Snake Beans with Chilli, Blachan and Dried Shrimp

Name: Snake Beans with Chilli, Blachan and Dried Shrimp
Cuisine: Australian
Ingredients: 40 g large dried shrimp, soaked in warm water; 40 g large dried shrimp, soaked in warm water; 2 shallots, crushed and finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, crushed and finely chopped; 7 ml light soy sauce; 350 g snake beans, washed and cut into 5 cm lengths; 20 g blachan (available in blocks from Asian grocers); 2 red chillies, chopped; 100 ml peanut oil, or corn oil; 100 ml peanut oil, or corn oil; 125 ml water; 7 g sugar

Preparation info

6
Serves

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

Cheong Liew

By David Sly and Cheong Liew

Published 2025

About

The mix of dried shrimp, chilli, shallots, garlic and blachan produces a great pungent combination, which can also be applied to peas, eggplant, okra or other beans.

Ingredients

40 g large dried shrimp, soaked in warm water
2 shallots, crushed and finely chopped
3

Oceania
Australia
Fish course
Side dish
Pescatarian

Method

Using a mortar and pestle, roughly pound the soaked dried shrimp, shallots, garlic and chilli into a paste. Moisten the blachan with a little water, then wrap it in foil and roast in a hot oven for a few minutes until crumbly. This releases its heady aroma.

Heat the oil in a wok until it starts to smoke. Add the snake beans and stir-fry for a minute, then remove and all