Pesmol Ikan Gurami: Deep-Fried Gourami Fish in Spicy Sauce

Method12 steps · about 1 hr 15 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Clean the fish and rub it with some salt and juice from the lemon (1). Keep chilled while preparing the spice paste.

   Uses 1 medium gourami (around 500 g) · 1 small lemon · Some salt for fish rub

2. 2

   Step 2: Blend into a fine paste: shallots (8), garlic (4 cloves), turmeric (3 cm), ginger (2 cm) and candlenuts (2).

   Uses 8 shallots, peeled, chopped · 4 cloves garlic, peeled, chopped · 3 cm fresh turmeric, peeled, chopped · 2 cm fresh ginger, peeled, chopped · 2 candlenuts, chopped

3. 3

   Step 3: Heat enough oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the fish until golden and cooked through, around 10 minutes each side, 20 minutes total, turning carefully. Check the thickest fish reaches 63°C (145°F), or is opaque and flakes easily.

   Fry both sides of gourami · 20 minUses salt-lemon seasoned gourami · Cooking oil as needed for deep frying fish, discarded afterwards

4. 4

   Step 4: Discard the oil used for frying.

   Uses used fish-frying oil to discard

5. 5

   Step 5: In a clean wok, heat 3 tbsp oil over medium high heat, and sauté the spice paste until fragrant, around 3 minutes.

   Fry gourami sauce paste · 3 minUses 3 tbsp fresh cooking oil for sauce sauté · gourami sauce spice paste

6. 6

   Step 6: Add galangal (2 cm), lemongrass (1) and the bay leaf.

   Uses fried gourami sauce paste · 2 cm galangal, bruised · 1 lemongrass, use only the white part, bruised, knotted · 1 Indonesian bay leaf (daun salam)

7. 7

   Step 7: Add the water (150 ml).

   Uses fried gourami sauce aromatics · 150 ml water

8. 8

   Step 8: Season the sauce with salt to taste (to taste), the half teaspoon chicken stock powder and the sugar (0.5 tsp).

   Uses gourami sauce with water · Salt to taste in sauce · 0.5 tsp chicken stock powder · 0.5 tsp sugar

9. 9

   Step 9: Add the fresh chillies.

   Uses seasoned gourami sauce · 10 fresh bird’s eye chillies

10. 10

    Step 10: Add the fish. Baste the fish with the spice mixture.

    Uses seasoned sauce and chillies · deep-fried gourami

11. 11

    Step 11: Continue cooking until the sauce is reduced and thickened.

    Reduce gourami basting sauceUses fried gourami basted in sauce

12. 12

    Step 12: Transfer the fish to a serving plate and serve immediately.

    Uses gourami in reduced basting sauce