Method
- Fillet fish (or have the fishmonger do it for you)
- Grind the meat finely in a food processor
- Put into a large bowl
- Wash candlenuts, cut off stalks of the dried chillies
- Soak in warm water till softened for about 30 minutes, remove then
drain
- Cut off the skin of the galangal and turmeric root and peel
shallots
- Trim lemon grass
- Cut all the spices into pieces
- Pound or grind the first 7 ingredients of the spice mix till fine
- Add the shallots last as a binding agent, then add the coriander
powder
- Squeeze the grated coconut for cream then strain to get the cream
- Alternative: use one packet of coconut powder, adding enough water
to
make 1 cup (Or 1 1/2 cups processed coconut milk)
- Heat wok, add oil, then add spice paste
- Stir fry 5 minutes till oil exudes and the mixture is fragrant
- Remove central vein of the double-leafed kaffir lime leaf and
slice
very finely
- Mix the spices with the minced fish meat, salt and sugar
- Add the kaffir lime leaves
- Grease an 8-inch cake tin and put the fish mixture in
- Smoothen the top with the back of a grease spoon
- Bake in a bain marie (loaf tin) in a pre-heated oven at 150-175
degree
C (300-350 degree F) for 20-25 minutes till skewer comes out clean
when it
is put into the centre of the fish cake
- Serve either hot or cold with plain white rice
Makes about 4 to 6 servings.