Malaysian · appetizer
Otak-Otak (Grilled Spiced Fish Custard)
Otak-Otak (Grilled Spiced Fish Custard) reads fruity 5.1, citrus 5.0 and sweetness 4.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Malaysian appetizer, about 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 3.6 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 6.6 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 5.3 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.6 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 5.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 3.8 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Fruity 5.1 · Citrus 5.0 · Sweetness 4.9 · Richness 4.2 · Umami 3.4 · Allium 3.1 · Heat 2.9 · Nutty 2.8 · Herbaceous 2.5 · Floral 2.5 · Marine & Briny 1.8 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Earthy 1.4 · Sourness 1.1 · Bitterness 1.1 · Salinity 0.6
What's in it (11)
- 1 lb mackerel, ground
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 2 eggs
- 2 stalks lemongrass
- 2-inch piece galangal
- 4 dried chilies
- 4 shallots
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 4 kaffir lime leaves, finely sliced
- 1 torch ginger bud, sliced
- 8 banana leaf pieces (6x8 inches)
Time & effort: about 50 min (20 min active) · effort: easy
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 91.6 kcal, 10 g protein, 3.2 g fat, 6.7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood · Contains dairy · Contains egg — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (3 steps)
- Blend fish with coconut milk, eggs, and spice paste until smooth.
- Spoon mixture onto banana leaf strips, fold into packets, and grill over charcoal or steam until just set.
- The result is a fragrant, slightly spicy fish custard.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Chiles en Nogada — Mexican
- Rendang (Slow-Cooked Spiced Beef) — Indonesian
- Mojo Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) — Cuban
- Yuca con Mojo — Cuban
- Lawar (Balinese Spiced Vegetable and Meat Mix) — Indonesian
Keep reading: what fruity, citrus, sweetness 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.