Balinese Whole Fish
Recipe by Justine
Serves 4 | 
Prep 20 min | 
Cook 30 min
Ingredients
- 2 whole baby barramundi or snapper (300g-400g each), scaled, cleaned, scored on both sides
- ⅓ cup AYAM™ Coconut Oil
- 6 purple shallots, finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 5cm piece ginger, finely chopped
- 5 kaffir lime leaves, very finely sliced
- 10 curry leaves
- 3 lemongrass stalks, white part only, finely chopped
- 4 long red chillies, deseeded, thinly sliced
- 2 red birdseye chillies*, finely chopped
- ½ cup coconut flakes, toasted, for garnish
- 1 tsp shrimp paste
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp AYAM™ Fish Sauce
- Juice of 1 lime
- 400ml AYAM™ can Coconut Milk
Serve:
- Thinly sliced green onions
- Thinly sliced coriander sprigs
- Thinly sliced toasted coconut flakes
- Thinly sliced lime wedges
* Adjust heat level by using less or more chillies – deseeding chillies will reduce heat level. Serve with pickled or fresh cucumbers to counteract heat. You made need to increase the amount of sambal depending on the size of the fish. You may need to adjust taste of sambal with a little extra fish sauce, sugar or lime juice to your taste.
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- In a large non-stick frying pan, heat the coconut oil over high heat. Add shallot, garlic, ginger, kaffir lime leaves, curry leaves, lemongrass, chillies and shrimp paste, stirring constantly. Cook for three to four minutes or until mixture is fragrant, then stir in sugar, fish sauce and lime juice. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Reserve 1/4 of the sambal in a small saucepan and divide the remaining sambal between the cavities of the fish. Secure the fish cavities with toothpicks.
- Line two large baking trays with baking paper. Heat remaining oil in a large non-stick frypan over high heat. Add the fish, one at a time, cooking for about two minutes per side until skin is golden and crisp.
- Place fish on prepared baking trays, and transfer to oven for 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, heat remaining sambal over medium heat, then stir in coconut milk and gently heat through. Strain sauce through a fine sieve into a jug.
- Place fish on serving plates, drizzle with sauce and serve topped with green onions, coriander, toasted coconut and lime wedges, if desired.
