Acar Timun Rempah

I always make raita as an accompaniment to my pilaf or briyani but today I decided to go for acar timun... (Missing Malay weddings badly) :-(

3 small cucumber or 2 big ones, thickly julienned

1 carrot, thick julienned

A handful of small shallots

You need to soak the julienned cucumber and carrots with about a tablespoon of salt and 1 teaspoon sugar to "suck out" the moisture from the veggies. So leave that alone for about 15 minutes and drain the liquid 

Then blend the spices for the base.

4 shallots

1 garlic

1 tablespoon dried shrimp (udang kering)

5 stalks of dried chilli, soaked

Sauté in oil and then add the rest of ingredient and  :-

1 tablespoon tomato purée

1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 tablespoon mustard seeds (biji sawi)-pop it in a bit of oil)

1 cinnamon stick

3 cloves 

1 star anise

2 tablespoon kerisik (fried coconut paste)

2 teaspoon sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar (more if you like it acidic)

1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Once the paste is throughly mixed, add your veggies and cook it lightly so that its not mushy nor too raw.