November 8 - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

November 8 - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

I'm not entirely sure how this holiday originated. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a made-up holiday. At any rate, I took this as another opportunity to broaden my horizons.

I had trouble coming up with an exciting recipe for this bold and pungent meal, so I went to my friends and the NaBloPoMo bloggers to get some ideas.

Some of the ideas were downright scary (asafetida and durian) but one blogger set me on the right track. She mentioned that many Asian and African ethnic groups use dried salted fish in their cuisine.

So I hit up my local Asian grocery store to pick up some supplies. The whole dried fish was a bit intimidating, but the dried shrimp in the refrigerated section were more approachable. I also grabbed some fish sauce while I was there.

I used this recipe as the basis for my bold and definitely pungent meal. I made a few alterations, but this is an easy recipe to follow once you obtain the more obscure ingredients. While this meal wasn't an instant favorite for me or my boyfriend, we enjoyed the chance to try something new and different.

One final note: be careful when you open your bottle of fish sauce. Mine exploded all over me, which must have been a funny sight. My arm still smells pungent.