Otak Otak

The basis of the dish is that it is some form of seafood with coconutmilk and spices made into a paste, wrapped in banana leaf and grilled.

Ingredients:-
600 gms fish

600 gms crab meat

Half a cup thick coconut milk

One smallish red onion

Two cloves garlic

2 teaspoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon shrimp paste

Half a teaspoon sugar

Spices: fresh red chilly to taste, turmeric, galangal (thai ginger),lemon grass, lime peel, coriander seeds.
Fresh banana leaf about the length and width of a videocassette.

Preparation:-

Take all the ingredients and mix-to-death in a blender, or pound to a paste in a mortar and pestle. Spread two rounded teaspoons full of the paste lengthwise in the centre one-third of a piece of banana leaf, leaving a space all around. Foldthe sides over. Encase this again in another leaf folded similarly (a singly-wrapped one will burn and insides will stick to the outsides).

Staple the ends or attach with toothpicks. Barbeque over coals for about ten minutes. The outside layer can blacken in parts, it only adds to flavour and presentation.