Kerabu Timun (Malaysian Cucumber Salad)
Kerabu timun recipe, a fresh and delicious Malaysian cucumber salad that is ready in minutes. It can be mild or spicy, that's up to you.
Equipment
- small bowl
- knife
- chopping board
- chopper (or pestle and mortar)
- colander
- large bowl
- salad spoon and fork
Ingredients
- 1 heaped Tbsp dried shrimp about 10 g/⅓ oz
- 1 large cucumber about 500 g/1.1 lb
- 1 Tbsp salt for the cucumber
- 2 shallots or 1 small red onion about 50 g/ 1.8 oz pre peeled weight
- 2 birds eye chillies for added heat totally optional
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch white sugar optional
- 1 Tbsp fresh lime juice whatever lime you have
- 2 Tbsp sambal belacan (click for recipe) and more to serve
Instructions
Soak the dried shrimp
- Soak the dried shrimp in freshly boiled water while you get the other ingredients going.1 heaped Tbsp dried shrimp
Other Prep Work
- Peel the cucumber, halve then halve again, lengthwise. See image.1 large cucumber
- Slice the cucumber quarters on the diagonal and place in a colander. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp of salt and leave while you move on to the next steps.This salting is to draw out any bitterness in the cucumber, depending on the variety you're using. The older your cucumber, the more pronounced that bitterness can be.The added advantage of salting the cucumbers is that they take on a bot of the saltiness and also soften slightly.1 Tbsp salt
- Peel, halve and slice the shallots thinly. Separate the layers as much as you can, but no need to be too fastidious about this.2 shallots or 1 small red onion
- If you are adding fresh chillies, chop them up finely. I left them whole, as you can see in the images.2 birds eye chillies for added heat
Drain and Chop/Pound the Shrimp
- Drain the dried shrimp and place in a mortar or imagine you're in the 21st century and tip into a chopper.
- Pound the dried shrimp to a semi fine state or until you get tired! If using a chopper, pulse the shrimp a few times until you get a floss like mix, with the odd lump of shrimp.
Toss the Salad
- Rinse the cucumber slices well under running water and give them a good shake to remove excess water. Tip into a large bowl.
- Follow the cucumber with the shallots, chillies, dried shrimp, salt and sugar.1 pinch salt, 1 pinch white sugar
- Add 2 Tbsp of sambal belacan, or more, if you like.2 Tbsp sambal belacan (click for recipe)
- And finally, drizzle the lime juice all over.1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
- Toss your salad and taste a cucumber. Add more salt if you want. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 33kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 12mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 81IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 1mg
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