Thursday, December 16, 2010

Penang Assam Laksa

When there is Penang Hokkien Mee, there must be Penang Assam Laksa right? If you are asking me, of course. Though, I can really nail the fact to, if Assam Laksa was kick started in Penang or other states in Malaysia. Of course, without a doubt, we have the Malay style to Assam Laksa as well, which by far can be trended close to Penang Assam Laksa. Yet, when we speak about Assam Laksa on the whole, Penang is always remembered. Maybe we can include Malacca too? What is Assam Laksa for those of you who don't know? Assam Laksa is a noodle dish (Hokkien Mee). The soupy or sour spicy fish based broth (Lamb Pho) in noodles and garnished by mint leaves, onion, cucumber, ginger torch bud, and eaten alongside otak-otak/shrimp paste. 


Ingredients
8 medium size sardine fish
Laksa noodles (as needed or any other choice of noodles)
2 asam keping/dried tamarind
3 stalks of daun kesum/Vietnamese mint or laksa mint (pluck the leaves out)
3 tbsp oil
salt to taste

For the chili paste (ground/blend)
6 dried red chillies
1 lemongrass
4 shallots
1/2 inch roasted belacan/shrimp paste

For Garnishing/Topping
1 red onion (slice)
1 bunga kantan/ginger bud - slice
2 red chillies - slice
1/4 cucumber - slice
2 stalks mint leaves - wash and nip at the bud
Otak-otak/ready-made shrimp paste

Method:
Simmer fish in 2 liters of water over very low heat.
Thereafter, strain broth and once fish is cooled down, flake. Made sure you remove all the bones and what not not needed.
Also strain the stock and pour back in the pot.
Carefully pull out all the fish flesh without any bones.
Add back the flesh/pieces into stock
Add blended/grounded paste, tamarind pieces, salt and daun kesum.
Simmer broth over low heat till heated through or to a boiling point. 
To Serve
Assemble noodles in a bowl. 
Garnish with the ingredients listed above. 
Pour gravy/broth over.
Serve with a scoop of otak udang/shrimp paste.





4 comments:

  1. Hi,i just want to share some thought with you ...If you are a Laksa Lover then Probably you may have tried the Rest and now it's time for you to try The BEST Laksa at BESS Kopitiam while you are here in Melaka,Malaysia.

    BESS Kopitiam has been choosen as The BEST Laksa outlet in Malaysia year 2009 - 2010 by the General Public in the www.fabfood1malaysia.com

    " Reputedly The Best Laksa With Distinguished Taste That Leaves One Craving For More "

    Address : 378 - C ,Taman Sin Hoe , Bukit Baru ,75150, Melaka, Malaysia.
    H/P : ( 60 ) 017 618 8055
    Contact : Ms Tan Peng Boon
    Operation Hours : 7.30am - 2pm
    Every Thursday is our OFF day

    Nyonya Laksa : RM 3.30
    Mee Siam : RM 2.80
    Nasi Lemak : RM 2.80

    BESS Kopitiam Blog : http://besskopitiam888.blogspot.com/

    China Press News : http://www.chinapress.com.my/content_new.asp?dt=2010-12-19&sec=mas&art=1219mc35.txt

    GPS Coordinates : N 02°13.031' E 102°15.979' or N 02°12.59.6" E102°15.57.9"

    Cheers...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for sharing, certainly will try when I am at Melaka.

    ReplyDelete
  3. i must visit regularly ur blog to try recipes vch r hubby favorite,who is a chinese food lover..:)

    ReplyDelete

Vegetarian Delight: Indulge in Coconut Creamed Spinach

There's a common saying that inner beauty outweighs outer beauty. Yet, when faced with hole-ridden spinach, doubts arise ( Spinach Lenti...