Hot-and-Sour Fruit Salad

Mix 8 red chiles (such as Fresno), ground with a mortar and pestle, ¼ cup (packed; 50 g) light or dark brown sugar, ¼ cup fish sauce, 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, 2 Tbsp. dried shrimp, ground with a mortar and pestle, 2 Tbsp. toasted rice powder, and ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a small bowl to combine.

Gently toss ¼ small pineapple, cored, cut into 1" pieces, ½ ripe medium mango, peeled, cut into 1" pieces, 2 large kiwis, peeled, halved, sliced crosswise into half-moons, 1 star fruit, thinly sliced, 4 oz. fresh strawberries, hulled, halved, 2 oz. red currants, torn into bunches, 2 cups 1" cubes watermelon, and 2 Tbsp. dressing in a medium bowl to coat (this will be very spicy, so reduce to 1 Tbsp. if you prefer less heat). Transfer fruit salad to a platter and drizzle more dressing over if desired.