Snacking on Seafood in Padang - Land of the Minangkabau (Part 3 of 5)

Seafood Slathered with Batter on the Platter

Some time off saw us taking a stroll along the Pariaman beach. I was stationed here as this area was worst hit by the earthquake. The relief team comprised 2 doctors and a support team of 5. Outlying areas were cut-off from the outside as arterial roads were rendered impassable by landslides. Heavy machineries had to be moved in to clear the soil of the road.

Tourists were non-existent and whatever locals I encountered looked like local residents. But still life and business got to be as usual for the many hawkers I saw along the beach front. The most famous local snack has to be these. Seafood dipped in batter and deep-fried in oil. Small crabs, prawns, tuna and snake fish were there to tempt whatever limited customs that were there.

The main attraction for these snacks was definitely not the batter but the seafood found within. Those without batter like the tuna (small) deep-fried to perfection looks even more tempting.

Prawns in batter on a skewerPadang version of Cucur Udang

Sea crabs and some with roes.

Deep-fried tuna/ikan kayu/tongkolSalah Bulek. 'Bulek' refers to the Caucasian. 'Salah' means wrong! Fish paste with flour. Local snack delicacy.Kiddo helping mom preparing crabs for the oil cauldron. Remove the outer shell and its ready.Outer shell removedMom busy getting prawns onto stick skewers.Here is their cooking space