D'Open Kitchen

COOKING FOR THE SOUL

Ikan Pepes

Recipe by

This is our version of Ikan Pepes - straight oven roasting! But you can do it the old way too. Whole fish, or fillets marinated in awesome chilli based paste, packed with flavour and smoke!

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 20

Marinate Time 2

Course Main Course

Cuisine Malay

Servings people

Calories 437 kcal

Equipment

Oven
Blender
Toothpick

Ingredients

Rempah

10 pieces Shallot
3 cloves Garlic
6 pieces Candlenut
1 cm Turmeric peeled
2 cm Galangal peeled
6 pieces Red Chilli
2 tsp Belacan
1 tsp Tamarind

Others

600 grams Fish Fillets
4 pieces Kaffir Lime Leaves
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp White Pepper
4 pieces Banana Leaves
4 qty Calamansi Limes
8 tbsp Oil

Instructions

Add all the rempah ingredients together into a blender and blend (with a little water - if required) until you get a thick smooth paste.
Heat up yor wok or fry pan over a medium heat and fry your rempah (with some oil) - and fry until the paste is fragrant. Mix in your salt, sugar and set aside to cool down.
Prepare your fish. If fillets, score and debone. and spread the rempah and coat evenly, add kaffir lime leaves.
Put aside the marinated fish in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes or 2 hours to maximise the flavours.
Using a pot of water, soften banana leaves and wrap your fish inside.
Secure it with toothpicks or trussing strings.
Bake at preheated oven at 200 deg C for about 15-20 minutes or until cooked.
Served with some calamansi limes.

Notes

Pestle and Mortar - Use a pestle and mortar for your rempah paste if you can. The flavours are generally more intense because you don't need any water. Ingredients are 'bruised' instead of grinded yielding a superior aroma.
Fish types - You could use any type of fish for this recipe, however, meaty fishes like 'kembong' is generally better to absorb the sauces.
Rempah 'Readiness' - Most will ask when is the rempah ready? The term 'till fragrant' refers to aroma, if the chilli and spices perfumate the entire kitchen and also if the oil in the pan is staining red.
Softening of banana leaves - You can soften it while blanching it some hot water, or you can steam the leaves for roughly 15 minutes and use while its warm.
Toothpicks? - The easiest cheat that I can share is use your good ole trusty paper staplers. Its way easier!
Bake, grilling, bbq? - The 'nicest' way to do this is actually by steaming the fish for 10 minutes, then putting is over a charcoal bbq for another 10 until the banana leaf is all blistery. But not everyone has a bbq at home yeah?

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcal

Keyword hawker, seafood

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I was a runner up in Singapore's Masterchef Competition Season 2. Cooking has been a passion of mine since I was young. I would always follow my grandma to the wet markets to buy groceries and watch her whip up amazing dishes. Always inspired by my grandma, I look to continue her journey in the culinary world.