Condiment
Shrimp Paste
Shrimp paste (belacan, terasi, kapi) is fermented ground shrimp, sold as blocks or wet paste—intensely marine and salty. Toasted or fried before use in sambals and curries. Always cook briefly to bloom aroma; a pea-sized piece seasons a wok. Not the same as fresh shrimp.
Also known as: Belacan, Terasi, Kapi
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Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 5 g
- Saturated Fat 1.25 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 1.5 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 2.25 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 2155 mg
- Salt 5.37 g
- Total Carbohydrate 75 g
- Dietary Fibre 0.97 g
- Total Sugars 6.33 g
- Complex / starch 2.09 g
- Protein 8 g
- Water 8 g
- Energy 377 kcal
- Water 8 g
- Carbohydrates 75 g
- Sugars 6.33 g
- Monosaccharides 4.44 g
- Disaccharides 1.9 g
- Starch 2.09 g
- Amylose 0.52 g
- Amylopectin 1.57 g
- Digestible Starch 1.78 g
- Resistant Starch 0.21 g
- Fibre 0.97 g
- Soluble Fibre 0.34 g
- Insoluble Fibre 0.63 g
- Protein 8 g
- Fat 5 g
- Saturated Fat 1.25 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 1.5 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 2.25 g
- Vitamins 25 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.01 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.05 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 0.2 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 0.1 mg
- Vitamin K 0.5 µg
- Minerals 2420 mg
- Major Minerals 2413 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.8 mg
- Salt 5.37 g
- Sodium Chloride 5.37 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.01 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.02 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.1 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.05 · vitamin-b6: 0.02 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 0.2 · vitamin-b9-folate: 2 · vitamin-e: 0.1 · vitamin-k: 0.5 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 2154.88 · Potassium: 199 · Calcium: 59 · Iron: 1.4 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Condiments are flavour concentrates—often high in salt or sugar relative to serving size.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Shrimp Paste.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
History
Southeast Asian coastal cookery fermented shrimp into paste seasonings.
Indonesian and Malay sambals relied on toasted shrimp paste.
Blocks of shrimp paste stocked Asian groceries worldwide.