Ikan Terubuk Bakar

I have said this before, and I will say it again: there are few things in life greater than simply grilled fish. The flesh is sweet, though riddled with tiny pin bones. Utterly divine eaten on its own, or with sambal bawang, air asam or sambal kicap.

Ingredients
1 whole ikan terubuk, gutted, cleaned, but do not scale!
Oil
Salt 


Sambal Bawang:
2 large red chillies
6 bird’s eye chillies, more if you want it hotter
1 inch piece of belacan
2 small shallots
2 limes (limau kasturi)

Method
Rub oil all over the fish. Sprinkle salt evenly on both sides of the fish. 


Place the fish gently into a dry medium-hot wok. Cover with foil and let it fry gently for about 10 minutes. 


After 10 minutes, remove the foil and turn the fish over. Be careful not to let the skin stick to the wok; if it is, scrape gently so it comes off in one piece. 


Cover the fish again and let fry for another 10 minutes. 


The fish is cooked when a metal skewer inserted into the flesh behind its head (the thickest part) comes out warm. If it is hot, it is overcooked. If it is cold, fry a little longer in 1 minute increments.


Pound the chillies, belacan and shallots together until fine. Squeeze the juice from the limes into it and mix well.