MAIN INGREDIENTS
Satay celup is a traditional dish, particularly popular in the Malacca state (also known as "the historic state"), where it is considered a local favorite. It is a self-serve dish, consisting of skewers of marinated meat, raw seafood, or even vegetables that are dunked into a simmering pot of satay sauce.
The sauce is primarily made with peanuts, dried chili peppers, garlic, and palm sugar, but the full recipe differs from one eatery to another. Usually, satay celup is accompanied by barley drinks, coconut water, or herbal tea in order to combat the spiciness of the sauce.
MOST ICONIC Satay celup
The main characteristic of this popular Malaysian dish is the combination of tamarind juice and chili paste, giving the dish its signature sour and spicy flavors. Even though it appears in numerous varieties throughout the country, it is traditionally prepared with okra, tomatoes, fish, and various seasonings, all cooked in a zesty, rich broth.
Asam pedas is usually enjoyed as the main course, commonly served accompanied by rice.
MOST ICONIC Asam pedas
View moreCharacterized by its rich and spicy broth, this comforting noodle soup is one of the classic dishes found in many Southeast Asian countries. It was developed under the influence of different culinary traditions, which has led to the creation of numerous regional varieties that differ in flavors and ingredients.
Two of the most famous versions are the sour, tamarind-based asam laksa and the creamy curry laksa. Especially favored in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, laksa is usually prepared and enjoyed at hawker centers as a hearty main course.
VARIATIONS OF Laksa
MOST ICONIC Laksa
Assam laksa is a traditional fish-based sour noodle soup. It is the one of the numerous varieties of laksa, popular noodle soups widespread throughout Southeast Asia. The dish consists of rice noodles, shredded fish, and sliced vegetables, most commonly cucumber, onion, and lettuce.
It has a distinctively tangy taste, which is attributed to tamarind, the sour ingredient generously used to spice the dish. The exact origin of the dish is unknown, but it is believed that it has originated in the coastal areas of Malaysia among the local fishermen who assembled the dish out of available ingredients.
MOST ICONIC Assam laksa
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Roti canai is a traditional pan-fried flatbread made with flour, water, eggs, and fat of Indian origin, but mainly associated with Malaysia, and surrounding countries like Indonesia, Brunei, and Thailand. The dough for roti canai is repeatedly folded, so the final product has a layered texture, a soft interior, and a crispy outer layer.
The most common fat used in roti canai is ghee, the traditional Indian clarified butter. It is believed that the dish originated in India when the Indian laborers who migrated to Malaysia brought the recipe and the tradition of preparing this crispy pastry to the foreign country.
VARIATIONS OF Roti canai
MOST ICONIC Roti canai
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Roti tisu is the paper thin variety of the traditional Malay roti canai. It is prepared with the same type of dough that is stretched thin, sometimes up to five or six feet in length, and it is then shortly pan-fried. Tisu is served wrapped around a large cone, hence its alternative name rocket roti or roti helicopter.
It can be served alongside curries or chutneys, but it is usually enjoyed as a dessert or a sweet snack, when it comes drizzled with condensed milk or chocolate, dusted with sugar, or sided with ice cream or fruit jams. A staple at Mamak restaurants and stalls throughout Singapore and Malaysia, roti tisu is usually eaten by cracking small pieces of delicate pastry with your hands.