Balachan is a pungent, dark, salty paste of shrimps or prawns which are salted, fermented in the sun and subsequently mashed and then dried in the sun. It is then sold in small blocks and is ubiquitous in the cooking of south east Asia. Local names throughout south east Asia and India have small variations in spelling, so it may be found masquerading as balacan, balachan, balachon, balachaun, balachaung, belacan, blacan, blachan, blachon, blachaun, blachaung, blakhan, and so on. On the other hand, it is also known independently as kapi, nga-pi, terasi and trasi. There are many other names for this extremely popular condiment, which lends a much more attractive flavour to dishes than would be imagined.
Balachan is a pungent, dark, salty paste of shrimps or prawns which are salted, fermented in the sun and subsequently mashed and then dried in the sun. It is then sold in small blocks and is ubiquitous in the cooking of south east Asia. Local names throughout south east Asia and India have small variations in spelling, so it may be found masquerading as balacan, balachan, balachon, balachaun, balachaung, belacan, blacan, blachan, blachon, blachaun, blachaung, blakhan, and so on. On the other hand, it is also known independently as kapi, nga-pi, terasi and trasi. There are many other names for this extremely popular condiment, which lends a much more attractive flavour to dishes than would be imagined.
Belimbing. A relative of the carambola native to South East Asia, this is a light green, acidic fruit with a smooth yellow-green or slightly rough green skin and juicy, sour flesh. It is added to soups and stews or curries, to which it gives a sour flavour, or made into sweet and savoury preserves, chutneys and pickles. It is sometimes known as the cucumber tree because of the shape of its fruit.
Chinese noodles served with shredded leeks, chopped celery, various vegetables, minced garlic, bok choy and bean sprouts, pork, shrimps or prawns and soy sauce. Like many Indonesian dishes, this is a favourite in the Netherlands. They can also just mean wheat flour noodles.
Fried noodles, vegetables, diced pork and shrimps served with a fried egg. It really just indicates a fried noodle dish, in the same way that nasi goreng indicates fried rice dish.
