Ikan
balado - the star of Indonesian dinner tables. It's basically a spicy fish dish
that packs a punch. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I reckon
"balado" refers to the spicy sauce for any dish that begins and is
included balado in the recipe name. There’s also Ikan Cabe Ijo, which is quite
similar, but it swaps out the red chilies for green ones, giving it a green
chili spiciness flavor profile.
You know, Indonesians and their love for chilies - they're inseparable, just like how Ms. Nava from Malaysia can't live without her spicy dishes. It's like if there's no heat in the food, it's just not the same. I learned about ikan balado during my trips to Indonesia and from chatting with Indonesians here in Malaysia. It's fascinating how both Malaysians and Indonesians go crazy for Sambal Belacan, or Sambal Terasi as they call it.