Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Home
Video
World
U.S.
Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
Business
World Sport
Entertainment
Tech
Travel
iReport
119
Tw eet
144
In an age when the term "underrated" gets tossed about with impunity, it may be difficult to take us seriously when we say Malaysian food (http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/tags/malaysian-food) isnt getting the global recognition it deserves. But the fact is, this stuff is good. Damn good. The sum of many delicious parts, Malaysian cuisines (http://travel.cnn.com/tags/malay-cuisine) influences include Chinese, Indian and Malay. In some ways it's similar to Indonesian food, with the two nations sharing many of the same dishes. (Warning: debates over dish origins can turn nasty in these parts -- such is the passion of the (mailto:?subj ect=Malaysia's 40 region's food top lovers.) once youre in Malaysia (http://travel.cnn.com/malaysia) and eating, you'll quickly dispanse with historical concerns and wonder instead where your next meal is coming from and how you can you get to it sooner. To help narrow your choices here are 40 of Malaysia's top dishes, in no particular order. What are your favorite Malaysian dishes? Share your photos and stories in our Malaysian food (http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/984875) iReport (http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/984875) assignment.
oods&body=http://trav el.cnn.com/malaysias-
op-40-dishes-334106) Regardless,
Comment
1. Apam balik
You haven't truly experienced Malaysian food until you thrill your taste buds with this sweet treat. A pancake-style snack wedded with the compact package of an omelet, apam balik is stuffed with
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
1/15
05/07/2013
more than a sufficient amount of sugar, peanuts and the occasional sprinkle of corn -- it's a dish that's constantly being reinvented.
3. Nasi kerabu
If the blue rice doesnt spark your curiosity, the lines of people around the country waiting to order this favorite Kelantanese dish should. From the state of Kelantan in northern peninsular Malaysia, nasi kerabu gets its eye-grabbing color from telang flowers, which are crushed and mixed into flour. The aquamarine dish is topped with bean sprouts and fried coconut, then drenched in spicy budu, a fermented fish sauce. In true Kelantan (http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/Web-Page/Places/States-of-Malaysia/Kelantan) style, you use your hands to dig into this one.
5. Nasi lemak
Some call nasi lemak Malaysias unofficial national dish. Everyone else calls it delicious. Nasi lemak is basically rice cooked in coconut milk. Its the sides that matter. Depending on where you are in Malaysia, it comes with a variety of accompaniments such as hardboiled egg, peanuts, vegetables, lamb/chicken/or beef curry, seafood and sambal (chili-based sauce). Nasi lemak is traditionally eaten for breakfast but these days people are ordering it any time of day. More on CNN: A guide to choosing the best dishes in Asia (http://travel.cnn.com/guide-foodrestaurants-asia-433271)
Nasi kandar restaurants offer a variety of meat curries and gravy served over white rice -- prawn curry is especially popular.
6. Roti john
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar 2/15
05/07/2013
Whoever John was, it's apparent that he preferred his sandwiches made with grilled minced meat and egg in the middle of slim bread, and drowned in a confection of condiments. Mayonnaise, ketchup, barbecue and chili sauce -- choose one or choose them all.
8. Kuih
Variety, variety, variety -- that's way to explore kuih, or Malay-style pastries. Small enough to snap up in a gulp and sugary enough to give you a modest jitter, kuih vendors are the most colorful stalls of all. This kaleidoscope of soft, sugary morsels goes quickly -- few pieces are left by the time daylight begins to fade.
9. Nasi kandar
Nasi kandar is essentially rice served with your choice of toppings, which commonly include curry, fish, egg and okra. Everything is laid out buffet style, though you can also order la carte. Found all over Malaysia, nasi kandar eateries are extremely popular, most open 24 hours and run by ethnic Indian Muslims.
As word of its deliciousness spreads, laksa is poised for glob al culinary domination.
11. Laksa
A staple of Malaysian cuisine, laksa eateries have been migrating abroad in recent years, making appearances in Bangkok, Shanghai and further afield. There are multiple variations. For anyone who enjoys a taste of the volcanic kind, this spicy noodle soup can get you there in its curry form. Some like it with fish, others prawns. Our favorite is Penang's asam laksa, in which tamarind features heavily ("asam" is Malay for tamarind) to create a spicy-sour fish broth. More on CNN: Kuala Lumpur's top 20 restaurants (http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/kuala-lumpurstop-20-restaurants-169585)
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
3/15
05/07/2013
14. Murtabak
This pan-fried bread stuffed with minced meat and onions and dipped in spicy sauce is a meal and a half, only recommended to the famished. Perfect murtabak is made with a robust amount of minced meat, so that the taste comes through on the first bite. So spicy-sour it'll make your tongue curl.
Samb al udang is a Peranakan dish, created b y descendants of 15th- and 16th-century Chinese immigrants.
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
4/15
05/07/2013
stingray.
Asam, which means tamarind, features heavily, along with ginger, shrimp paste, garlic, chilies and other herbs.
18. Lemang
Eaten with a meat or vegetable dish, lemang is glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, which is cooked in bamboo. The time-consuming process to make lemang starts by lining hollowed-out shoots with banana leaves. The bamboo is left over a fire to slowly cook the rice in a process known as tapai. The result is sticky, wet rice that can, and regularly does, make a nice substitute for its plain Jane counterpart.
Rojak -- not your average fruit salad. Veggies, shrimp paste and dough fritters are thrown into the mix.
21. Rempeyek
Few snacks come saltier, or more gratifying, than rempeyek. This top Malaysian food is commonly made by deep frying a doughy batter into a thin brittle and topping it with peanuts and anchovies. The amount of salt can vary and there are variations that use dried shrimp or garlic instead of anchovies.
22. Rojak
Rojak ("mixture" in Malay) is essentially a fried dough fritter with fruits and veggies, though there are regional variations.
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
5/15
05/07/2013
But vegetarians shouldn't get their hopes up. The whole mixture is combined with Malaysia's everpopular shrimp paste. It's the perfect combination of sweet, spicy and sour.
24. Satar
If otak-otak is the hodge-podge, hot dog variety of grilled fish, then satar is its more refined cousin. At one bazaar in Kelana Jaya (http://www.tourismselangor.my/) , Malaysia, a vendor has set up what he calls mackerel-filled food from the east coast. Roasted in a banana leaf, the process and look are a Photostat of otak-otak, but with more fish, less spice and larger portions.
26. Satay
Though considered by many to be a dish native to Thailand, satay is actually believed to have originated in Indonesia. Origins aside, can we all just agree that meat on a stick is good? Malaysia has its own variations of the grilled skewers, served nationwide in chicken, beef or pork forms (the latter in non-Muslim venues only). Sauces vary from region to region, including the peanut sauce thats loved the world over.
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
6/15
05/07/2013
Many locals say char kuey teow is the first dish visitors should try when they step off the plane in Malaysia.
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
7/15
05/07/2013
36. Ketupat
It would be a crime against the dumpling gods to leave this fancy little package off a list of Malaysia's top foods. More of a side than a main dish, ketupat comes in several varieties. Basically, it involves weaving a pouch made of palm leaves around a handful of rice. The rice expands and compresses, resulting in a neat little bundle you can dip in your curry or rendang.
05/07/2013
Shaved ice desserts are always a popular treat in the tropics. Ice kachang (ice with beans) evolved from the humble ice ball drenched with syrup to be the little ice mountain served in a bowl, drizzled with creamed corn, condensed milk, gula melaka and brightly colored syrups. Dig into it and youll discover other goodies hidden within -- red beans, palm seeds and cubed jellies.
Tags:
EXPERIENCE MALAYSIA (/TAGS/EXPERIENCE-MALAY SIA) ,
(/TAGS/MALAY SIA-TRAVEL)
MALAYSIA TRAVEL
, MALAYSIAN FOOD (/EXPLORATIONS/TAGS/MALAY SIAN-FOOD) , PENANG (/EXPLORATIONS/TAGS/PENANG) , KUALA LUMPUR (/TOKY O/TAGS/KUALA-LUMPUR)
70 comments
South Korean plastic surgeon attempts to create world's most beautiful face
Share
Leave a message...
Newest Community nedarc
4 days ago
I don't know which is better the lovely look of the 'dishes' or the actual taste...Unfortunately 'in the field' a lot of times diarrhea and stomach pain can accompany these foods due to ramped bacteria in certain locations on the planet !
Reply
Share
B obV A
6 days ago
Food's great, but the plates and silverware are at best wiped down with a filthy rag between customers. Enjoy your hepatitis!
3
Reply
Share
haga
11 days ago
Chai tow kway is served with lots of hot pepper in some restaurants.. so take your guard before eating this dish.. :) ..
1
travel.cnn.com/malaysias-top-40-dishes-334106?iid=article_sidebar
Reply
Share
9/15