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Posted on 12th Jul 2025

Tamarind Prawns with Sambal Belacan (Udang Goreng Asam)

Experience the perfect balance of tangy, earthy, and smoky flavours in these prawns, paired with a fiery sambal belacan sauce.

Cuisine

Time

30 mins mins

Servings

3 people people

recipe

Ingredients

  • 500g large whole tiger prawns, shell-on & heads-on
  • 500ml vegetable oil 
  • 1 spring onion, sliced 

Marinade 

  • About 50g tamarind pulp (block)
  • 100ml water
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine 
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp dark soy sauce
  • ½ tsp ground white pepper

For the sambal belacan:

  • 8 – 10 large red chillies, chopped
  • 1 lime, juiced 
  • 1 – 2 tsp belacan paste, dry-toasted 

Method

Use a pair of scissors and cut down the length of the shell of the prawns. Remove the digestive tract and set aside. 

Mix tamarind pulp with water in a small bowl.

Marinate the prawns by mixing prawns with the tamarind pulp mixture, rice wine, fish sauce, soy sauces, sugar and white pepper. Set aside for 10 mins. 

In the meantime, make the sambal belacan – put ingredients into a food processor or blender and blitz until smooth. Set aside.

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