Fazlin cutting smoked ikan lumek to size.
SIBU: Dried Red Lumek or Lumek Merah Kering is a new seafood product from Pulau Bruit that is being well received as a tasty snack to be served during the festive season.
Since its introduction to the local market, it has been in demand, especially in Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Sarikei and Bintulu and is being brought to the peninsula as a ‘buah tangan’ or goodwill gift.
Fazlin Azmi, 24, of Kampong Betanak in Pulau Bruit said she inherited from her family several marine food recipes handed down by their ancestors.
Asked how the snack tastes, she replied: “If you like dried squid, available in a wide variety of flavours in the market, then you will like the new product suitable for serving during the festive season.
“Dried red lumek, which is halal, tastes like dried squid but maintains more of its natural favours since it is traditionally processed.”
This marine product, which is reasonably priced at RM10 for 200g, is available in two flavours: spicy and regular.
She revealed that the processing of the preserved fish took a day or so, depending on the weather.
“The main ingredient for smoked lumek is fish which has to be cut down to size and the mid bone removed by hand. The fish is then pan-fried with various ingredients until dry before being dried in the sun.
Other fish products marketed by Bruit islanders are dried shrimp (sesar unjur), smoked lumek (lumek salai kering), smoked fish, cencaluk or preserved shrimps, belacan or shrimp paste, salted fish, fish crackers (keropok lekur) and more.
Fazlin also sells cookies and cakes like Cake Lapis Sarawak.