Easy Instant Bak Kut Teh Recipe

Pork Ribs Soup, Pork Bone Tea, or Chinese Herbal Pork Soup are the different recipe names for Bak Kut Teh. A nourishing Chinese herbs soup, often cooked at home as a comforting meal (EGG FRIED RICE). Prepared with pork, chicken (known as Chic Kut Teh), or even as a Vegetarian Bak Kut Teh, the foundation always comes from the herbs.

At Chinese medical halls, you can buy pre-packed Chinese herbs or ask for a customised mix, recommended by the shopkeeper or TCM doctor (sinseh).

Butterfly Pea Flower - Blue Pea (Bunga Telang)

Also known as Asian Pigeonwings, Blue Vine, and Blue Butterfly Pea, and scientifically called Clitoria ternatea, the butterfly pea flower is a beautiful and versatile plant. While white varieties exist, the most common butterfly pea flowers have blue and purple hues. The blue variety is probably the most popular, but regardless of color, these flowers are easy to grow. In fact, they can be considered hardy herbs (HOW TO MAKE HERBED RICE) and, botanically, flowering vines.

They are also a pretty sight, providing natural mental health and mind therapy. After all, nature (THINGS TO DO IN KUALA KUBU BHARU) has long been said to be the best for mental health. Beyond their striking color therapy, butterfly pea flowers offer numerous health benefits and versatile uses.

Vegetable Stew in Coconut Milk (Sayur Lodeh)

Creamy, naturally sweet from coconut milk, and filled with tender vegetables, Vegetable Stew with Coconut Milk is a popular dish across Kerala, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Malaysia. There are two versions. The yellow stew made with turmeric powder (TURMERIC EGGS) and the plain white stew without turmeric.

In Indonesia and Malaysia, it is called Masak Lodeh or Sayur Lodeh, while in Malaysia it is also known as Masak Lemak. The white version, cooked without turmeric fresh turmeric, is called Sayur Lodeh Putih or Masak Lodeh Putih - white coconut milk stew.

Spicy Pumpkin Recipe

Spiciness, sweetness, sourness, and aroma all come together with tender pumpkin in this Spicy Pumpkin Recipe, cooked Indian-style. A blend of spices and chilli powder creates a thick masala base, also known in parts of India as Kaddu ki Sabzi or Pumpkin Sabji.

In Malaysia, a similar dish is simply called Spicy Pumpkin. 100% plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan, it uses familiar Indian ingredients like garlic paste, ginger paste, and shallots. For fragrance, dried fenugreek leaves can be used as a handy substitute for curry leaves, giving this pumpkin masala a delicious aroma (VEGETARIAN NASI LEMAK).

Fish Head Curry

Fish Head Curry. One of the most popular Malaysian foods. Whether made as Indian fish head curry, Malay style (NASI KERABU/HERBS RICE) kari kepala ikan, Nyonya fish curry, or even the version served in Chinese restaurants, it remains a beloved dish.

Malaysian fish head curry generally features spices, sometimes ground into a rempah or spice paste, but store-bought curry powder works just as well. Other ready-made spice powders can also be added.

How To Grow Chilies At Home

(Updated Version)

For a Malaysian like me, chillies are one of the most significant ingredients in cooking. Be it noodles, fried rice, or even sambal, chillies are a staple that brings the much-loved kick of spiciness to our meals. While I can’t speak for every Malaysian, I know that many of us need our daily dose of spiciness.

 

Incorporating chillies into my zen blooming urban gardening (LEMONGRASS - GROWING & LEMONGRASS DRINK) has been an amazing learning curve. I’ve been growing chillies for the longest time, and I’d love to share my tried-and-tested tips with you, especially if you live in an Asian climate where these plants thrive.

Egg Fried Rice

The ever classic egg fried rice. The always humble and simple fried rice. Called as the poor peoples food back then, but still remaining atop the list of fried rice. It’s a Chinese style fried rice, made with leftover cooked rice. 

There is nothing to say in terms of the ingredients, except rice, eggs (BITTER GOURD WITH EGGS), chopped garlic and some spring onions definitely will elevate the deliciousness further.

Fried Chicken: Ayam Goreng Berempah

Fragrant, crispy, crunchy, herb-scented, and spicy fried chicken. A popular fried chicken amongst the many types of fried chicken. One of the must-have dishes for Nasi Lemak, Nasi Kukus, and even Malay mix rice. The ultimate (PENGAT DURIAN) Malay fried chicken, known as Ayam Goreng Berempah.

This recipe features Southeast Asian herbs such as lemongrass, galangal, and fried turmeric. Variations exist depending on where it is made.  Selangor, Kelantan, Melaka, or Penang, with each state adding its own mix of herbs,

Things to Do in Kuala Kubu Bharu

As urban development continues across Malaysia, nature has faded from city landscapes, contributing to rising temperatures. Alongside the fast-paced lifestyle and daily routine pressures, more people are seeking quieter, greener places to unwind. This has brought attention to small towns, where simplicity offers a welcome pause from noise and crowds.

 One such town is Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB), located in Selangor at the foothills of the Titiwangsa Range. Often referred to as the gateway to Fraser’s Hill (FRASER'S HILL SIGHTSEEING), KKB has become a recognized destination in Malaysia. Much of the town remains unchanged, preserving the feel of earlier days.

Bee Ho Ho Steamboat: Bandar Rimbayu

"Curious about our food adventure at Bee Ho Ho Steamboat (Rimbayu Branch)? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the video".

We were actually looking for another coffee shop in Rimbayu, but despite using WhatsApp, mmm, we couldn’t locate it. Assumingly, it doesn’t exist anymore. At that juncture, as we took a turn, the road led us to a place where the signboard of Bee Ho Ho Steamboat caught our attention. It must be a steamboat spot during the later part of the day, but in the earlier hours, it operates as a kopitiam-style eatery, featuring a variety of hawker food fare (CHINESE CHICKEN GINGSENG SOUP RECIPE).

Thai Fried Rice

Fried rice - the anytime food of the day. Also, a popular food throughout the world which can regarded as one pot dish or one wok dish. One of the best fried rice should be mentioned as Thai Fried Rice. Spicy, fragrant and grainy rice, and what can be better than a Tom Yum Fried Rice (COCONUT MILK TOM YUM SOUP).

A no-fuss, quick Thai food, and with store bought tom yum paste, its truly a quick fried rice, ready within most to most 15 minutes, including for the versions like chicken fried rice, or seafood rice or just prawns.

Crispy Tofu

Crispy on the outside, soft bite inside tofu. Vegan, made from soybeans, dairy-free: safe for lactose-intolerant individuals, vegetarian, and plant-based. Why tofu is one of the top superfoods. Even more powerful when cooked with two other superfood ingredients. Turmeric powder and curry leaves, for truly healthy cooking and healthy recipe (SOY SAUCE TOFU). 

There’s nothing much required except these three superfoods, along with ghee, a keto ingredient, for what can also be recognized as grilled tofu. There are many styles of crispy tofu, yet simple tofu recipes are always the winners. Even with these basic ingredients and other kitchen staples, variations like turmeric tofu are possible (TOFU STIR FRY). 

Sri Annamalai Unavagam: Sekyen 15, Shah Alam

Our visit to Sri Annamalai Unavagam was entirely unplanned, driven by a spontaneous decision about where to have lunch while we were just five minutes away from Shah Alam’s Seksyen 15. This humble stall had previously caught my attention on TikTok, known for its much-talked-about vegetarian set meal, priced at RM6.99 - a clever psychological pricing strategy just under RM7.

Vegetarian Spicy Sour Noodle Soup: Asam Laksa

Asam Laksa is one of Malaysia’s most popular noodle dishes, known for its spicy and sour soup. Traditionally, it’s made with a fish-based broth using ikan kembung (mackerel) or sardines. This recipe, however, is a vegetarian, and even vegan version, made entirely from vegetables and herbs, without any meat, dairy, or animal products.

This meatless Asam Laksa delivers all the key tastes of the original: bold, spicy, sour, and fragrant - true to the classic Southeast Asian and Malaysian flavors (VEGETARIAN NASI LEMAK).

Crispy Fried Prawns

Whether as finger food, snack, starter or appetizer, nothing beats crispy on the outside and tender cooked to the right texture prawns. The Crispy Fried Prawns or Crispy Fried Shrimps. Once the prawns are out of the frying pan, to be eaten immediately to retain the crunchiness, dipped in chili sauce.

The Chinese Crispy Prawns, which is utterly delicious. Excellent choice for Asian-style prawn recipes, easy prawn recipes, or crispy seafood dishes (CHINESE STEAMED FISH). 

Cracked Heel Cream: Footease by Watsons

We’ve talked about foot creams before, and I’ve mentioned that I’d introduce a truly affordable option (FOOT CREAMS: HONEST REVIEWS). But before anything else, let’s take a moment to think about your feet. Have you been taking good care of them? If not, now might be a great time to start. A quick reminder: neglecting your feet can lead to discomfort and even more serious issues like cracked or bleeding heels. Taking just a few minutes each day to moisturize and care for them can save you from a lot of pain down the road (LOREAL PARIS BRIGHT GLOWING CREAM SPF).