Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung

印尼龍目島辣醬通菜 Plecing Kangkung

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — finished dish

Total time: 25 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Water spinach is briefly blanched until crisp-tender and topped with a vivid sambal of charred tomato, chilli, shrimp paste and lime.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

500 g water spinach
150 g tomato
1 piece lime
1 piece banana leaf

Main seasoning

3 pieces red chilli
1 tsp shrimp paste
1 tsp salt

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — ingredients

02

Tools

cutting board
knife
dry skillet
mortar
stockpot
ice-water bowl
tongs

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — tools

03

Steps

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Remove tough water-spinach stems and separate tender stems from leaves

Step 1

Remove tough water-spinach stems and separate tender stems from leaves

Remove tough water-spinach stems and separate tender stems from leaves.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Wash water spinach twice, soak briefly and drain well

Step 2

Wash water spinach twice, soak briefly and drain well

Wash water spinach twice, soak briefly and drain well.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Char tomato and chillies in a dry pan until blistered and soft

Step 3

Char tomato and chillies in a dry pan until blistered and soft

Char tomato and chillies in a dry pan until blistered and soft.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Wrap shrimp paste in banana leaf and toast until aromatic

Step 4

Wrap shrimp paste in banana leaf and toast until aromatic

Wrap shrimp paste in banana leaf and toast until aromatic.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Pound chillies, shrimp paste and salt to a fine paste

Step 5

Pound chillies, shrimp paste and salt to a fine paste

Pound chillies, shrimp paste and salt to a fine paste.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Pound in charred tomato, leaving a little texture

Step 6

Pound in charred tomato, leaving a little texture

Pound in charred tomato, leaving a little texture.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Mix in lime juice, keeping the sambal thick without water

Step 7

Mix in lime juice, keeping the sambal thick without water

Mix in lime juice, keeping the sambal thick without water.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Bring a large pot to a hard boil and blanch tender stems twenty seconds

Step 8

Bring a large pot to a hard boil and blanch tender stems twenty seconds

Bring a large pot to a hard boil and blanch tender stems twenty seconds.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Add leaves for twenty to thirty seconds and lift once vivid green

Step 9

Add leaves for twenty to thirty seconds and lift once vivid green

Add leaves for twenty to thirty seconds and lift once vivid green.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Chill immediately in ice water to stop carry-over cooking

Step 10

Chill immediately in ice water to stop carry-over cooking

Chill immediately in ice water to stop carry-over cooking.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Gently squeeze water out and arrange without crushing

Step 11

Gently squeeze water out and arrange without crushing

Gently squeeze water out and arrange without crushing.

Indonesian Plecing Kangkung — Spoon thick sambal over the greens and toss only before eating

Step 12

Spoon thick sambal over the greens and toss only before eating

Spoon thick sambal over the greens and toss only before eating.

Common mistakes

Over-blanching makes the greens grey and watery; added water weakens the sambal’s char and cling.

Tips

Blanch stems first, leaves second, then ice-shock to keep both crisp stems and green leaves.