Myanmar - Tomato Soybean Dip

Tomato Soybean Dip

Ingredients

-       1 soybean wafer OR 1/2 teaspoon hot canned bean paste

-       2 medium onions

-       1 bulb garlic

-       4 tomatoes

-       4 plump green chilies

-       1 teaspoon (or less) salt

-       1 tablespoon chopped spring onion greens

-       1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves

Directions

-       If soybean wafer is used, toast it, cool, and pound.

-       Set powder aside.

-       Take outer layers of skin off onion and garlic, pierce garlic cloves with a pin, and bake both on a hot sheet or in oven till insides are soft, turn-ing to bake thoroughly.

-       Bake tomatoes and chilies till soft also.

-       Peel onions, garlic, and tomatoes.

-       Take out chili seeds and discard.

-       Pound all together, putting tomato in last when others are well mixed.

-       Add soybean powder, or paste.

-       Mix, add 2 tablespoons boiled warm water, add salt to taste, mix, and serve sprinkled with chopped spring onion greens and coriander.

Myanmar - Tomato Shrimp Paste Dip

Tomato Shrimp Paste Dip

Ingredients

-       1/2 cup chopped onion

-       2 teaspoons minced garlic

-       3/4 cup chopped tomatoes

-       2 teaspoons or less shrimp paste

-       1/3 cup oil

-       1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder

-       Large pinch turmeric

-       4 green chilies

-       Salt to taste

-       1 small bunch coriander leaves

Directions

-       Chop onion and garlic finely.

-       Skin and chop tomatoes.

-       Soak shrimp paste in 1/2 cup water.

-       Heat oil, put in onion, garlic, and chili with turmeric, and fry till fragrant.

-       Add chopped tomato, stir, cover, and simmer till well cooked together.

-       Add shrimp paste liquid and whole green chilies.

-       Continue cooking till water is absorbed and oil appears.

-       Add salt if needed.

-       Chop coriander leaves and sprinkle on top after dishing up.