I was thinking all week about this smelly PhotoHunt theme. I thought about smelly socks, garbage, diaper etc…. and then while I was updating my food blog, it dawned on me that there’s a whole lot of smelly food out there!! Although it may be hard to come to a common agreement on which food because there are some food that smells really bad to one person but smells heavenly to another. Don’t you agree? Durian which is a fruit is something that comes to mind. I love the smell of durian but I am sure many will disagree. But since I can’t get any fresh durians here 
, I’ll show this instead……
What is this? A pile of sand? LOL!! No, it’s not a pile of sand.
It’s actually Belacan, a variety of shrimp paste that is commonly used in Southeast Asian cooking. It is made out of fermented ground shrimp. This version is the Belacan stock granules, which is a toned-down version of the original version which usually comes in a rectangular block. I say toned down because it doesn’t smell as bad as the original ones. Although when I was taking the photo, my 3 year old walked by & pinched her nose & said “Pheeewwww, there’s a skunk in here!!” 
Thanks for visiting, everyone! Have a great sweet-smelling weekend!!
Entries (RSS)
October 12th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Sounds very smelly! Happy hunting…
October 12th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Yuk indeed! You have a great theme for smelly! Have a nice weekend!
October 12th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Good take on the theme. Sounds smelly but no doubt good in cooking.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Hehe, love your 3 year old’s expression… cute…
October 12th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Great choice for the theme
October 12th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
I never even heard of that fruit, let alone shrimp paste! Fascinating.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
You learn something new everyday. That is fascinating and the next time the cookbook calls for it (when we study world cultures we cook the foods) I will kow what I am looking for.
October 12th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
thats smelly indeed. TC
October 12th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
That’s interesting. I’ve never heard of it before. Nice pictures.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Belacan is smelly BUT good taste if cook with kangkung..
I have done mine Smelly post too
http://www.keeyit.com/index.php/2007/10/13/photo-hunter-smelly/
Happy Weekend~
October 12th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
sounds smelly but good to taste..nice entry..happy weekend!mine is up too.
October 12th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
thanks for this info. now i know it comes in granules. i love belacan, not plenty of it though.
happy weekend!
October 12th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I love belacan! A lot. Especially the “Kangkung Belacan”. Delicious!
October 12th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Oh I love belacan! I love it in belacan fried chicken, kangkung… Oh love it!
October 12th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
The Philippines’ version of shrimp paste is not dry, and not brown but pinkish or purple-ish. Though it’s also smelly but tastes heavenly.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
how interesting!! Great smelly shot.
October 12th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
*grins*
mine is the cooked version..so yummy right?
October 13th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Mmm… must be tasty, even if smelly a bit!
October 13th, 2007 at 1:27 am
I like shrimp paste in a variety of dishes but I don’t think I’ve tried this kind before. Interesting!
October 13th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Phewwww - I don’t like shrimp paste - Very smelly
October 13th, 2007 at 1:53 am
Great photos… wish I knew how it smells: there are so many smells in this world that I don’t know about!!
Happy weekend!
October 13th, 2007 at 2:07 am
I’d not seen that before. Even toned down I bet it still has a strong smell! Happy weekend
October 13th, 2007 at 3:07 am
Alamak! My Muslim neighbour whenever she cooks belachan chilli will kill us with the horrible smell! Imagine the whole day and the whole house filled with that smell! yucks.
October 13th, 2007 at 3:14 am
The photo hunt has really made us aware of other cultures and ways of living. I learn something new every week!
Happy Weekend.
October 13th, 2007 at 4:18 am
my family hates it too..we prefer jus with garlic or onions…for our cooking i mean
October 13th, 2007 at 4:51 am
Great choice! I don’t know what it smells like but I’ll take your word. At first, without the explanation, I thought it was some kind of pet food.. LOL Happy Weekend!!
October 13th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Eeeeew…I bet that does stink. I’ve never heard of it before.
Thanks for sharing. Happy Hunting.
October 13th, 2007 at 6:33 am
That does look smelly. Enjoy your weekend!
October 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Wow, great choice and excellent shots indeed!
October 13th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Interesting! I’d never heard of belacan before. I’d take your three-year-old’s word that it smells!
My smelly photo.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Never heard of it…Sounds smelly though!
October 13th, 2007 at 7:40 am
I dont beleive I have ever tasted this…but shrimp paste? Cant I just have the shrimp? lol..Thanks for visiting my hunt today!
October 13th, 2007 at 7:54 am
Never come across this before, not sure I’d want to if it’s that smelly…
October 13th, 2007 at 8:08 am
This is the instant belacan packing. If anyone plan to use the original ones, there’s no way you can hide the smell from your neighbourhood when you are cooking.. haha
October 13th, 2007 at 8:24 am
What an interesting post. I have never heard of this. What would you use it in?
sara from farmingfriends
October 13th, 2007 at 9:27 am
I first thought it was dry cat food, lol ! but then I could smell it until here !
October 13th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Interesting. I bet that tastes good even if the smell is not nice. Is it salty? I prefer shrimp paste prepared with lots of garlic and with a little chili. Yum!
Btw, I just came from your food blog and got lost somewhere. I love your entries there.
Have a great weekend!
October 13th, 2007 at 10:26 am
eeeewwwww…I just can totally smell it. Great post for the theme!
happy weekend!
October 13th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
A very interesting post. Someone else has mentioned Durian - I have not heard of it before. The Belacan sounds very tasty - I will look out for it now I have seen your photo!
October 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
never heard of shrimp paste…maybe I should leave the hills of North Idaho.
I could of taken a picture of my hubby work socks they stink enough even to gag a maggot.
October 13th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sounds very smelly indeed but I am sure it adds good flavour. Thanks for visiting and have a good weekend
October 13th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Aww bless, it must be very smelly then!
October 13th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
That doesn’t look very appetising! Especially not if it’s got a bad smell. I saw durians on someone else’s blog. I’d never heard of them before. I learn lots from blogging!
October 13th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Out of the mouth of babes. Leave it to kids to always say what the rest of us are thinking.
Very creative for this week’s theme. I had never heard of that before.
October 13th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
I have heard so many people mention this Durian, which I’ve never heard of. I will have to check it out next time I’m in a place with a fresh market.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Never smelled this but I’ll take your daughter’s word for it - smelly!!!
Great choice. Thanks for dropping by.