Having now been cooped up at home for a while now, some of us at The Amazing Blog have been trying a new relish that is a little more flavourful than usual the ones that sit in our fridge door. It’s called Balachaung Chilli Shrimp Fry from Chu Chu Burmese Kitchen and it’s been fun putting our tastebuds to the test! This Balachaung is a versatile Asian street food that also goes by the name of ‘prawn pickle’ that’s guaranteed to add some serious spice or zing to any meal!
Husband and wife team Martin and Tara Pritchard founded the brand in 2017, wanting to share their passion for Myanmar cuisine, which let’s be honest, is virtually unheard of here in the UK. Tara is from an Anglo-Burmese background and based this on a recipe that dates back generations in her family. It’s also inspired by Myanmar street food and their new profound love of Asian travel. Throughout its history, the Burmese have combined different food cultures in their cuisine creating many appetising dishes using this relish. We originally discovered this Brighton-based Chu Chu Burmese Kitchen, as they were among the Great Taste winners of 2019.
This delicious condiment is handmade in Brighton and is made from dried shrimp, onion tamarind, shrimp paste and red chilli. BTW the main differences between prawns and shrimps are their size - shrimps are smaller with shorter legs and have claws only on two pairs. All packed tightly into a small jar, in simple terms, it combines rich chilli spices with the shrimps which create an ever-lasting flavour that stores for up to three months when open. NB: It’s best to store in a cool and dry location (not the fridge). We tried this relish with hot buttered toast which was absolutely delicious - although we’d advise it’s not for faint-hearted or those who don’t have an affinity with capsaicin family! They also suggest that it can be sprinkled in rice or on top of a salad to add a bit more interest or a kick. Why not get adventurous with your cuisine too and purchase your very own Balachaung Chilli Shrimp Fry 100g for £4.25 see here.