| Condiments are one of the important ingredients in | | | | easily found in any grocery stores. One would have to |
| most Asian food cooking. In Thailand, people uses fish | | | | slice a thin piece from the block to use. |
| sauce in their dish preparation. In the culinary world of | | | | The paste alone would not normally used in cooking |
| Malaysia and Singapore, they uses shrimp paste | | | | dishes, although sometimes the grounded saute paste |
| condiment in most of their dishes. In fact both countries | | | | is being used in the serving of fruit rojak, another |
| shared a similar history in the past (Singapore was part | | | | popular fruit salad delicacy in Malaysia and Singapore. |
| of Malaysia, until Singapore is separated from Malaysia | | | | Shrimp paste would have to be used together with |
| in the 1960s), hence culinary worlds from both countries | | | | blended chili paste that is made from the combination |
| are pretty much similar. One of the heritage food like | | | | of pounded chilies, dried shrimps and shallots. |
| Nyonya or Peranakan food are curiously a blend of | | | | Combining these ingredients together will give you a |
| Chinese and Malay cuisines. Nyonya (or Peranakan) | | | | superb spicy taste and aroma that probably could not |
| people are Chinese who have migrated to Malay | | | | be found anywhere around the world. Of course the |
| Archipelago like Malaysia and Singapore centuries ago, | | | | resulted chili shrimp paste would be called sambal |
| adopting the Malay culture into their day to day life, | | | | belacan in local Malay language. The paste would have |
| even in the way they cook their meals. | | | | to be saute under low heat with little oil for few |
| If you happened to walk around the streets in Malaysia | | | | minutes, and then you will have the paste ready to be |
| or Singapore, you will probably stumble upon many | | | | used. |
| food restaurants serving dishes that are made from | | | | Some of the popular dishes that are prepared with |
| shrimp paste condiment. In local language, the | | | | shrimp paste, are winged beans dish, mackerel fish |
| condiment is called belacan. The condiment is made of | | | | filled with spicy chili paste, stinky beans and many |
| salty thick shrimp paste that emit undesirable odor that | | | | more. Another popular fare that is eaten in the morning |
| you may found annoying when uncooked and the | | | | like nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk, served |
| odor will actually stick to your clothes if you are | | | | with fried anchovies and peanuts with cucumber |
| exposed to it when cooking. It is normally available in | | | | slices) is also typically served with the chili shrimp |
| the form a small solid rectangular block and can be | | | | paste. |