The balik kampung experience is synonymous with the festive holiday season in Malaysia. With Hari Raya just around the corner, the thought of the festivities and tucking in on delectable cuisines certainly warms the heart.
This Hari Raya, let’s take a gastronomical adventure to feast on some of the delicacies found during the celebrations.
Lemang
A signature dish that has made its way into the hearts of many, it is made of glutinous rice and coconut milk cooked in an empty bamboo stick that is covered with banana leaves inside. It is then roasted over wood fire for four to five hours. Lemang makes a flavourful companion to serunding or curries.
Rendang
It’s everyone’s favourite Raya dish. Made with several herbs and spices all blended in a paste, it is then cooked with your favourite meat. Toasted coconut and coconut milk adds a finishing touch to this hearty dish.
Ketupat
Ketupat is compressed rice cooked in diamond-shaped parcels made from coconut fronds. It is then boiled till cooked. Ketupat is then served with rendang or satay sauce and chunks of cucumber and raw onions.
Serunding
Meat floss Malaysian style, it is a dish that you can’t stop eating. Made with any meat like beef, chicken, prawn or fish, it is seasoned and cooked until dry. You can eat it as a filling for buns, bread slices, pastries or with ketupat.
Bubur lambuk
A type of congee, bubur lambuk is a familiar food during Ramadhan. Made with a combination of spices, it is then cooked with meat and vegetables for a delicious dish.
Dodol
A Raya dessert that takes patience to cook, it is made with coconut milk, cane sugar and rice flour. Dodol is a challenging recipe to cook as it requires continuous stirring in a hot wok for nine hours. It is then rolled, portioned out and wrapped individually. An effort that pays off beautifully when you are rewarded with an incredibly rich and flavourful dessert.
Mee rebus
Savoury with a hint of sweetness, it’s a popular dish found all year round. Yellow noodles are served with a thick spicy potato-based gravy and garnished with boiled egg, beansprouts, bean curd and fried shallots. The dish is then enhanced with a generous squeeze of lime juice.
What’s your favourite Hari Raya food?