Malaysia is undoubtedly a food-lover’s paradise. With decades-long traditions, diverse flavors and a cheap price tag, it’s no question why Malaysia is a top destination for travel. Here are 5 local dishes that you absolutely must not miss on your next trip to Malaysia.
Nasi Lemak
A cultural icon of Malaysia, nasi lemak is such a popular dish that the locals have it breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s available almost everywhere and it just feels wrong to travel to the country without tasting this dish. Nasi lemak is fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, and served with crunchy anchovies, peanuts, boiled eggs and sweet-and-spicy sambal. You can also pair it with other side dishes like fried chicken or chicken rendang.
Rojak
Rojak is deemed as the one dish that symbolizes Malaysia as it literally means “mixture”. There are two versions of the dish: savoury, which is usually made up of fried tofu, chopped vegetables, hard boiled eggs, fritters and sometimes noodles; and sweet, which mainly consists of fruits and vegetables and usually eaten as a snack or dessert. Both versions are coated with thick sauce that tie the dish together. Don’t miss having a taste of Malaysia during your travel!
Char kuey teow
One of the most famous street food in Malaysia, there’s nothing like a plate of char kuey teow. This stir fried flat rice noodles topped with cockles, prawns and a handful of bean sprouts will have you hooked right from the first slurp. Although char kuey teow is normally dry, there are restaurants and stalls who do it with gravy which has a charm of its own. Some people also like to add a sunny side up egg to the dish. It’s enough reason to travel to Malaysia.
Assam laksa
Hailed all the way from Penang, assam laksa is listed at number 26 on “World’s 50 Most Delicious Food” and a great reason to travel to Malaysia. This noodle dish has a tangy fish broth that tantalizes the taste buds, and the sweet and sour combination will leave you wanting for more. Many ingredients go into the dish to create that tantalizing flavour, but the most important ones are shredded fish and asam keping. Assam laksa is normally served with either rice noodles and topped off with petis udang, a thick sweet shrimp paste.
Chicken rice
Chicken rice was created out of frugality by the immigrants from Hainan province in southern China. Although the national identity of the dish has been a debate for decades, it’s undeniable that chicken rice has become a staple dish in Malaysia. The chicken is usually poached or steamed, but sometimes roasted and served with steamed rice, light soy sauce, chili sauce, chicken broth and cucumber slices. Make Malaysia your next travel destination for a taste of chicken rice!
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