Gohu ikan is a traditional dish from the Maluku islands in Indonesia. It's made by mixing raw fish (ikan) with lime juice and various spices like chili, salt, and shallots.
Think of it like you're making a special kind of salad, but instead of using vegetables, you're using fish!
When the lime juice is added to the fish, it helps to "cook" it without heat, the same way lemon juice can "cook" ceviche. This process is called denaturing. Denaturing happens when the acid in the lime juice changes the protein in the fish, making it firmer and more opaque.
After the fish is "cooked" with the lime juice, it's mixed with the spices to give it flavor. Think of it like adding salt and pepper to your food, but instead of just using those two spices, the gohu ikan recipe uses chili, shallots, and other spices for extra flavor.
Overall, gohu ikan is a delicious and unique dish that's enjoyed by many people in Indonesia and around the world.