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Ikan Bakar (Malaysian Grilled Fish)

Name: Ikan Bakar (Malaysian Grilled Fish)
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Cuisine: Malaysian
Ingredients: 2 lbs whole white fish; 2 stalks lemongrass; 2-inch piece galangal; 1 tsp turmeric; 4 shallots; 4 red chilies; 1 tsp shrimp paste; 2 banana leaves; 2 limes, halved; 1/4 cup sambal

Ikan Bakar (Malaysian Grilled Fish) reads umami 6.2, citrus 5.3 and fruity 4.8 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Malaysian main, about 3 hr 20 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 7.4 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 6.2 / 10
Sour & Bright — 6.7 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.8 / 10
Rich & Fat — 2.9 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.9 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 6.2 · Citrus 5.3 · Fruity 4.8 · Sweetness 4.7 · Sourness 4.6 · Marine & Briny 4.4 · Heat 4.3 · Salinity 4.2 · Funk & Ferment 3.7 · Allium 2.9 · Richness 2.8 · Herbaceous 2.7 · Floral 1.6 · Earthy 1.4 · Bitterness 1.4 · Smoke 1.1 · Warm Spice 1.1

What's in it (10)

2 lbs whole white fish
2 stalks lemongrass
2-inch piece galangal
1 tsp turmeric
4 shallots
4 red chilies
1 tsp shrimp paste
2 banana leaves
2 limes, halved
1/4 cup sambal

Time & effort: about 3 hr 20 min (20 min active) · effort: easy

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 69.7 kcal, 9.7 g protein, 1.1 g fat, 5.6 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Blend shallots, chilies, lemongrass, galangal, and shrimp paste into a paste and marinate the fish thoroughly.
Wrap in banana leaves and grill over charcoal until the fish is cooked through and exterior is slightly charred.
Serve with fresh sambal and lime.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Asam Laksa (Penang Tamarind Fish Laksa) — Malaysian
Al Pastor Tacos with Grilled Pineapple — Mexican
Tacos al Pastor — Mexican
Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad) — Thai
Louisiana BBQ Shrimp in Garlic Butter — Cajun/Creole

Keep reading: what umami, citrus, fruity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.