Step 4: Heat 2 tbsp oil in wok over medium heat, and sauté the shallots and garlic for around 2 minutes until fragrant.

   Sauté shallots and garlic · 2 minUses 2 tbsp cooking oil for sautéing · sliced shallots and garlic

5. 5

   Step 5: Add the green chillies, galangal, ginger and salam leaves (2), and fry for another 3 minutes.

   Fry green-chilli aromatics · 3 minUses fried shallots and garlic · sliced green chillies, ginger and galangal · 2 salam leaves (Indonesian bay leaves)

6. 6

   Step 6: Add water (0.5 cup), salt (to taste) and sweet soy sauce (1 tbsp).

   Uses fried green-chilli aromatic base · 0.5 cup water · Salt to taste · 1 tbsp sweet soy sauce

7. 7

   Step 7: Add the fish, mix it with other ingredients.

   Uses seasoned green-chilli sauce · golden cooked tongkol

8. 8

   Step 8: Cook for another 10 minutes.

   Simmer Fish · 10 minUses cooked fish in green-chilli sauce

9. 9

   Step 9: Add the green tomatoes, cook for 1 minute.

   Finish green tomatoes · 1 minUses simmered tongkol in green-chilli sauce · sliced green tomatoes

10. 10

    Step 10: Turn off the heat and transfer the dish to a serving plate.

    Uses finished tongkol with green chillies and tomatoes