Vietnamese cilantro (Persicaria odorata) or commonly known as Laksa leaf(Daun Kesum) in Malaysia and Singapore. This herb is often used in Southeast Asia cooking.
Trick for choosing younger Okra (ladies’ fingers) is to use your finger to feel the tip. Those with softer tips will be the youngest pods. Young okras are more tender with better texture. Add vegetables such as long bean, eggplant if you prefer.
Mix tamarind paste with some water and set aside.
Cut, rinse and drain dried chillies.
Combine shallot, garlic, onion, lemongrass, dried shrimp, turmeric powder and dried chillies in a blender, add in some water and process into paste, stir in between.
Add in 4 tbsps of cooking oil, heat paste over medium heat, continue stirring. Cook for 10-15 minutes until the oil separate out and the paste starts to have fragrance.
Add in fish, 800ml water, ladies’ fingers, tomato, sprig of laksa leaf. Bring to the boil again, reduce to low heat and cook for 8 minutes or until fish is fully cooked. Reduce amount of water if you prefer thicker gravy.
Add in salt, sugar, lime juice and juice from tamarind paste. Adjust sourness taste to your liking.
Turn off heat and let the asam pedas sit for 5 minutes before serving.