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August 06, 2008

Introducing Nasi Melayu / Malay Cooking

Nasi Melayu/Malay CookingAs a Malaysian food blog, I really haven't done a good job in introducing my readers about Malay-style cooking, which is essentially the main cuisine type in Malaysia as the ethnic Malays make up about 2/3 of Malaysia's total population. So, today, I am going to introduce you to Nasi Melayu (literally means "Malay rice") or the cooking of the Malays in Malaysia.

This rice plate of "Nasi Melayu" pretty much sums up the essence of Malay cooking--spicy, fiery, and lots of mouthwatering variety. The dishes (from closewise) are: fried fish in spicy sauce, sambal udang (prawn sambal), sweet and sour egg, fried tofu with turmeric and bean sauce, okra in sambal, and ulam (Malay-style salad with sambal belacan). There are definitely more to Malay cooking than those that meet your eyes here, for example, the famous Malay beef rendang. There are also many other wonderful chicken, vegetables, fish, rice and noodles dishes. I simply adore Malay cooking. It's colorful and absolutely delicious--one of the staple cuisines enjoyed by many Malaysians, regardless of our race, religion, or origins...

Nasi Melayu can be easily found at roadside stalls or hawker centers all over Malaysia. There are also restaurants selling various kinds of Malay dishes. At these stalls or restaurants, a diner usually gets a plate of steamed white rice and selects the dishes to go with the rice. (This is also known as "Nasi Campur" or mixed rice locally.) The total price of the rice plate depends on the quantity and the kind of dishes you order. There are also many popular Malay "Tomyam" food stalls selling made-to-order rice dishes. In this case, the foods served are influenced by Thailand, for example: various kinds of Tomyam (Tom Yum), Nasi Pattaya, Nasi Paprik, etc. ("Nasi" means rice in Malay language.)

In the near future, I hope to share more Malay-style cooking with you on Rasa Malaysia. For now, please let me know if this rice plate whets your virtual appetite. *wink*

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Comments on "Introducing Nasi Melayu / Malay Cooking"

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Blogger annechung said ... (1:52 PM) : 

This is the real deal, mmmm, yummy. Sedap, lah!

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Blogger Salt N Turmeric said ... (2:16 PM) : 

Im gonna faint looking at the pic. You are torturing me! But seriously, i would do exactly like you did. Put at least 5-6 dishes on my plate on top of the white rice.

p.s. Thanks for the link again. ;)

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Blogger Mei Del said ... (2:57 PM) : 

and of course healthier than your usual hawker fare because none of the dishes here would have been cooked using lard

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Blogger worldwindows said ... (4:39 PM) : 

There is a traditional Malay eatery just below my office. One and only in a 3 mile radius. Its Malay not Mamak. The Ulam/Salad with its slightly sweet, sour and spicy sauce and pep up with cincaluk is the best. The lontong, Malay laksa ....

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Anonymous Kearns said ... (6:35 PM) : 

Looks yummy but super pedas! I'm more of a Nasi Lemak kind of guy...

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Blogger Keropok Man said ... (7:26 PM) : 

I know what I am going to have for lunch today!

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Blogger Manggy said ... (9:11 PM) : 

If the dishes look as good as this (which I have no doubt), then I'm super looking forward to seeing more Malay food here!

Hmm, "ulam" in Filipino means any viand to go with rice.

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Anonymous AppetiteforChina said ... (9:33 PM) : 

My appetite is definitely whetted. Can't wait to see more Malay recipes and photos from you!

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Anonymous Mr. T said ... (5:47 AM) : 

Great pic!

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Blogger judyfoodie said ... (9:09 AM) : 

Hi!

Great blog, love it!

I've been reading your blog for awhile now and thought it was high time I commented. The pictures you take are really nice and make me want to go off and eat hawker food.

~ judyfoodie

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OpenID gkbloodsugar said ... (5:13 PM) : 

It's always nice to see something new, and to learn about native foods.

Malay certainly is colourful!

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Blogger Love_at_first_bite said ... (8:53 PM) : 

That looks so good Bee! It makes me sad because I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow and I know it will be a while before I can eat real food again. Think you could send me some Nasi Melayu as soon as I can chew again =)?

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Blogger tigerfish said ... (2:09 AM) : 

Ever since I return, I have been eating this most frequently whenever I am outside. One of my all-time fav is spicy tempeh with bits of long beans...so yummy! Then ask the stall owner to give me curry gravy on my rice.....I am so satisfied!

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Anonymous mycookinghut said ... (5:03 AM) : 

I love nasi campur!!! You obviously got loads of ingredients on the plate!!

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Blogger [eatingclub] vancouver || js said ... (10:04 PM) : 

Yes, please bring on the Malay-style cooking. I will be looking forward to it.

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Blogger Kate / Kajal said ... (6:13 AM) : 

Bee this plate looks wonderful.its got Okro, Shrimp, tofu, fish ..everything. Its such a wholesome meal, amd full of flavour and colours. You've really tempted me with this visual treat girl :)

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Anonymous Leen Lopez said ... (10:14 AM) : 

Looking at this pic makes me miss home terribly. Thank you for sharing and make us Malays proud :-)

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Anonymous przepisy kulinarne said ... (10:19 AM) : 

I like to cook very at home. Greetings from Poland.

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Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1:04 AM) : 

dear bee, i am a longtime malay reader and you do us malaysians proud with your blog and deft 'air tangan' with local cuisine! one thing you forgot to mention... malay food may also be eaten by HAND (the right one of course, and with a good wash of soap before and after!) though you can never tell with the sambals... the pungent scents can stick to the fingers hours after a good malay meal even after a scrubbing. love, delia xoxoxo

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