Dominican Spiced Seafood Laksa

Ingredients

In this adaptation, the original Malaysian Sarawak laksa is infused with Dominican spices such as cumin, coriander, and allspice, which are commonly used in Dominican cuisine. The seafood selection is also modified to include shrimp, fish, and squid, reflecting the abundance of fresh seafood found in the Caribbean waters. We alse have the original recipe for Sarawak laksa, so you can check it out.

• 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil 2 tablespoons (30ml) vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon (15g) cumin powder 1 tablespoon (15g) cumin powder
• 1 tablespoon (15g) coriander powder 1 tablespoon (15g) coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon (5g) allspice powder 1 teaspoon (5g) allspice powder
• 1 tablespoon (15g) turmeric powder 1 tablespoon (15g) turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon (15g) paprika 1 tablespoon (15g) paprika
• 1 can (400ml) coconut milk 1 can (400ml) coconut milk
• 4 cups (950ml) fish or seafood broth 4 cups (950ml) fish or seafood broth
• 1 pound (450g) shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 pound (450g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 pound (450g) white fish fillets, cut into chunks 1 pound (450g) white fish fillets, cut into chunks
• 1/2 pound (225g) squid, cleaned and sliced into rings 1/2 pound (225g) squid, cleaned and sliced into rings
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) fish sauce 2 tablespoons (30ml) fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30ml) lime juice 2 tablespoons (30ml) lime juice
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce 1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15ml) brown sugar 1 tablespoon (15ml) brown sugar
• 8 ounces (225g) rice noodles, cooked according to package instructions 8 ounces (225g) rice noodles, cooked according to package instructions
• Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish) Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
• Lime wedges (for garnish) Lime wedges (for garnish)
• Crispy fried shallots (for garnish) Crispy fried shallots (for garnish)

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1885 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 25g, 18g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 30g, 5g
• Protein: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
2. 2.
   In a small bowl, combine the cumin powder, coriander powder, allspice powder, turmeric powder, and paprika. Add the spice mixture to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to release the flavors.
3. 3.
   Pour in the coconut milk and fish or seafood broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
4. 4.
   Add the shrimp, fish fillets, and squid to the pot. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the seafood is cooked through and tender.
5. 5.
   Stir in the fish sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences.
6. 6.
   To serve, divide the cooked rice noodles among serving bowls. Ladle the hot laksa broth with seafood over the noodles. Garnish with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and crispy fried shallots.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Shrimp — Make sure to devein the shrimp before cooking to remove any grit or sand.
• Squid — To achieve tender squid, either cook it quickly over high heat or simmer it for a longer time until tender. Overcooking can result in rubbery texture.

Tips & Tricks

• For an extra kick of heat, add a few slices of Scotch bonnet pepper to the laksa broth while simmering.
• If you prefer a thicker broth, you can blend a small portion of the cooked laksa broth with a handful of soaked cashews or almonds and then stir it back into the pot.
• Feel free to customize the seafood selection based on your preferences and availability. Mussels, crab, or lobster can also be great additions to the laksa.

Serving advice

Serve the Dominican Spiced Seafood Laksa hot, garnished with fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and crispy fried shallots. Accompany it with a side of steamed jasmine rice or crusty bread to soak up the flavorful broth.

Presentation advice

To enhance the presentation, arrange the cooked rice noodles neatly in the center of each bowl and carefully ladle the hot laksa broth with seafood over the noodles. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, a lime wedge on the side, and a generous sprinkle of crispy fried shallots on top.