Prawns in Sweet Grated
Coconut Sauce

During the busy days of cultivating the land in the rice fields, farmers usually make some time to put bubu traps in the nearby rivers or creeks. By grilling grated coconut, they insert it on the tip of the bubu as bait or they put bronjong (bait and all in one bubu) in the drain between the rice fields. This kind of bubu will hold whatever the rush of water brings, including rubbish. The most desired item is of course the river prawn and one of their favorite recipes is palem udang or prawns with sweet grated coconut sauce.

Ingredients:

20 raw headless prawns
2 tbsp cooking oil
3 shallots
2 cloves garlic
2 small red chillies, de-seeded
3g kencur
3g turmeric
3g greater galangal
1 lemongrass,
1 lemon leaf
100 ml water
50g brown sugar
100g young grated coconut
1 tsp salt

Method:

1. Finely chop all spices on a stone mortar.
2. Stir-fry the spices until aromatic.
3. Add water and pour in the grated coconut.After five minutes add the prawns
4. Mix the prawns and spices well.
5. Add lemongrass and lemon leaf.
6. Wait until the water is absorbed.
7. Serve.
   Punia