Shrimp paste (terasi / belacan)
terasi (ID) / belacan (MY) / กะปิ kapi (TH)
- Flavor and role
- A pungent paste of tiny shrimp fermented in salt, ground and dried. The smell is strong, but frying turns it into deep savory flavor.
- Typical dishes and uses
- Nasi goreng, nasi lemak sambal, Thai curry pastes, nam prik sauce
- Substitutes
- 1 tsp shrimp paste = 1 tsp Korean salted shrimp (saeujeot) + 1/2 tsp fish sauce, or 1 tsp anchovy fish sauce. It can be left out, but the dish will be less savory.
- Storage
- Double-wrap in plastic and an airtight container so the smell does not spread, and refrigerate for 1 year. Before use, toast in a dry pan or wrapped in foil to bring out the aroma.
- Main countries
- Indonesia · Malaysia · Thailand
- Used in this book
- Nasi GorengNasi LemakAyam PenyetBicol ExpressBún Bò Huế (Spicy Hue Beef Noodle Soup)Chili crabFish Amok (Amok Trey)Kare-KareCurry LaksaMohinga (Burmese Fish Noodle Soup)Num Banh ChokSamlor KorkoSayur Lodeh (Javanese Vegetables in Coconut Milk)Ayam Penyet KremesBakso Laksa (Indonesian × Malaysian)Coconut-Water-Braised Crispy Pork Belly Bicol ExpressBicol Express Coconut Rigatoni with Crispy Pork Belly and Parmesan (Filipino × Italian)Bicol Express Dynamite Chilli Rolls with Coconut-Lime DipBún Bò Huế Đặc Biệt with Oxtail and Homemade Chả HuếBún Bò Huế Birria TacosBún Bò Huế Trộn (Spicy Lemongrass Beef Dry Noodles)Burmese Chicken Curry with Shallot Oil, Lemongrass and Crispy ShallotsRestaurant-style chili crab with fried mantouSilky Amok with Toasted Kroeung and Coconut CreamGado-Gado with Pressed Rice Cakes and Shrimp-Paste Peanut SauceGreen Curry with Hand-Pounded PasteOxtail Kare-Kare with Hand-Roasted Peanut Sauce and Homemade Ginisang BagoongKare-Kare Beef Udon with Shrimp-Paste Chili Oil (Filipino × Japanese)Kare-Kare Beef Puff Turnovers with Bagoong MayoPrawn-Head Stock Curry LaksaMohinga with Fish-Bone Broth, Toasted Rice and Crispy ShallotsNan Gyi Thoke with Turmeric Shallot Oil, Garlic Chips and Jammy EggsNasi Goreng Spesial with Prawns and Crispy ShallotsCrispy Nasi Goreng Rice BitesNasi Lemak with Spiced Fried Chicken (Ayam Goreng Berempah)Sambal Anchovy Coconut OnigiriSambal Fried Chicken Nasi Lemak BurgerSmoky Grilled-Fish Num Banh ChokRawon Iga (Beef Short Rib Rawon) with Sambal TerasiSamlor Korko with Slow-Simmered Pork Ribs and Smoked FishSayur Lodeh with Fresh-Pressed Coconut Milk
Updated 2026-10-10