Recipe : Famous Balinese Lawar Kenus

    Lawar is Balinese culinary creation that mixes raw vegetables and spiced grated coconut.  Sundanese cuisine recognize a similiar vegetarian dish known as karedok with peanuts sauce on the top.  Lawar kenus is made with kenus ( squid ink). To make the coloured black dish, the squid ink is added to the mixture of boiled squid, vegetables and spices. But lawar also can be made with chicken/ duck/ pork. So now lets make your own Lawar Kenus dish!

Main Ingredient :

1. 300 gr squid ( squeeze out the ink, boil the squid)
2. 1 handful long beans ( can be substituted with fern or young jackfruit)
3. 50 gr fried shallots
4. 1/2 coconut ( not too ripe, grated)

Spice Paste :

1.   3 red chillies ( remove the seeds)
2.   6 shallots
3. 2 garlic cloves
4. 1 little finger sized piece galangal
5. 1 little finger sized piece ginger
6. 1 little finger sized piece sand ginger
7. 1/2 tsp coriander powder
8. 1/2 tsp white pepper powder
9. Shrimp paste to taste

How To Make :

1. In a food processor or using mortal and pestle grind all the spices to a smooth paste. Heat a little cooking oil in a pan, sautee the spice paste.  Add squid ink and grated coconut. Remove and set aside.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Drop the squid into the water. Boil until the squids turn opaque, usually within less than two minutes.
3. Remove and drain. Cut into small slices.
4. Thinly slices long beans or fern and clean. Mix the vegetables with the squid and spiced grated coconut.
5. Place on a serving plate.  Garnish with fried shallots to create a crunchy texture. Squezee a little lime over the dish.

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