I must say this at the very beginning; to get really good authentic local food, go out to a Pasar Malam (night market), or find street side hawkers. Night markets or hawker bazaars have a spectrum of food all over the place; you’ll never be able to decide. If you are in Malaysia during the month of Ramadan (which is near - end of September 2006)
almost every stretch of street will have Pasar Malam style food stalls, with intensified quantities and varieties. This place will be crowded with people looking for food for breaking their fast, after a whole day without food or water.
Malay food is generally spicy. Northern states have Thai influences (tends to be tangier and more hot). In southern states, there’s more Indonesian influence. Food from the state Negeri Sembilan uses excessive amounts of chili. There’s a tiny kind of chili called the ‘Cili Padi’ which is probably one of the hottest chili in the world, used generously in Negeri Sembilan cooking. Be advised: Not red does not necessarily mean not hot.
Must tries: Nasi Lemak (steamed rice with coconut milk, served with boiled eggs and sautéed anchovies with cili), Nasi Dagang (a special kind of sticky rice with normally fish or chicken in specially spiced gravy), Nasi Kerabu (naturally colored blue rice mixed up with loads of fresh and raw vegetables, with fried fish and/or roasted beef), Satay (skewed chicken or beef dipped with peanut sauce).
Chinese food can be heavy, greasy and hot/spicy (Szechuan). Cantonese style cooking can be lighter. Common dishes are peking duck and shark fin’s soup. Don’t forget to taste Char Kuey Teow (skillfully fried noodles, cooked in extreme heat in an amazing duration of less than 2 minutes), Chicken Rice (rice cooked with chicken stock, roasted chicken and sweet sour dipping chili sauce.
Indian food is very spicy. Normally chicken curry, fish curry, beef curry, mutton curry, chicken/beef/mutton korma, and more curry, with different spices used. Various breads are chapatti, roti canai, tosai, roti nan, roti tissue, and roti bom. (Roti means bread). Some Indian restaurants serve rice with these sides on banana leaves, which do give more aroma and flavor to it. Never ever miss drinking teh tarik.
Rice is staple food, irrespective of race. All food items in these markets can range from RM2 to RM6
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Adrianne Curry Says:
November 23rd, 2006 at 2:14 amVisit Adrianne Curry
chicken korma
Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Adrianne Curry.