This is a delicious moreish snack or is often eaten as a side dish to a main meal. It’s quite quick and easy to make too.

Ingredients

300 g dried whitebait or dried anchovies (ikan bilis)
2 onions
180 ml oil
150 g peanuts, toasted
2 tbsp chilli powder
4 tbsp sugar

Method

1.  Quickly rinse and dry the anchovies. Do not soak. Dry in the sun if in a tropical country or just oven-dry. (Drying the whitebait will ensure that the fish will be crisp when fried).

2.  Peel then finely pound/blend the onions
3. Heat a pan or wok over a high flame until it smokes. Add the oil. Reduce to a medium
flame, then add the peanuts. Stir-fry until light golden brown. Remove and drain
well on kitchen paper.

4. Reheat the oil over a high flame, then add the dried anchovies. Stir fry until light
golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain.

5. Discard the used oil then wipe the pan clean.

6. Add some new oil. Stir fry the onions for a few minutes to soften.

7. Add the chilli powder and sugar. Stir fry for a few more minutes. You can also add some sliced red chillies as well to add some colour, but reduce the chilli powder.

8. Lower to a medium flame then add the peanuts and anchovies. Mix together then
remove.
9. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container or serve immediately.