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Home / Courses / Side Dish / Kangkung Belacan

Kangkung Belacan

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 March 10, 2014 · Updated: 💻March 7, 2021 · 🗨 14 Comments

Recipe ▼

Kangkung Belacan is a spicy Malaysian water spinach stir fry with chilies and shrimp paste. It is delicious and full of umami flavor.

Kangkung Belacan served with rice.

Kangkung Belacan is a a very popular and well-loved veggie dish in Malaysia. This simple but tasty stir fry hits all the right notes. It is spicy and crunchy with lots of umami flavor. Homesick Malaysians living overseas often list it in the Top 10 cravings from the home country.

Kangkung/Water Spinach/Water Convolvulus

Kangkung is the Malay word for water spinach or water convolvulus, a tropical semi-aquatic plant grown as a leaf vegetable found in parts of Asia and Southeast Asia. Back in the old days, it was a very inexpensive and ubiquitous vegetable. Over here in the US, it is one of the more expensive vegetables at the Asian markets. Kangkung can be used in stir fries and soups.

Kangkung/Water Spinach/Water Convolvulus

Kangkung grows and spreads very easily, especially in moist soil. In the past years, this vegetable was banned in Minnesota because it was considered to be a regulated invasive species. The ban has since been lifted (about 2 years back) but prices remain high due to the restricted availability.

Kangkung plants

Belacan (Shrimp Paste)

Belacan (shrimp paste) is a common ingredient used in Southeast Asian cooking. It is made of fermented ground krill mixed with salt and is an essential ingredient in many sambals and curries. For the uninitiated, the flavor and scent can be quite challenging, to say the least. Always make sure your kitchen is well ventilated when cooking belacan or the scent will stay in the house for days.

For a well rounded flavor, toast the belacan before using. This is to remove the “raw” and “fishy” taste. Toasted belacan has a salty umami flavor. A little belacan goes a long way, so buy the best grade you can afford.

Ingredients to make Kangkung Belacan.

Kangkung can be gritty and should be washed in copious amount of water. Always make sure they are well drained before stir frying. Use a salad spinner if necessary to get rid of excess water.

Kangkung Belacan stir fry with chilies and shrimp paste.

Similar Tools Used in Making This Kangkung Belacan

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan with Helper Handle and Glass Cover
Asian Kitchen Carbon Steel Wok Stir Fry Pan, 12-inch
Classic Series Carbon Steel Wok, 14-inch
Stainless Steel Professional Wok Turner Spatula

Kangkung Belacan served with rice.
5 from 5 votes

Kangkung Belacan

Kangkung Belacan is a Malaysian spicy water spinach stir fry flavored with chilies and shrimp paste. Full of umami flavor and delicious with steamed rice.
Author : Linda Ooi
Course : Side Dish
Cuisine : Malaysian
Keyword : belacankangkung, convolvulus stir fry, kangkung belacan, water spinach stir fry
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 8 mins
Total Time 28 mins
Servings : 4
Calories : 108kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb kangkung / ong choy / water spinach / convolvulus, cut into 3-inch lengths (450g)
  • 3 red chilies (seeded and cut into pieces)
  • 6 to 8 shallots or 1 medium onion (peeled and cut into pieces)
  • 3 cloves garlic (peeled)
  • 1 tbsp dried shrimp (washed and soaked for 10 minutes to soften) (15g)
  • ¾ inch cube belacan (shrimp paste), toasted
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Be sure to rinse water spinach well as it can be gritty. Allow vegetables to drain in colander for at least an hour or use a salad spinner to get rid of excessive water.
  • Blend red chilies, shallots, garlic, dried shrimps, and belacan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water into a paste.
  • In a large pan or wok, heat oil. Saute blended mixture for 4 to 5 minutes until it is fragrant.
  • Add kangkung and fry on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are wilted. Add a little salt to taste.
    Kangkung Belacan-8
  • Remove and serve immediately with steamed rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @RotiNRice or tag #RotiNRice

Well Cooked Kangkung Belacan

A well cooked Kangkung Belacan should be relatively dry and bright in color. The kangkung should remain crunchy and not soggy. Only a bowl of steaming white rice is needed to complete the meal. Kangkung Belacan is the “real McCoy” but this Stir Fry Spicy Water Spinach is a close second. 😉

Delicious Kangkung Belacan

Kacang Botol (Winged Beans)

Update (October 8th, 2014): Another vegetable that is often cooked in the same style is kacang botol (winged beans). I was pleasantly surprised to find them at the Asian market last weekend. That was the first time I have ever seen them here in the United States. I had to bring some home.

Kacang botol (winged beans)

I cooked the winged beans for dinner and it was such a treat!

Kacang Botol Belacan

1.0K shares

Categories: 🗂 Side Dish, Southeast Asian, Vegetables Tags: 📋 belacan, Malaysian

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. PolaM says

    March 10, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    That looks delicious! Love umami flavors!

    Reply
  2. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    March 11, 2014 at 10:00 am

    I miss water spinach! This is a great stir-fry, Biren.

    Reply
  3. DongXing says

    March 12, 2014 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    I sure miss this dish! My husband does not like belacan, and if I do have to cook with belacan, he prefers that I do it outdoors… and this is one vegy that is not often available over here. I do order this dish and eat it all by myself whenever I get the chance to eat at a proper Malaysian restaurant.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 18, 2014 at 8:14 am

      That’s a pity for sure but I guess belacan is an acquired taste especially if one did not grow up with it. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ramona says

    March 14, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    I love kangkung… I have not had it since I ate it last in Sri Lanka. This makes me so homesick. 🙂

    Reply
    • Linda says

      March 18, 2014 at 8:11 am

      Perhaps you can look for kangkung at your local Asian market. It really is a delicious vegetable.

      Reply
  5. Juliana says

    January 27, 2018 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    I’ve tried this recipe and it was perfect! Taste just like those served in restaurant. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply
    • Linda says

      January 28, 2018 at 9:39 am

      Very glad to hear that the recipe worked out well for you. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Nora says

    June 2, 2018 at 7:08 am

    Tried it today, so delicious. Thank you for the recipe.

    Reply
  7. David says

    January 28, 2019 at 3:49 pm

    5 stars
    My family loves this dish so I’m sure their gonna like yours. Just subscribed also because I saw the corinthians verse . Looking forward to your content.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      January 29, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      I don’t get to cook this often but when I do everyone enjoys it. Thank you for subscribing. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Nirmala says

    February 3, 2020 at 9:46 pm

    5 stars
    Have cooked kanglung using your recipe a number of times already. The family loves it! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Linda says

      February 4, 2020 at 1:46 pm

      I am very glad to hear that, Nirmala. Thank you for letting me know.

      Reply
  9. Nirmala says

    July 6, 2020 at 10:17 pm

    5 stars
    This is the second or third time I am using ur recipe.
    Yummy! Love it!

    This time I used the bottled wet shrimp paste. And did not add salt. Like it.

    Reply

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My grace is sufficient for thee…
2 Corinthians 12:9

Hi, I’m Linda! I make quick, easy meals, and spin on classics and old favorites with focus on Malaysian, Chinese, and American cuisines. Read more →

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