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Colek is a fruit dip made of 3 ingredients - belacan (shrimp paste), gula Melaka (palm sugar) and chillies. This very nostalgic dip came about after a conversation I had with my Mum. After that little chat, I just couldn't wait to make colek. God, I haven't had colek for ages!
It is really easy to make. Just pound belacan, gula Melaka and chillies. Before you pound the belacan, any belacan aficionado with tell you that you should toast it first to get the aroma and flavors going. And that was what I did. I used my little wok and soon my whole house stank hah..hah...
The amount of belacan and gula Melaka I used is based on "agak-agak" (estimate) and I used only 1 red chilli. If you like it extra "pedas" (hot), feel free to add more. Pound the ingredients until you get a smooth paste. It does become liquid as the gula Melaka melts.
The word "colek" in Terengganu Malay dialect means "to dip". I think the West Coast Malays would say "cicah". This dip is good with most fruits like jambu air, guava, pineapple and my favorite - young mango.
This sweet and salty pungent dip will encourage you to keep eating whatever fruits that are served on the platter. It sure made me very happy to get more than my fair share of vitamins, minerals and roughage (hah..hah...) in a fun way.
Go ahead and give this dip a try. If you like "rojak buah", chances are you will like colek. But please, don't eat this with strawberries.
Colek (Terengganu Fruit Dip)
(Note : The ingredients are my estimates. Please adjust to suit your taste)
Ingredients :
- 1 heap tablespoon of belacan (toasted)
- 3 tablespoons gula Melaka
- 1 red chilli
Method :
- Pound all the ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
Oh? Somebody related to you shared this "colek" thing on Facebook the other day. No lime added? How does it get so watery with all the dry ingredients? I've sambal belacan aka colek in my post today too - West Malaysian's shop, not using our very nice Bintulu belacan but they do a good job with theirs. Very nice and very spicy!
ReplyDeleteIt got watery due to moisture from the chilli and also the gula melaka melted. It wasn't that watery really, like a thick paste. Tasted pretty good!
DeleteI need to print this and put it for future use. Hihihi
ReplyDeleteFor once there is a recipe you like hah..hah...
DeleteApa tuh colek? Oohh, dip.. Ok, I call it cecah, haha.. Lady boss taught me to put 3 ingredients too: soy sauce, chopped cili padi and sugar.. And then, dip it with raw mangoes or cucumber, heaven !!! Sedap !!!
ReplyDeleteLouiz, I have tried the soya sauce one but this colek is more powerful hee..hee...
Deletesedap!!!
ReplyDeletewah, Sharon speaks Malay!!! :p
DeleteVery sedap! Yeah, Sharon knows that word :)
Deletehaha, I don't usually think of dips when it comes to fruit, I usually just eat the fruits as they are, original and most organic taste.. though sometimes I'll sprinkle a tad little bit of salt to enhance or especially for very sour fruits to reduce the sourness.. I actually find salt the best dip, as it can go with both sweet and sour fruits, agree?? :)
ReplyDeleteSK, previously I used to eat pineapple with salt. Then there was the trend of eating guava with the asam boi powder. But this colek has been around for a long time. So glad that I made it and wallop my jambu :)
Deletesurely have not heard about Colek before (culik yes la, haha!!) and it looks like some cincaluk to me, but I guess it tastes like those black sauce we can get at fruit stalls huh?? aiyoh, never have I thought of dips, but now that I see your Colek, I want to give it a try now!! haha.. it looks great with the jambu air and mangoes~~ :)
ReplyDeleteQuite similar to the black sauce but got more power hee..hee.. I think there are a few Terengganu people who want to "culik" my "colek" from me LOL!
Deletethere is a difference between 'ccolek' and 'cicoh'... Colek is more of 'scoop scoop', cicoh is more of 'dip dip'... heh heh... khaychiap wt some sugar and cilipadi works too!
ReplyDeleteOh, got difference ah? I tried kayciap with chilli before. Quite nice but no need to add sugar because kayciap is sweet.
DeleteThanks for this recipe Phong Hong. Im sure this dip works so well for us .....even looking at these pics already makes us drool......leh....leh...leh......
ReplyDeleteMel, you try it and you will get addicted :)
DeleteI love to eat jambu air coz they're so juicy. This dip looks simple enough. I'm with suituapui...how did it get watery without the use of any liquid?
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't that watery, it is more like a thick paste. The gula melaka sort of melted and some moisture also came from the chilli.
DeleteThank you for this easy to make recipe...I will definitely give it a try. I love rojak and I am sure I will love this too.
ReplyDeleteNancy, you must try it, Very addictive!
DeleteFeel like having mango rojak now!!! The teeth is like.... How to,say... Yuen chor....
ReplyDeleteClaire, also nice with pineapples! Teeth will feel very pain :(
DeleteLOL>..someone in NZ meleleh air liuh liao
ReplyDeletehee..hee..
DeleteHi Phong Hong,
ReplyDeleteI like your little spicy sweet and salty crunch!!! Drooling here...
Zoe
Zoe, it is stinky but yummy!
DeleteToast sambal belacan? No thanks! I go your house to eat ok? Hahaha :D
ReplyDeleteRG, you bring the fruits hee..hee...
DeleteWhile reading this my mouth is salivating.
ReplyDeletehee..hee..
DeleteHi PH, juz looking at yr photos already make me drool.....hahaha
ReplyDeletehee..hee..
Deletemana kicap manis?
ReplyDeleteNo need kicap manis coz this is already manis :)
DeletePhong Hong, since young I've been 'living' with sambal belacan cos my late mom's favourite. But don't know why I could tahan the strong fragrant but don't like to taste it.
ReplyDeleteBut my sis will sure like this ... pass this recipe to her ^-^ Thanks !
Adoi, Karen! How could you not like the taste, ah? You got ang moh tastebuds lah LOL!
DeleteHi Phong Hong,
ReplyDeletechilli loving me would happily colek just about anything with the colek dip! Looks good!
Joyce, I knew you would like it hah..hah...
DeleteThis dip looks gorgeous. Must be lip smacking good with the jambu!
ReplyDeleteCheah, it is also good with guava, mango, pineapple and even cucumbers!
DeleteWOW! Wish I can try this 'colek'. So tempting ~~
ReplyDeleteAnn, it is really good!
DeleteI do not know of this colek and have not eaten it before. Usually I eat my fruits without any dips. Why not eat with strawberry for those who like to eat fruits dip into colek? Any particular reason?
ReplyDeleteMun, it doesn't go with strawberries.
DeleteAiyo...u keep tantalise our taste bud with all these good stuffs here. I need a guava with asam powder now.
ReplyDeleteAlamak, I give you colek and you want asam powder pulak LOL!
DeleteHi Phong Hong, nice dipping for jambu air. I was travelling with an English couple in Thailand the other day. The mat salleh young man wanted to buy some cut apples. He went to the fruit stall and saw this fruit already cut and in plastic bag. He asked the vendor, this apples? The vendor said 'Ya, ya. Happily he bought a packet and back to the coach, he told his girlfriend 'Dear, I bought some apples for you'. When I saw the packet, I told him it isn't apples. He said yes it is. I told him, try it then. His expression is 'Ughhhrrr! Oh no, it's not apples. I asked him, you think is Washington apples? It's this jambu air and not fresh at all. He then told me what transpired when he bought it, hahaha!
ReplyDeletehah..hah.. so funny! Kimmy, if I am not mistaken Jambu Air is also known in English as Water Apples. Poor guy :D
DeleteHadoiiii.... terus rasa my mouth watering la.....
ReplyDeletehee..hee... This one Mama, you have no problem making it at home. Boleh makan buah sebakul :D
DeleteHi Phong Hong, how are you? Saya mahu colek colek juga, boleh ke? haha...
ReplyDeleteEsther, boleh! boleh!
DeleteHi Phong Hong, ada lagi or not? Next time make extra pass me a jar. hahaha.....
ReplyDeleteLook so appetizing.
Have a nice week ahead,regards.
Amelia, next time I make extra. hee..hee...
Delete