The Spice Trilogy (Part 2): Assam Fish Head

As promised, my second installment of "The Spice Trilogy" - Assam Fish Head

Some like it sweet, some like it sour, some like spicy, some like it redder...once again, the point is taste, taste taste and just feel free to go with the flow.

Here are the basics to get you started with. This dish comprise a "Rumpah" (Simply means a paste made of various spices used traditionally in either Malay or Peranakan cooking). The "Rumpah" varies slight between dishes but the main components are pretty standard...tonnes of shallot, a little garlic, chilli padi, dried chilli (For some coloring), belachan, candle nut..the other ingredients will vary depends on what you're cooking..

Ingredients:
- Red Snapper head
- 10-15 Shallots
- 3-5 cloves of garlic
- 1-2 large onions
- 5-8 candle nut
- A pinch of Belachan
- 3-4 slices of blue ginger
- Ladies fingers (About 5-7..please feel free to add more if you like)
- 2 Tomatoes (Quartered)
- 2 slices of pineapple (The pineapple is optional: It brings a little sweet sourish taste to the whole dish which is quite appetizing)
- 2 Stalks of lemon grass (You really only need to use the bud ie the fat ends near the roots but do cut away the ends). Cut them into half and smash it slightly.
- Assam (These come in packets. Use about 2inch x 2inch mixed in a large bowl of water. Once again, if you like it more sour, please feel free to add more assam)

Preparing the Rumpah (This is the MOST Important part!)
-Blend the shallots, garlic, chilli padi, dried chilli, Belachan, blue ginger and candle nut into a dark orangie paste. 

Cooking
1) Pour about a cup of oil into the frying pan and fry the Rumpah until you start choking (Ok I'm kidding! When you fry chilli, typically the fragrance can be a little overwhelming so do not have any clothes hanging in the kitchen) Seriously, when the shallots and mixture start to fry, it releases the wonderful flavors which are core to the dish.
2) Pour in the Assam water and lemon grass. Bring to boil
3) Add in the vegetables: Ladies fingers, tomatoes, onion and pineapples. Bring to boil.
4) I would assume that by now, you would have washed and cleaned the fish head. Yes, it is now time to throw in the fish head. Boil until it's cook..about 10mins depending on the size of the fish head.

VOILA! IT IS DONE! Easy right??!!! 

Savor! Enjoy and let me have your comments!

Appetizing, spicy and mmmm..just makes you wanna have more!