Malaysia Food

The diverse Malaysia Food menu
embodies the culinary tradition
of Malaysia people

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Although tradition represents many things to different people, part of Malaysia’s tradition is survived by its culinary traditions.

When it comes to gastronomic delights, Malaysia has all the right ingredients – tropical weather, fertile agricultural soil and eco-rich oceans.

The melting pot of multicultural Malaysia people ensures nature’s gifts are turned into delightful Malaysia food recipe.

Indulging, the Malaysian way, is priceless! Even as a Malaysian, I am still excited by the prospect of a new discovery.

Over the years, my food hunting adventures took me from cluttered street food stall and noisy traditional coffee shops, to air-conditioned restaurants and classy fine dining establishments. Every encounter is a unique experience of multicultural taste, aroma, sight and texture.

Food in Malaysia is a fascinating subject, encompassing a very large spectrum. For easy digestion, I have subdivided it into several smaller topics, organized by types of food. Click on any links below to thrill your taste buds…

Malay Village Cuisine

The thought of Malay food immediately provokes a few of my senses – it’s hot, spicy, sour, tropical, herbal and traditional.

The Javanese and Sumatrans have each brought with them their homeland recipes. By and large, the Malays have successfully preserved their food authenticity.

Interweaving of cultures also influenced the creation of new age Malay food. For instance, the ulam evidently carries a touch of Thai flavour while the Chinese noodles are now an integral part of Malay cuisine.

Oriental Delights

As a Malaysian who has been to places, I find Chinese food in Malaysia to be the most diverse on earth. From upmarket Chinese Restaurants, traditional coffee shops to street food, there is always something appetizing for everyone.

Chinese classical dishes like Peking duck, dim sum and shark fin’s soup are easily available and cooked to perfection. Having said that, some so-called made in Malaysia Chinese food like Yee Sang would confound any mainland Chinese.

Spicy Indian Cuisine

Despite making up only about 10% of Malaysia population, Indian restaurants and stalls are mushrooming everywhere. Most of these eateries are run by Indian Muslims. They observed strict Muslim dietary laws.

Hot and spicy Indian dishes served with rice is another Malaysia food special. My favourites include banana leaf rice, Indian rojak, roti canai (flattened bread), mee goreng mamak (fried mee Indian style) and the celebrated magee or indomee goreng (instant noodle fried mee).

Northern Indian dishes like naan and poori are other popular Indian food.

Bi-cultural Peranakan food

Sitting somewhere atop my Malaysia food hierarchy is the exquisite Peranakan cuisine. Sometimes called food of love, Peranakan food is the result of mix marriages between Chinese and Malay.

The taste of Peranakan food is accompanied with great tradition and old world mystic.

Peranakan kitchen is easily found throughout Melaka (Malacca), the birthplace of Peranakan people and specialty restaurants or stalls around the country.

Some examples of famous Peranakan food are Laksa, Otak Otak (fish meat cake), Ayam Pongteh (potato stew chicken). Notable desserts include Angku Kuih (Red Tortoise cake) and Bubur Cha Cha.

Eurasian and Colonial Charm

Malaysia was once colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch and English. The complex mix of colonial cooking styles is further altered by the locals.

A friend of mine, who is a chef in an English western restaurant, once told me this - the British used to hire helpers in their kitchen, often Chinese. Since they find English food tasted flat, they mischievously slipped some seasonings such as soy or oyster sauce when preparing food. The result is tastier roasts and steaks which delighted their colonial masters.

Gifts from Tropical Forest

A customer of mine took me to specialty restaurants some time ago. He insisted that I taste the food before enquiring about it. The dishes, consisting of mostly meat and gravy were of course, ‘out of this world’.

Later, it dawn on me that my meal consisted of wild boar, flying fox and iguana just to name a few. The food is definitely not on your average Malaysia food menu nor for the faint hearted, but usually tastes good and known to be ‘heaty’.

Food Capital of the World?

Penang is often touted as the Street Food Capital of Malaysia, and some say, the world. So what's the hype about Penang Food?



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