Be Cotek: Tasty Hot-Sweet Pony Fish

Cotek or pony fish denotes a bijou and inexpensive marine fish in Bali. Two main characteristics of this fish are the oblong body and large eyes. Nevertheless, it remains to offer delicious taste, moreover, if it is deepfried and served with hot-sweet sauce. But, please be careful of its small bones. In the past, this fish was often used to pay the services of pengujur or people helping fishermen in dragging their traditional boat to and from the sea. Today, this fish can be purchased at traditional and super market.

Ingredient: 400g pony fish or Cotek (finely cleanse and take out its intestines) Spices: 4 cloves shallot, 2 cloves garlic, 1 candlenut, 2 large chilies, 2 small chilies, 1 tbsp palm sugar and 1 pc medium-sized red tomato

Others: 1 cup palm oil, ½ tsp salt and 1 pc lime

Method:

· Smear the cleansed fish by the lime juice and salt. Take a side for 15 minutes.

· Fry the fish until crispy and take out.

· Grind all spices and stir-fry until smelling fragrant. Add slices of palm sugar, salt and keep on stirring until running dry.

· Put the fish on a plate and sprinkle with the hotsweet sauces. Now, it’s ready to serve. (BTN/punia)