Nyonya Fried Rice

4 tbsp  vegetable oil

3 to 4 dried chillies, seeded and soaked in boiling water

3 cloves garlic(small), chopped

3 to 4  rose shallots, chopped

1 ½ tbsp of dried shrimp, soaked in boiling water

5  fresh prawns, peeled deveined

1 small bowl of cooked rice,

1 tbsp  light soy( if salty ,taste before adding more)

Salt and sugar to taste

A dash of  white pepper

1 egg, beaten lightly

A few pieces of cucumber ,seeds sliced off and discarded (for maximum crunch) and then sliced diagonally - about 2 to 3 mm (as per required)

Pound the chilli, garlic and shallots to a paste in a mortar and pestle. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, you can chop it finely .

Heat the wok.Use a wok which has a wider bottom .Leave the wok on the heat until smoke emerge.Then add in about 4 tbsp of oil.Heat the vegetable oil in the wok till hot and add the paste and sauté till it is rich and aromatic. (If finely chopping the aromatics, add the garlic first to the wok, and cook briefly, then the shallots and chilli and stir fry till aromatic.)

Pound drained dried shrimp in mortar and pestle till shredded, Add to the wok and stir fry till fragrant. Add prawns and stir fry till just cooked. Immediately add rice, soy, salt, sugar and white pepper.

If using soy sauce which is salty ,taste before adding as the dried prawns also gives a salty taste to the dish.Soaking the dried prawns helps in reducing the saltiness. I have added 1 tsp more then the amount given.

Cook till rice has separated, and tender.

Make a well in the middle of the wok pushing rice to the sides. Make sure there is enough oil to fry the beaten egg.If not add in 1 tsp .Tip in the egg and let it sit for a while so the bottom has a while to caramelise.Then break it slightly into smaller bites before combining it into the rice..

You can add the cucumber and give it all a final toss so everything is incorporated or serve the cucumber by the side.

Note: You can also serve it with some fish crackers/keropok  as well.The above recipe is actually a common recipe in many household.It is also  common to replace the dried prawns with shrimp paste(belacan).If using shrimp paste ,pound it  together with the dried chillies.