Recipe : Famous Tumis Paku (Fern stir-fry)

    In West Kalimantan, Tumis Paku or fern stir fry is a necessity on any dining table. The fern is crunchy with a compellingly balanced interplay among shrimp paste, dried shrimp and garlic. Fern stir fry is also a favourite dish in Chinese restaurants, served the Cantonese way. crunchy but not too spicy.  The best fern must be fresh, smaller, shorter and has more steams than leaves. Now lets we make the Fern Stir- Fry!

Main Ingredient:

1. 1 handful fern ( 150 grams).
2. 1 tomato.
3. 1 tablespoon dried shrimp.

Spice Paste :

1. 4 red chilies.
2. 2 green chilies.
3. Shrimp paste, Salt to taste.

How To Make :

1. Wash the fern and cut into shorter lengths.
2. In a food processor or using mortal and pestle grind the chilies, shrimp paste and salt to a smooth paste. If desired, you can also add tomato and dried shrimp to make the paste. Another option would be to roughly chop the tomato and dried shrimp and sautee along with the spices paste.
3. Heat one tablespoon of cooking oil in a wok and sautee the spice paste until fragnant. If using chopped tomato and dried shrimp, toss it in now.
4. Add the fern, cook for around 5 minutes. Add a little water if needed.
5. Traditionally, this fern stir fry is always served plain. However, feel free to add quail eggs, shrimp, chicken or beef.

Enjoy your Fern stir - fry !

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