Joanna James
Malaysia is the shopping central of South East Asia, but what you didn't know about the country is that they have a cuisine to die for. Here are some of the best dishes in Malaysia you should try while you're there.
This is a traditional way of serving food in parts of Asia, especially South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka. Rice, chicken curry, vegetable curries, yogurt, dried chilies and a crispy bread-like dish called papadam is usually served on the banana leaf. The curries and the rice on it look like a tiny spread and is absolutely delicious. This is one of the must-taste dishes in Malaysia.
This is a rice-based dish served with cooked fish. Coconut milk is used to steam the rice instead of water and that adds the dish a unique sweet flavour. The fish curry too is made with coconut milk and is flavoured with spices like turmeric, lemongrass, and galangal. The dish is typically served with tuna but sometimes you will find prawns and salmon instead.
Hokkien Mee has more than one versions to it. One is the stir-fried version originated in Singapore. The other two from Penang and they are cooked with broth. This dish consists of rice noodles cooked in dark and rich soy sauce. What makes the dish one of the top ten dishes is the crispy pork fat you find in it. This is not the healthiest dish but definitely a must-try.
This is another dish originated in Penang. Nasi means rice in Malay and Kandar is translated into "bamboo basket". Together, it means a basket of rice with an assortment of side dishes and curries. Some of the most common curries are mutton curry and squid curry.
Nasi Lemak is the national dish of Malaysia and is a local favourite. The rice has a unique taste and fragrance because it is cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves. There is more than one way of cooking Nasi Lemak. It is usually served with a hard-boiled or fried egg, a kind of sambal and a squid, chicken or fish curry. The dish is typically served for breakfast, but you can have this for lunch and dinner from restaurants.
This is a dish that is inspired by Indian cuisine. Rotti Canai is a flatbread that can be made into savoury and sweet dishes. The sweet version of roti canai is made with condensed milk and bananas. The savoury roti canai is paired with curries like dhal and chicken. They are usually made for breakfast, but they make an excellent snack as well.
This is Malaysia's most expensive dish and you can find it in cities all around Malaysia such as Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Sepang. Restaurant and hotel chefs in resorts the likes of AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort don't forget to include Sang Har Mee in their menus. The highlight of the dish is the large freshwater prawn dipped in creamy yet crispy noodles. This is a dish you must have on your food tour in Malaysia.
Rojack is a spicy salad consisting many tropical vegetables and fruits. Cucumber, bean curd, pineapples, and rose apples are staples of the salad. Some chefs include shrimps, fried tofu, cuttlefish and even crispy fritters to this. The sambal belacan is the most important ingredient that gives the salad its flavour. This is the undoubtedly one of the best dishes in Malaysia.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
