Balinese Thousand Spice Sauce Recipes

BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, warm oil over medium heat and saute bacon, onion and garlic until bacon is browned and crisp; set aside.
• In large saucepan, brown beef and pork. Drain off excess fat. Stir in bacon mixture, mushrooms, carrots, celery, tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, stock, basil, oregano, salt and pepper to saucepan. Cover, reduce heat and simmer one hour, stirring occasionally.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Serve sauce over hot pasta.

BALINESE THOUSAND-SPICE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, over medium heat, heat the oil. Add all the ingredients except the sweet soy sauce and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan frequently, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes more.
• Transfer the mixture to a blender. Add 3/4cup water and process until smooth. Return the puree to the skillet, place over medium heat and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the soy sauce, lower the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. If the mixture seems too thick, stir in a few tablespoons cold water.
• Strain the mixture in a sieve over a large bowl. Use in the spiced lobster sate (see recipe).

BASA GEDE (BALINESE SPICE PASTE)

Steps:

• Grind the peppercorns, nutmeg, nuts and sesame seeds to a fine powder in a spice grinder. Put the mixture in a food processor, add the remaining ingredients with 1 /2 tsp salt and blend to a very smooth paste. Will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.

BALINESE CHICKEN SATAY

Steps:

• Thinly slice then finely chop the shallots, garlic and ginger. Now finely chop the chilli, including the seeds. This amount of chilli gives a spicy but not too fiery kick to the chicken satay, but discard the seeds if you don't like the heat.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger and chillies and fry for 1-2 minutes just to soften. Pour in a couple of tablespoons of water to soften, then stir in the spices (and freeze-dried lime leaves, if using) and fry for a minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat, let the mixture cool down, then blend to a paste with a pestle and mortar, using an up-and-down motion with the pestle. It will take several minutes to make a soft paste.
• Mix the spice paste, the coconut and, if using, the shredded fresh lime leaves with the minced chicken. Season with salt.
• Break off pieces of the mixture the size of a large walnut. For each, flatten into a round and lay a lemongrass stalk or wooden skewer in the centre. Mould around the bulbous end of the stalk (or skewer), working it so it goes about 8cm up it.
• Rough up the surface a little with your fingers so that the meat is not completely smooth and has some texture, then set aside while you shape the rest of the skewers. Brush each skewer with extra oil.
• Cook the skewers on a preheated BBQ, griddle pan or grill for 8-10 minutes, turning several times. Serve on banana leaves.