Malay food.  Two words that need to be spoken more and seen more often on the food scene.  Before my trip to Malaysia, I had never eaten Malaysian (Malay) food. I hadn’t really heard of it before either.  It’s larger rivals…Thai, Indian, Mexican, Italian, Chinese…just to name a few, have overshadowed Malay food and it just isn’t fair.

My week in Malaysia was filled with food.  All I did was eat and eat. The only sightseeing I did was on my way down the street to the next hawker stall or restaurant that awaited me. By the end of my trip, I was afraid I would have to be rolled onto the plane due to the severe food coma I was in. So when I think about Malaysia I naturally think of food.  The food is a wonderful combination of Indian, Chinese, and Thai influence.  My taste buds were in love with me.

Top 12 Dishes I fell in LOVE with (in no particular order):

 

1. Masala Tea- I found this tea in a vegetarian Indian restaurant and ended up drinking 2 cups in 30 minutes… It tastes like Chai tea’s long lost cousin. Enough caffeine to perk you up and a smooth flavor that lingers on your pallet long after your first sip. Basically, it is addicting.

2. Shrimp Cake Dish- Obviously this is not the real name of the dish.  I have searched everywhere for it’s name and have not had any luck.  If you know the name please let me know! It is a combination of shrimp, buttery batter, herbs, and spices.  Once it is done deep frying, it is chopped up with a cleaver into tiny pieces and topped with vegetables.  It is scrumptious.

3. Apam Balik – This sweet dish will have you coming back for more.  It is best eaten right after it comes out of the skillet. A warm buttery, salty and sweet dessert taco with a sprinkle of corn inside. Mmmm.

4. Roti Tissue – It looks like a volcano of goodness and it is. Sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with condensed milk. Break it off piece by crunchy piece and try to savor every bite!

5. Murtabak- Similar to a thin pancake.  These can be filled with honey and bananas or with a chicken curry mixture.  The possibilities and variations are endless.

6. Rojak – Various fruits and vegetables covered with a sweet tamarind and palm sugar sauce. Topped with crushed peanuts and sesame seeds. Sometimes they put in jellied squid…

7. Roti Jala-   This flour batter is egg-y and has a spongy consistency.  It is folded into a beautiful square and then topped with a sauce.  You can have it sweet or spicy!

8. Curry Mee – Exactly what it sounds like. A tasty blend of curry and coconut milk with the addition of yellow and vermicelli noodles, bean curd, prawns, cuttlefish, and bean sprouts.

9. Chicken Satay-  Chicken that has been marinated in a special concoction of spices and smothered in a spicy sauce. The chicken looks like it has been dyed yellow from the spices in the marinade as it cooks on top of smokey coals.

10. Char Kuey Teow – Medium wide rice noodles that have been stir fried with egg, shrimp, vegetables, and Chinese sausage in a dark soy sauce. Be careful not to inhale it on your first bite.

11. Laksa Asam – A fish broth soup that has been spiked with tamarind paste to create a sour tang. It is served with thick rice noodles, mint, and other goodies. (This was my favorite soup!)

12. Malaysian Pita Pocket- Alright another dish that I can’t find the name of, but it is oh so delicious.  Homemade flat bread stuffed with seasoned chicken or beef and fresh vegetables.  The merchant will then point to 6 different bottles holding brightly colored sauces.  I just told her to do her thing and it turned out finger licking good. Messy, but good.

If you are ever in Malaysia I hope you eat your little heart out like I did.  If you can’t make the trip to this wonderful country look somewhere closer to home for a Malaysian restaurant and experience the flavor and passion found in Malay food.

If you know the correct names for the dishes I couldn’t recall, please let me know!