Hay Bee Hiam (Spicy Dried Shrimps Sambal)
Spicy dried shrimps sambal or more commonly known locally as “hae bee hiam” (alternate spellings: hay bee hiam/hei bi hiam) is a popular condiment in Singapore and South East Asia. I use my base home-made sambal belacan (pictured below) and stir fry it with chopped dried shrimps, shallots and garlic. It is spicy, savoury and so addictive on its own with steamed white rice. It’s also commonly used in stir fries such as sambal long beans.
Spicy Dried Shrimps Sambal Recipe
Do not chop/grind the dried shrimps too finely so that the sambal has a slightly chunky texture.
Serves: 2
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
(A) Dried shrimps paste
(finely chop or pulse in electric grinder for a few seconds)
- 1 tbsp dried shrimps soaked in water until softened
- 5 shallots peeled
- 5 garlic cloves peeled
Directions:
- In a wok, heat the oil. Add (A) and sambal belacan. Stir fry until dry and fragrant.
- Season with salt with needed. I did not add salt because my home made sambal belachan is already nicely salted. Serve with steamed rice or use for stir-fries.
Noob Cook Tips
- Belacan is pungent smelling. Open your windows and remove all laundry (if you have them in the kitchen) when you’re frying this dish.
- If you’re using store-bought sambal and it’s not spicy enough, add chilli padi to the shrimp paste at (A) for more heat.