Cuisine & Food

Cuisine & Food

What do you eat when you travel to Malaysia? Well, you will be spoilt for choice because there are so many different types of cuisines to try out. Some of them are local and some are international.

Well, Malaysian dishes are just like the culture, that is, a mix-pot of dishes, as diverse as the cultures that are found in the country. Therefore, you should expect to find Indian, Malay and Chinese dishes.

The Malaysian food is close to the Indonesian food, but it is a bit different at the same time. There are so many types of Malaysian food that you can try out, some of it spicy, some not so spicy and some not spicy at all. The food is delicious though and once your palates have a taste of the same, you will wander the streets looking for it. Be warned though that you may want to keep off the street food, just as you would in any other country. However, note that the authorities in Malaysia ensure that the highest standards for food processing and preparation are upheld.

Here are some of the most popular dishes that you can try out:

Satay

Satay is mainly grilled skewers that could be made of chicken, beef, mutton, goat meat or even pork in areas that are non-Muslim. This food is then dipped into a rich sauce and taken with relish. If you would like to take this dish the traditional way, just use the coconut skewers. Because it is a popular food, you can get it almost anywhere, even in the side road kiosk. You will take it with peanut sauce.

Mee Goreng Mamak

This food is what you would call the best of two worlds, yes, two worlds of great, distinct cuisine, yet brought together in one pot to commit murder, but sweet murder to your taste buds. Mee Goreng Mamak sounds like something from a Hindi movie, but it is not. It is a meal that is a crossbreed of Indian and Muslim Cuisine. In just four simple words – YOU WILL LOVE IT!

It is so simple you will be tempted to write it off, but you know what? Sometimes the simplest things are the best. It is made up of vegetables, soy sauce, shrimp, eggs, chicken and yellow noodles. In other places, you will find beef instead of chicken. Well, it is just as good. Take it.

Nasi Lemak

This is not a complex dish since it is just rice that is then cooked in coconut milk. However, note that most people eat it not only for its delicious taste only, but because of the accompaniments that it is served with, which differ from one place to another. For example, in some parts, it can be served with chicken or beef curry, fried or steamed vegetables, lamb, hardboiled eggs, peanuts and even seafood! While Malaysians consider it more of a breakfast dish, well, today, you will find that many restaurants serve this sumptuous food throughout the day, anytime.

Nasi Kerabu

This is blue rice! I know, food color pops into mind and again, you are right… but wait a little … this “food color” comes from the blue tinge of the telang flowers that are crushed and added to the rice. So its color yes, but it is all natural. Here is what happens … you get a serving of your blue rice in a plate, then add your bean sprouts, fried coconut and then add a fermented fish sauce that is specific to the Northern Malaysia peninsular. The locals eat this food with their hands, and you too can do the same. Makes you feel kind of part of the crowd, no? Enjoy!

Ayam Percik

Minus the technical jargon, this is just chicken cooked or eaten with percik sauce. But that is not all! What happens is that barbecued chicken is splashed with spicy chili, garlic, ginger sauce and garlic with a fair share of coconut milk. It is a hot dish, and it will practically give your taste buds a run for their money, literary. Well… the sauce will make you want to spit the food out, but then the sweet side of your tongue will want to hold on. Ayam percik is one of the unforgettable Malaysian foods.  

Nasi Dagang

Nasi Dagang is another of the simplest yet one of the most sumptuous dishes that you can eat in Malaysia. It is made of rice that is simmered in coconut milk. It is taken with curried chicken and may also be served with additions like boiled eggs, vegetables, fried coconut (shaved). This meal is most popular along the eastern coast of Malaysia peninsular. Mostly served as a breakfast dish, you can order it any time you like and you will get it.

Hokkien Mee

It is said that this dish has a huge fanbase in Kuala Lumpur, but you will never understand why unless you try it. It is made with yellow noodles cooked with squid, pork with soy sauce, cabbage and fish cake. The garnishing is cubes of pork lard (fried) and there is no specific time for eating this dish. This is the dish that says you have been to Malaysia.

Bakuteh

This is another of the simplest meals that you can order in Malaysia and the good thing about it is that it is cooked with some of the most nutritious herbs in the world. Basically, it is a kind of soup that is made from pork ribs, cooked slowly with herbs like dong guai, cloves, garlic, star anise, fennel seeds and cinnamon. That is not all because some people add vegetables and mushrooms.

Roti Canai

If you know Indian food, then you have no doubt come across the roti canai or its close sister dishes. It is made of wheat or rice flour dough with ghee and eggs, but it can also be made with onions, eggs and sardines. It is then stretched to extra thin form and then folded again and cooked on the griddle. It is then served with lentil dal curry.

And many more ...