Story by Mekyla Rose Forbes
Having a diverse culture, Malaysia can be considered as a basket of cuisines --- Chinese, Indian, Thai, and other delicacies in Southeast Asia. Each of these cuisines has a different flavor profile and yet each one tastes as great as the others. Here are a few must-try dishes when you visit Malaysia!
Nasi Lemak
Nasi Lemak is white rice cooked in coconut cream. It is fragrant and oh-so-yummy! It is usually eaten as breakfast which is best paired with sambal*, fried anchovies, hard-boiled egg, peanuts, and rendang.
*Sambal is a thick red sauce made out of a variety of chili and other spices. Surprisingly, it is not too spicy but rather a perfect balance of flavors.
Rendang
Although it highly resembles curry, rendang has a lesser amount of sauce than the latter. Rendang can either be made with beef, chicken, or pork. The meat is slowly cooked in coconut milk and other spices until it absorbs all of the flavors and evaporates the liquid, leaving you with a dish that you will surely enjoy!
Roti Canai
Roti Canai is a flatbread which can be enjoyed on its own or dipped in sauces (like sambal). It is cooked in such a way that the exterior is crunchy while the interior is chewy. Its structure makes it the best spoon to scoop your favourite sauce! (Extra tip: it is best eaten using your hands!)
Clay Pot Chicken Rice
This is probably one of my favourite Malaysian flavors! From the name itself, it is fried rice cooked in a clay pot and topped with stir fried chicken. Personally, I consider this dish a Chinese paella. A serving of this hearty meal can be good for 3-4 people so it is guaranteed to be a gastronomic experience you can share with friends.
Satay
Satay is grilled chicken or beef in skewers. Every tender bite is an explosion of flavors in your mouth. This dish can be eaten as a snack because of its cheap price and can easily be found along the jalan or streets.
Appam
Appam highly resembles a pancake except that this delicacy has a crunchy exterior (especially the sides!) and a soft and sticky interior. Just like the roti canai, this can either be enjoyed as it is or paired with your preferred dip. However, appam is more of a dessert since it tastes like coconut unlike the roti canai which is more of an appetizer.
There are a lot more dishes to enjoy and flavors to savor in Malaysia. The best part is you really do not have to spend a lot of money in fancy restaurants just to try these dishes. In fact, those that are found along the streets are more authentic but with a really cheaper price.
Do not forget to ask the locals where you can try these dishes! Whether it is a hot morning or midnight and you suddenly felt a craving, you need not to worry because most of the food stalls are open 24/7.
P.S. All of these are best paired with teh tarik! Once you get a sip of it, you will definitely say who you ka siz to milk teas here in the Philippines. (Up to now, I still could not find anything up to par :( )
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