It’s not the most talked about country, but when it comes to dining, there is probably no other place with such an incredible – and mouthwatering – array of food choices in the whole region than Malaysia.
Saucy chicken cuts, vegetarian food, a plethora of rice dishes, all sorts of steamed and barbequed fish, and a paradise of noodles. It is probably because of such an intricate variety – obvious reflection of the country’s diverse ethnic mélange – that most visitors may have a problem choosing what they like best, or what they should try first.
To help you get the best out of your Malaysian food experience, here are 10 of the most authentic, delicious, and readily available dishes you may find on offer at any Malaysian street corner and restaurant. Moreover, they are good to suit all sorts of travel budgets. Be advised, though: you will need to be comfortable around spicy food in order to fully appreciate the best that Malaysian cuisine has to offer. To help you, I have indicated a 1 to 5 point spice grading for each item.
There is definitely much more to be learned about Malaysian food. However, after reading the following 10 suggestions, you will be able to order confidently your favorite delicacies without making the locals queuing behind you go “gila”…
1: Nasi lemak
Spice-o-meter: 3 out of 5
If there is a quintessential Malay staple rice dish, that is nasi lemak. Literally meaning “butter rice,” it is a simple white rice dish spruced up with almonds, dried anchovies, cucumber, boiled eggs, and spicy sambal sauce. You may find it in two different varieties: the simple street version packed in a banana leaf and conceived to be swiftly consumed sitting on a stool at a street stall, or the more “up market” kind served in restaurants on a plate. The difference usually comes with pricing, where a street side nasi lemak may cost you as low as 1 ringgit (around $0.33USD), while the one served on a plate may reach up to 6 ringgit ($2), according to the quantity of side choices that are offered along with the rice. To many, this is the essential dish representing the Malay Muslim majority and is not to be confused with Nasi goreng, or better, the different fried rice variety.
2: Satay
Spice-o-meter: 1 out of 5
This is barbeque, Malaysian style. Feast on different chicken, lamb, or beef mini skewers perfectly roasted on a fire grill and served together with a sweet-sour crumbled peanut sauce.
The most daring may try the cow intestines, definitely a bit more chewy than the others, but totally enjoyable. You may also try the squid satay, which is generally served at most street stalls lining the Malaysian coastline. The specialty of satay is the mildly spicy peanut sauce served with your skewers. By skipping the dip, you would not really savor satay’s unique flavor. A perfect companionship for those long-lasting Malaysian sunsets spent sitting at a street stall or relaxing at a beach’s esplanade, preferably with Tiger beer in hand.
3: Char koay teow
Spice-o-meter: 2 out of 5
This kind of fried noodles is typically Malaysian: flat, wide noodles are served together with fried egg, green lettuce, bean sprouts, and seafood. This constitutes one of the country’s not-to-miss dishes. It comes in a Chinese and Malay version – the former being drier and the latter heavier on prawn and minced seafood. Char koay teow differs in each region, and different cities provide a slightly different mix of the ingredients, with each one adding local flavor. One of the most delicious and famous is definitely Penang island’s, where you can literally find char koay teow anywhere you look for food.
4-Hokkien mee
Spice-o-meter: 4 out of 5
Typical noodle staple dish of the Malaysian Chinese community, hokkien mee is a hot bowl of steamy noodles cooked with prawn, boiled egg, chilies, and spices. To me, this is possibly the best, most representative noodle dish in the country. You can choose white, yellow, or glass noodles, or a mix of the three, to slightly modify the taste and the way your noodles will absorb the spicy broth. Make sure you have a drink and some tissues on you, as hokkien mee can literally “open up” your sinuses! Hokkien mee is recommended for hot nights and monsoon days. Again, Penang has some of the best in the country.
No comments :
Post a Comment