Ok, I wouldn’t really call this a recipe as it only involves putting two ingredients into the oven.
A bottle of ikan bilis (dried anchovies) with peanuts is something that I always have in the pantry as I like to sprinkle them over plain porridge or vegetable stir-fry. I’m quite fussy about what type of ikan bilis to use and I only buy this ikan bilis putih from Giant supermarket at $1.95 per 100g because they are headless hence cleaner and are clear of any fishy odour. No oil or seasoning is required so it’s all about the natural flavours of the anchovies and peanuts. Makes a great snack too (peanuts are very high in calories so don’t over-indulge). Give it a try!
Ikan Bilis Recipe
Ingredients (serves 3-4)
100g ikan bilis (dried anchovies)
80g raw peanuts with skin on
Instructions
1. Wash and rinse ikan bilis at least 2-3 times till water runs clear. Drain the ikan bilis and spread them over several sheets of kitchen towels. Allow to air dry for 2-3 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 180 deg C. Transfer ikan bilis onto a baking tray in a single layer and bake for 10-12 minutes to dry them out.
3. Remove baking tray from oven and give the ikan bilis a stir. Add raw peanuts, spread around the tray and bake for another 10-15 minutes till both peanuts and ikan bilis are golden brown and crunchy.
4. Leave to cool completely before storing in an air-tight container.
A much healthier recipe than deep-fried 🙂