Chilli Eggplants with Basil

Name: Chilli Eggplants with Basil (Sambal Terong)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Malaysia
Ingredients: 2 small slender Asian eggplants (about 500 g/1 lb); Oil for deep-frying; ½ cup (10 g) Asian basil sprigs; ½ teaspoon sugar; 3 red chillies, deseeded and sliced; 1 teaspoon dried prawns, soaked in warm water to soften then drained; 5 shallots, peeled and halved; 4 cloves garlic, peeled and halved; 1 tablespoon fermented soybean paste (tau cheo); 1 tablespoon fermented soybean paste (tau cheo)

Sambal Terong

Preparation info

Serves
4

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
30 min

Appears in

The Food of Malaysia

By Wendy Hutton

Published 2022

About

This simple Nonya recipe using slender Asian eggplants includes fresh basil sprigs for added flavour.

Ingredients

2 small slender Asian eggplants (about 500 g/1 lb)
Oil for deep-frying

Asia
Malaysia
Fish course
Side dish
Pescatarian
Gluten-free

Method

Grind the Spice Paste ingredients to a paste in a mortar or blender and set aside in a small bowl.
Wash the eggplants but do not peel them. Halve the eggplants lengthwise, then halve them crosswise and pat dry.
Reserve 4 tablespoons of the oil and heat the rest of the oil in a wok. Deep-fry the eggplants in very hot oil for 3 minutes or until golden brow