...and it doesn't smell too nice. We don't mind.
It's shrimp season on Pulau Ketam, a little island off the coast of Klang. A few weeks ago, needing a collective break from our computer screens, we rolled out of bed before the sun was up, hit the road, and arrived at the jetty in time for the 8:45am ferry.
As soon as we'd pedaled past the two-block 'downtown' (a bicycle's the way to go here) we began to notice shrimp - on front porches and back porches, tables and chairs, sidewalks and sheets of plastic suspended above the ground - laid out to dry in the sun. Who knew shrimp has a season?
On the Teochew half of the island we came across a woman tending to her crustaceans, which were spread out on the wooden decking in front of her house.
She swept them into a pile in the middle of the space, then into a dustpan, and lifted the pan high, shaking the shrimp back out onto the deck. This ensures that they dry evenly, she said. She does it once a day.
How long does it take the shrimp to thoroughly dry? I asked. She looked at me like I was an idiot. Depends on the sun, of course. This batch had been out for two days.
"These are Malaysian shrimp, not Indonesian," Ms. Chua assured us (Is there a difference?), "and I don't add salt, preservatives, or any coloring. Have a look - my shrimp aren't so red like others."
Good enough for us. We purchased half a kilo (opening photo) to take home. Sure enough, they're honestly delicious - not too salty, with true prawn flavor. A little bit sweet, even. I've yet to cook with them; we've just been eating them out of hand as a snack.
Thank you, Ms. Chua (shown here, in front of her beautifully painted house, with one of her sons).
Ms. Chua and her shrimp can be found at 113A Bagan Teochew, Pulau Ketam.
Eating that stuff as a snack?!? Aiyoh, if it makes you smell anything like the guy who was sitting next to me on the KTM snacking on ikan bilis, it may not be so good for your social life!
Posted by: Eurasian Sensation | 2009.04.17 at 19:33
The photos of her scattering are wonderful and lively. Love it.
Posted by: Mel | 2009.04.18 at 03:08
Those will make delicious Sambal Goreng Ebi (Haebi)...
Posted by: Tuty | 2009.04.18 at 06:15
Eurasian Sensation - it's a bit like garlic. As long as Dave and I both indulge, no problem right?
Mel - thanks. Saw her doing that from a distance and called the photographer over.
Tuty - got a recipe? :-)
Posted by: Robyn | 2009.04.18 at 09:33
What a great post- I experienced dried shrimp in Thailand when the family we were staying with used them in her shrimp pad thai. They were delicious! I loved seeing and reading about how these little guys are dried in Pulau Ketam. Thanks!
Posted by: Rachael | 2009.04.19 at 11:30
Been reading your blog but this is my first time leaving a comment. I love your blog so much. Very informative and beautiful.
I've been to Pulau Ketam once but as muslim I'm having problem finding halal food there. However, the owner of the inn we stayed has a kitchen on the deck where visitors like us can cook our own meal. We bought lots of fresh seafood from the fishermen there.
Zach Aziz, Petaling Jaya
Posted by: zachaziz | 2009.04.21 at 22:05
Hello Robyn
Enjoying all of your posts since you and David officially left the work world.
Will you be posting about your experience at Naomi and Jeffrey's cooking school? Would love to hear how that went.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Bain-Woods | 2009.04.22 at 02:24
Very nice blog :)
Posted by: uLi | 2009.04.23 at 21:48
ooh I love eating dried shrimp as a snack too! But the ones I usually get here are salted, so it is a really unhealthy snack. the flavour is so yummy
Posted by: singaporean | 2009.04.24 at 12:58