Favourite Malaysian and Asian recipes with time-saving hacks
This Chinese New Year, I had the privilege of learning how to make jiu hu char, a beloved Nyonya dish, from my mum. For those unfamiliar, it’s a stir-fry of jicama (or bangkuang) and dried cuttlefish. Typically enjoyed as a side dish with rice or wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves, it embodies the essence of…
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No matter where you are in the world, chances are there’s a version of the curry chicken. From the rich, slow-cooked curries of India to the mildly sweet Japanese kare, every culture has its own spin. Here in Malaysia, curry chicken isn’t just one dish — it’s a reflection of our multicultural society. With Chinese,…
I love me some hummus but tahini is SO expensive in Malaysia – then one day I thought, can I make hummus WITHOUT tahini? Turns out you can! The secret lies in a pantry staple familiar to every Asian kitchen: sesame oil. While it may not replicate the exact taste of tahini, it’s a great…
I’m not much of a baker and measuring ingredients with precision ain’t my style, but I will make an exception for this chocolate banana bread. I have made it over and over again, partly because it’s so forgiving and partly because it’s just that good. The beauty of this recipe is how it doesn’t demand…
For most of my life, I’ve regarded roast chicken as a dish flavoured with “Western” herbs like rosemary and thyme. Then at a Christmas party, I ate a roast chicken that overturned all my assumptions. The flavours were deep, complex and unlike any roast chicken I’d ever tasted. When I asked the chef for the…
Mark my words, this gingery soya sauce chicken is the ULTIMATE side dish to pair with rice. After my first bite of this dish created by Wong Zenzi @onegoodmeal.a.day I had only one thought: “Aiya, I wish I’d cooked more rice!” I also understood why the recipe went viral: such intense and complex flavours contributed…
When it comes to brownies, I’m strictly #teamfudgy. After eating my way through a mountain of (mostly) cakey ones, I decided to try making my own. Many experiments later, I’ve come up with a formula that works! Here’s everything you need to know to achieve that perfect, gooey texture. The Key to Fudgy Brownies Get…
If you’re craving a bowl of comforting, flavorful soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, try my cheat version of Chinese style fish soup noodles. With just a few key ingredients (only 4 for the soup base!) and a simple technique, you can whip up a one-pot meal that feels like it…
This Chinese-style minced meat noodles recipe is a must-try if you love noodles with big bold flavours which are easy to prepare. It’s so good that my husband asks for it every single week (and I happily oblige), no exaggeration! The secret to its addictive taste lies in a killer sauce. Sear tender minced meat…
Feeling lazy and uninspired yet craving comfort food … folks, your answer is baked cheese rice. Featuring fragrant, savoury rice crowned with a blanket of gooey, bubbling cheese, this hearty dish will be an instant hit in your household. And nope, you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen creating complicated sauces from scratch…
This is a super simple recipe on Indian butter chicken that will deliver restaurant-quality results! If you found your way here, you probably already know butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani, is an insanely delicious Indian dish served with a creamy sauce made from tomatoes and butter. I’ve made multiple attempts at creating North…
When I first heard of smoked duck carbonara, I was very, very skeptical. Smoked duck as a replacement for bacon? No way, José! And I’m not even Italian! Fyi, bacon is not even the cured meat of choice for proper carbonara, ya? Italians traditionally make this pasta by tossing hot noodles (usually spaghetti) in a…
Ah, shrimp toast brings back fond memories of my childhood. Growing up, I spent a lot of time poring over mum’s mountains of recipe books. One day, in a thick hardcover tome that was filled with mouthwatering illustrations – either Puriselera or Malaysian Cooking something – I came across this Hong Kong dim sum specialty…
Cili boh, chilli paste, cili giling. When I first dipped my toes into the cooking world, I came across these terms in Malaysian recipes and was thoroughly confused. Alamak, so many types of cili. What’s the difference? Actually, was there even a difference? If you are like me, be confused no more. The terms essentially…
If there’s a side dish that’s universally beloved, it must be sweet and sour chicken. Who could resist crispy battered juicy chicken pieces tossed in an appetizing sweet sticky sauce with crunchy vegetables? As my husband, nieces and nephews would say, “One plate of rice is not enough!” Chances are, you have probably eaten sweet…
