Balichão

Balichão (Cantonese: 鹹蝦醬, haam4 haa1 zoeng3, "salt shrimp sauce") is an ingredient that is used in a number of dishes in Macanese cuisine.

It is made with shrimp, alcohol, salt, pepper, bay leaves and malagueta chillies.

[4][5] Some, however, find balichão's smell and taste milder and mellower than shrimp pastes from Southeast Asia.

[8] Balichão is noted as originating from shrimp pastes that were brought to Macao by Portuguese sailors who discovered it during their voyage to the city, and later developed by locals as a special variant.

[3] Besides krill, Balichão contains bay leaves, chili, clove, lime, peppercorn, and is laced with fortified wine.