Sambal Belacan [Chilly shrimp paste sauce]

What would our Sambal Belacan taste without those Chilly!!!... I just could not imaging the look and the taste of such concoction.. Sambal Belacan without Chilly!!... Well that would it be if it had not been for the Portuguese who brought those Chilly to this parts of the world, when they came as explorer and colonizer to our regions.... For chilly is Not native to the countries in this parts of the world..It is indigenous to South America...Chilly, lada, Cili api, Cabai in the Malay language means Chilly of the Capsicum family....We Malaysian can never do without this Chilly in our food...It would never taste the same without chilly...But then have we every thought that Chilly is not native to this country and that our ancestors did not use Chilly before it was brought here by the Portuguese, when they came over to this part of the world in the fifteen century...Sambal Belacan is my favorite appetizer and if I had my way I would have it with every lunch and dinner, but at this age I take it from time to time...We all have to take care of what we eat...So as to stay healthy...Not that Sambal Belacan is not healthy...It is indeed a very healthy appetizer...It contain shrimp, lime, chilly and it is a very healthy food indeed...The greatest appetizer ever invented..I should say so!!...Well..In this part of the Malay world... Just take a pause and think hard...Before the Portuguese came...It meant that we, the Malay do not make Sambal Belacan like the one that we do it now...With the Chilly, We have perfected a sauce of our own, that had stood with times...Once only served in the traditional Malay homes, now could be found at almost all restaurants and even in four stars hotel...It has indeed progress well with times...A once traditional appetizer had graduated and found a place on the table of grand feasts in this country...Loves by all the races that makes the Malaysian...Surely it would not taste as good without those chilly, hot and pungent...Really hot especially the cili padi [Small chilly which is extremely fiery hot].. It is not a joke...Experience it and you would understand the fire in this tiny chilly , even the green one...It is these concoction that make the fun of eating Sambal Belacan and enjoying it with other dishes to accompany the rice that had been our staple food. And that all our lunch or dinner could not be just as complete without it.. The Sambal Belacan...A wonder sauce that we could proudly call our own..Thanks to the Portuguese..For the Chilly....