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3 min readShrimp Paste (Terasi) in Bali Cooking
Flavor role, buying tips, storage, and substitutions for Balinese cooking
Bumbu Bali Editorial
Culinary education team · Bali, Indonesia
Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Flavor role in Balinese cooking
Terasi is the deep savory bass note. Used carefully, it makes Balinese food taste complete.
How to buy and store
- Roast or toast before use
- A little goes far
- Wrap well — aroma travels
Smart substitutions
- Other Southeast Asian shrimp pastes carefully
- Miso is not equivalent but can rescue vegetarian umami in experiments
Where it shows up
- Sambal
- Base pastes
- Vegetable dishes
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