Terasi, a strongly scented shrimp paste made from fermented and sun-dried ground raw prawns, is used in many Southeast Asian dishes, including sambal and fried rice. It requires cooking before use and is sold in various forms and sizes. It may be known as belachan, Mm Shrimp, Mm Tép, Mm Ruc, or kapi in different regions.
In Southeast Asia, a type of shrimp paste known as terasi is used in many savory dishes. The strongly scented sauce is created from ground raw prawns. The shrimp is fermented and sun-dried, before being cut into single-use blocks.
The shape of freshly made terasi is usually that of a small square cake. When sold commercially or in preparation, however, it can exist in crumb or ground powder form. Its color can range from rich mahogany to a lighter shade of brown. The flavor of the pasta is generally very salty and pungent, just like many other fish flavors.
A Malaysian-Indonesian hot sauce, terasi is used in several signature dishes. Spicy fruit salad called fruit rujak includes dried prawn paste. Fry recipes often call for the ingredient as well. Shrimp crackers and terasis are a popular snack or appetizer in some areas. A South Asian chili-based condiment known as sambal includes terasi.
To prepare sambal terasi, one can saute sliced red chillies, chopped tomatoes, peeled shallots, garlic cloves and tarasi in a small amount of oil. After a few minutes, the mixture must be removed from the heat and poured into a mortar or bowl. A small amount of sugar, lime juice and salt is added before grinding all the ingredients together. The mixture can be refrigerated for up to a week.
Fried rice can be made with this fish paste. One can mix the sauce with other traditional ingredients, such as garlic, shallots or other flavoring agents. It can then be sauteed with any desired meat or vegetable inside a wok.
An important distinction between this ingredient and other types of sauces is that Terasi requires cooking during or before use. On its own, the powder or patty is considered raw. Most cooks prefer to roast or fry pasta before use or while preparing the main dish itself.
Terasi is generally inexpensive to buy ready-made. It can be found in Asian specialty stores and online. It is typically packaged in a glass or plastic jar and comes in sizes from 7.5 to 16 ounces (213 to 454 grams).
When researching this pasta, it’s important to remember that it may be known as something else, depending on where it was made. In Singapore, the sauce is known as belachan or belacan. In Vietnam, it is called Mm Shrimp, Mm Tép, or Mm Ruc, depending on the type of shrimp used. In Laos, it is known as kapi.
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