0 The key lies in the fresh sambal

The popularity of Serangan’s smoked fish, the signature dish of the island of the same name in South Denpasar, has grown significantly, such that it is now on the same level as Jimbaran’s grilled fish, a must-taste food for any visitor laying foot on the island. The popularity has created increasing demand and naturally a higher number of sellers specializing in creating this dish. Recently, some sellers relocated out of Serangan to access a new pool of customers. 

One of these sellers carrying out the expansion of the Serangan taste is Wayan Murtini, 33, and her husband Wayan Sujana, 37. For the last year, the couple have opened a food stall on Jl. Pulau Kawe in Pedungan, Denpasar. It offers various smoked fish, from tuna, mackerel to skipjack, and other local fish with names too difficult to pronounce but with meat too tender to be ignored. The freshly caught fish are cleaned and soaked with kaffir lime juice before being grilled on skewers over a fire made of dried coconut husks. 

A thin layer of paste made of ground onion, candlenut and red chili, is spread repeatedly on the fish during this process to enhance its aroma. The fish is served with steamed rice, plecing (boiled water spinach with an extremely spicy sambal), and the famous sambal matah, a spicy condiment made of chopped raw shallot, onion, red and green chili, and dressed with home-made coconut oil and kaffir lime juice. Sambal matah is the key behind Murtini’s success. 

Her husband has always gone a long way to ensure that the stall offers its customers the freshest sambal matah possible. “We do not stock up on sambal matah. Some sellers prepare their sambal matah well in advance and stir fry the sambal to extend its shelf life. We do not do that, our sambal matah is always raw and freshly prepared,” Murtini said. The sambal, she pointed out, was the reason why her stall could sell an average of 35 kilograms of fish per day. A smoked fish at Murtini’s stall is sold for between Rp 15,000 and Rp 30,000 (US$1.55-$3.10). The stall opens from lunchtime until 8 p.m.

source : bali daily