Goong chae nam pla

Method

1. 1 Peel the shrimp, remove the black vein, then split each shrimp lengthwise in half while keeping the tail attached.
2. 2 Soak the shrimp in ice-salt water for 20 minutes to make the meat firm and translucent.
3. 3 The shrimp used for this dish must be very fresh because they are not subjected to heat; that is the first requirement.
4. 4 Grind the chili peppers and garlic in a mortar, then mix with fish sauce, lemon juice, and sugar.
5. 5 Arrange the shrimp on a cold plate and pour the sauce over them just before serving.
6. 6 Serve with thinly sliced bitter melon and cabbage to balance the salty and spicy flavors of the sauce.