Udang Masak Asam Pedas Sarawak

This dish has a similarity to the Peninsular Malaysia version of cooking Asam Pedas, with a difference that the sourish taste is produced by the Terung Dayak or Terung Asam, minus the fresh herbs such as daun kesum or daun kantan. This is a good example of how Terung Dayak usage has become versatile given its unique and mild sourish flavor.

Ingredient
250gm prawn, or any type of fish
1 Terung Asam (terung dayak or terung iban)
1 Shallot
2 cloves garlic
6 dried chilies or cili boh
2-3 bird eyes chillies
1 stalk lemongrass (pound)

2tbs cooking oil
3 cups of Water
Salt
MSG/sugar

Method
1. Pound or blend shallot, garlic, chillies
2. Sauté the above until fragrant
3. Add water, terung asam and lemongrass.
4. Once terung asam turns translucent, add in prawn. Cooked for another 3 minutes.
5. Season with salt, MSG/sugar

Buah Dabai & Nasi Goreng Dabai

Dabai Fruit & Dabai Fried Rice

Buah dabai, with its scientific name as Canarium odontophyllum, is very unique to Sarawak. A very good information for buah Dabai can be found at this site.

Many of my friends and ex-colleagues from Peninsular Malaysia, including Sabah were curious about this seasonal fruit and asked me how it tasted, but it was something that is very difficult to describe and has to be experienced personally. It does not have distinct smell, however it relies on the taste of the flesh which is creamy and soft in texture. One will either love it, or won't get it as it is actually an acquired taste. It took me almost 3 seasons (3 years) to actually get the idea of what dabai is about. And when I finally got it, I was madly in love with it.

Buah Dabai

Not just the flesh can be consumed, but the seed inside the kernel can also be eaten. However, as it may be a bit troublesome to crack the tough kernel, normally it is just discarded.

Simple Preparation for Buah Dabai 

Method: 
1. Soak with hot water for 10-15mins*see revisit note below
2. Drain.
3. Add soy sauce and salt to taste. Optional sugar
4. Eaten by itself or with white rice.

*If the flesh turn purplish, the dabai is overcooked.

Dabai Fried Rice

Nasi Goreng Dabai

This is my own version of Dabai Fried rice. You can cook it the way you like it as long as the dabai is pre-soaked in hot water and deseeded.

Ingredient:
1. Buah Dabai - soaked in hot water for 10-15 mins. Drain, pit the flesh and add salt.
2. 2 cloves garlic
3. 2 nos. shallot
4. Bird's eye chili
5. Salt for seasoning
6. Cool or overnight rice
7. Cooking oil

Optional
1. Oyster sauce
2. Fish sauce in replacement of salt

Method:
1. Saute garlic and shallot until fragrant.
2. Add in dabai and chilli. Stir.
3. Add in rice. Mix well.
4. Season with salt and/or oyster sauce.
5. Serve hot.

*Revisit : A better way to prep buah dabai is to add half of room-temperature water, then half with boiling water. Pls ensure water is covering the whole dabai. When dabai is soft, it's ready to be consumed. Prepare this way will ensure dabai will cooked away slowly and the creaminess is preserved.