The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Malaysian Foods. If you manage to be in an Malaysian restaurant or you are visiting Malaysia, I recommend the following:
1. Sambal Udang
These are prawns cooked with sambal paste (called udang in Malaysia), hence the name of the dish, Sambal Udang. These large prawns come out in a thick sauce brimming with sambal and celeriac. When boiled, belacan develops a melt-in-the-mouth aroma. The red color in the preparation is very appetizing, while the taste is unmatched. You can also try other flavors by substituting other meats and seafood in similar recipes. It is usually served with white rice.
2. Chai Tow Kway
Chai Tao Kueh is a Teochew dish, or dim sum, found in Teochew (China), Singapore and Malaysia, and consists of fried radish cakes. It is made from a radish cake (steamed rice flour, water and grated daikon radish) which is then fried with eggs, preserved radish and other spices. Carrot cake is usually served in a large rectangular dish, steamed and then fried whole. Carrot cake can also be eaten as is, steamed or steamed and fried instead of steamed and fried with other ingredients. Both steamed and fried varieties are often served with chives.
3. Mee Rebus
Mee Rebus is a delicacy that can be found all over Malaysia. The egg noodles are topped with a potato-thickened sauce that is sweet, spicy and slightly sour. This dish can be garnished with your favorite toppings such as limes, chili, bean sprouts and hard-boiled eggs. Over time, due to its popularity, Mee Rebus can be found in all food outlets, from hawker stalls and food markets to the finest hotels and fine dining restaurants.
4. Ikan Bakar
Ikan bakar is a charcoal grilled fish in Indonesia and Malaysia. The fish is seasoned with a spicy marinade, then wrapped in banana leaves and placed on a hot grill. The banana leaves prevent the fish from sticking to the grill, retain moisture and give the dish its characteristic vanilla aroma. While grilling will give this dish a wonderful smoky flavor, you can also use a gas grill or even a stovetop grill. Grilled stingray is a common dish at Malaysian street stalls. If you visit, look for the ikan bakar sign. These stalls usually serve a variety of grilled fish, but the current favorite is stingray.
5. Jeu Hoo Char
Jeu hoo char is fried yam beans with minced squid and is usually enjoyed with rice or as a wrap. It is a simple, light and healthy Asian meal, low in fat and calories. Mashed yam or jicama is delicious on its own because it is crunchy and contains a unique combination of vitamins, fiber and minerals. Jiu Hu Char is usually served with sang choy (lettuce) which is used as a wrapper for the delicious filling.
6. Gulai Ayam Kampung
Chicken curry recipe, which is how we can describe this dish, is a popular food in Malaysia. Although it has spread to different regions, the dish is said to have originated in Sumatra. In fact, there is also a difference between Sumatran curry and Javanese curry. Sumatran curry tends to have a thicker texture, while Javanese curry tends to have a more watery texture. This chicken curry has a sour and spicy sensation due to its high carbohydrate content.
7. Goreng Pisang
Pisang goreng is a delicious fried banana fritter made in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. It has a natural sweetness and is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. However, it is important to get ripe bananas, not the classic yellow Cavendish bananas, which are too soft in texture for baking. Pisang goreng is usually served with a cup of tea or coffee. Places called warung kopi are local cafes that serve pisang goreng for breakfast drinks.
8. Kaya Toast
In Malaysia, kaya is the name for coconut paste and kaya toast is the most traditional breakfast in Singapore and Malaysia, also known as roti kahwin (wedding bread). Kaya consists of three basic ingredients: coconut milk, eggs and white sugar. The Malay word for coconut butter, kaya, means “rich” and refers to the texture and composition of this popular dish. The result is a rich creamy milk cream used as a base for desserts.
9. Lor Bak
Lor Bak is a popular street food in Malaysia, especially among the Chinese. It is a meat roll wrapped in a tofu skin, seasoned with Chinese five-spice powder and deep-fried until crispy. Besides being a famous street food that can be found everywhere, it is also the most popular festive food during Chinese New Year. Other names also refer to the same charcuterie. So, if you come across Spicy Beef Roll, Ngoh Hiang Pork Roll, Loh Bak, Spicy Pork Roll and Spicy Pork Roll, they are all variants of Lor Bak.
10. Putu Piring
Putu Piring is a popular sweet in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It is made from ground rice flour and is filled with palm sugar or gula melaka in the middle. When steamed, serve with freshly grated steamed and salted coconut. The texture of this snack is fine and crumbly, but the combination of coconut, steamed rice flour and a touch of palm sugar is delicious in every bite.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Asian Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.