Vegetarian Water Spinach Salad (Urap Kangkung)

In Malaysia, water spinach, commonly known as “kangkung”, is a well-loved vegetable in Malaysian cuisine. A simple favorite is stir-fried kangkung with garlic, while Kangkung Belacan, water spinach stir-fried with shrimp paste, is another popular dish. Among the most common Malay (VEGETARIAN ASAM PEDAS/SOUR SPICY CURRY) and Indonesian dishes featuring kangkung is Urap Kangkung, a traditional vegetarian water spinach salad.

 

Urap Kangkung is a type of salad related to Kerabu Kangkung, though the ingredients can vary. In both dishes, the water spinach is softened in hot water before being tossed or mixed with other ingredients. The result is a fresh, tasty, and healthy Southeast Asian salad.

Spinach Cheese Recipe

In Malaysia, tofu is often preferred over Indian cottage cheese, but in India, paneer (homemade Indian cheese) is a staple ingredient. While tofu is made from soybeans and paneer from milk, both are protein sources for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Paneer is indeed an alternative to tofu and is now widely available in Indian grocery stores as ready-made cheese.

Feel free to substitute tofu for Indian cottage cheese. However, the classic Spinach Cheese dish, known as Palak Paneer, is a comforting home-style dish that combines paneer and spinach into a creamy, satisfying recipe (SPINACH COCONUT MILK CURRY VEGETARIAN).

Quick Chinese Vegetable Stir-Fry

A beloved Chinese dish, known for its crunchy, colorful vegetables and healthy, vegetarian-friendly appeal. This quick and easy vegetable stir-fry is so flavorful, you can enjoy it on its own without any side dishes or rice for a simple night meal.

The addition of roasted cashew nuts brings a rich, buttery crunch that complements the fresh vegetables perfectly. Soaked and softened fu chuk sheets (tofu sheets) add a delightful chewy texture and absorb the savory sauce beautifully. Meanwhile, dried chillies lend a spicy kick that balances the dish’s flavours.

Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe: Ponnanganni Keerai

Ponnanganni Keerai, also known as Sessile Joyweed, is a nutritious Indian green leafy vegetable packed with vitamins and minerals. Popular in traditional South Indian cooking (VEGETABLE KURMA CURRY), this humble green is valued not only for its mild bitterness but also for its many health benefits, from cooling the body to improving digestion.

Ponnanganni keerai is commonly found at local markets, usually sold by Indian vegetable traders, but it’s also easy to grow at home. Simply plant the stems after plucking the leaves for cooking. They’ll thrive with minimal care, for your home garden.

Vegetable Kurma Curry Recipe

Kurma curry ranges from chicken, mutton and beef to vegetable versions. The kurma mix generally consists of common ingredients (SPINACH COCONUT MILK CURRY VEGETARIAN), with variations depending on the country or specific region. The differences mainly come down to the spices used and whether it’s a homemade kurma paste or a store-bought curry mix.

Nowadays, countless brands offer a variety of curry mixes, including kurma curry. These ready-made mixes are convenient for quick recipes, catering to today’s busy lifestyle. While the essential ingredients remain in ready-made kurma powders or mixes, some differences may occur between brands.

Spinach Coconut Milk Curry Recipe (Bayam Masak Lemak)

A perfect combination: spinach and coconut milk. Both are affordable superfoods. When it comes to spinach, there are a couple of varieties, including Amaranth Spinach. It is truly affordable and can be cooked into spinach stir fry, anchovies spinach soup, lentil spinach curry, and many more spinach recipes.

Today’s recipe is also a curry style, Malay-style vegetable curry (VEGETABLE SOUR SPICY CURRY/ASAM PEDAS). It falls under vegetarian and vegan recipes. It begins with making the rempah, a homemade spice mix. Then, amaranth is added, which is mild and slightly sweet. Cooked with the spice mix and coconut milk, it becomes a thick, mildly sweet curry. The curry is a vibrant color mix of yellow, green, red, and reddish-purple, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious. 

Chinese Herbal Pork Soup Recipe

Chinese herbal pork soup is one of the easiest and most nourishing dishes in Chinese home cooking. Just add all the ingredients into a pot and let it slowly simmer into an aromatic, delicious soup. If you're using a slow cooker, even better, toss everything in, switch it on, head out, and come home to a pot of herbal comfort (VEGETABLE SOUR SPICY CURRY).

Whether you prefer pork or chicken, the method is the same. It’s all about your choice of protein. And thanks to the wide availability of pre-packed Chinese herbal mixes. Found in hypermarkets, Chinese provision shops, or traditional Chinese medical halls, this soup is also super convenient to make.

Vegetable Sour Spicy Curry Recipe (Asam Pedas)

Vegetable sour spicy curry, referring to a Malaysian curry, is literally vegetable asam pedas. Asam pedas is known as kuah in Bahasa Malaysia, which means gravy or curry. The core ingredient for non-vegetarian asam pedas is fish, usually fresh local Malaysian catch. But for a vegetable or vegetarian asam pedas, it’s a mix of Malaysian vegetables - refer to the ingredients list to see what they are (TAMARIND/ASAM FRIED FISH).

 

That said, the Malaysian mix of blended local herbs, known as rempah, is what matters most. The spice mix must have the right balance of sourness, spiciness, and saltiness. While cooking the rempah, tasting as you go is key to making a delicious sour spicy curry. Still, it is a simple cooking style and budget-friendly, using Malaysian ingredients, which includes popular Asian herbs (MALAYSIAN MUTTON CURRY).

How to Make Fried Fish Tamarind (Asam) Style

Tamarind or asam as known amongst Malaysia is one of the ingredients used for Malaysian savoury dishes, particularly for curries, and gravy dishes. But for Malay cooking, as well as Nyonya food, one of the dishes which incorporates tamarind juice in a different style of cooking is Tamarind Fried Fish, or known as Ikan Goreng Asam. This fish recipe may not be a familiar one for some, including Malaysians, yet, it’s a food love for those who love sourness into fish fry (MALAYSIAN MUTTON CURRY).

 

An easy recipe as there is not much to do, except marinated fish into the tamarind juice, later frying. Paired with a no-cook dip or sauce. Generally, for a such a style fish recipe, the choice is cencaru or torpedo scud, but feel free to use other suited fish, like mackerel/ikan kembung as in the second choice of recipe attached. Also, the raw dipping sauce uses the common kitchen staples. Tamarind fish or asam fish or ikan goreng asam is about tanginess, spiciness tastes. 

Top Things to Do in Surakarta, Indonesia

Getting to Surakarta
From Yogyakarta, it takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to drive to Surakarta. Travel time can vary depending on traffic. Weekdays during peak hours can be congested, and weekends may take longer as locals move between Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Driving can feel like a race, with cars moving quickly through traffic, so it’s best to sit back and stay relaxed (YOGYAKARTA THINGS TO DO). 

Riding a Bajaj
Once in Surakarta, unless traveling in a hired car or van, one must-try experience is riding a bajaj. A bajaj is a three-wheeled motorized vehicle commonly used as a taxi in Indonesia. It usually carries 2–3 passengers, is smaller and cheaper than a car, and is ideal for short rides and getting through narrow or busy streets. Bajaj drivers are skilled at manoeuvring through traffic and can reach sightseeing spots within time.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Top Things to Do

Culture, history, heritage, and spirituality are what Yogyakarta’s top sites are about, making it a meaningful travel experience in Indonesia. Some attractions are close together, forming clusters that can be visited on foot. Others require traveling outside the city, and traffic can slow down the journey, so it’s best to plan which sites to visit first (WHAT TO DO IN YOGYAKARTA). 

The top attractions are busy all year, with Indonesians from other parts of the country and people from around the world coming no matter the season. Even when things do not go as planned, Yogyakarta has a lively atmosphere and interactions with locals, who are often friendly and welcoming, make the trip worthwhile.

Things to Do in Jogyakarta, Indonesia

The world’s largest archipelago, made up of more than seventeen thousand islands, Indonesia, with around 280 million people, is the fourth most populated country in the world. It is a country in Southeast Asia, stretching across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and shares land borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.

Among the islands, Java is the most populated, and in the heart of Java lies Yogyakarta, often called Jogja. The common spoken language in Yogyakarta is Bahasa Indonesia, as in other parts of the country, which is not difficult to understand for Malaysians heading to Yogyakarta. In fact, language is never a barrier in communication, considering the thousands of people who are curious and keen on the best things to do in Yogyakarta (THINGS TO DO IN PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA). 

Kari Kambing Malaysia (Malaysian Mutton Curry)

Mutton curry is considered one of the top dishes worldwide. This versatile mutton dish can be prepared in different styles, depending on where it’s made, meaning which country. In Malaysia, for example, you’ll find Malay Style Mutton Curry, Chinese Style Mutton Curry, and Indian Style Mutton Curry. Indian curries are especially known for their spices and aromatic herbs like curry leaves and coriander leaves.

A standout version is Kari Kambing Malaysia, or Malaysian Mutton Curry. What makes the dish stand out is the addition of potatoes, something rarely seen in India or even other parts of the world. While the core ingredients are similar, this Malaysian-style curry also includes yogurt and dried fenugreek leaves for extra deliciousness and fragrance.

Things to Do in Pretoria, South Africa

What to Eat in South Africa

Go local when you go international, when it comes to food. Leave behind your own food culture and familiar flavors, and embark on a splendid and adventurous South African food journey. The choices are endless when it comes to South African food. Delicious local food in South Africa. But wait, there are also South African fusion food and even Western-style meals, all made with, most probably, local South African ingredients (THINGS TO DO IN PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA). 

Sometimes it’s a thing to figure out which is which, because when it comes to food, the instinct is to eat first and only later figure out the names of the dishes. Even so, it is exactly what true foodies do - try, taste, and carry those unforgettable South African food memories back home.

Best Things to Do in Johannesburg, South Africa

Johannesburg, also called Joburg, is the largest city in South Africa and an important economic center. Its history is closely connected to gold, following the 1886 gold rush, which earned it the nickname “City of Gold.” The city is also linked to the apartheid era, and its streets and landmarks reflect South Africa’s journey toward democracy and social change.

Most travellers get to Johannesburg from Cape Town by a two-hour direct flight from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Driving is also possible, taking around 14-6 hours, with potential stops along the way (TOP ATTRACTIONS IN CAPE TOWN).

Cape Town, South Africa: Best Things to Do

Cape Town is simply irresistible. Leaving the city can feel almost impossible, as even a full week may not be enough to experience all that it offers. Days can be spent by the water, wandering along beaches, or pausing atop its mountains, surrounded by a landscape that feels both vast and mesmerising. The air, the views, and the calm of Cape Town’s natural surroundings allow for simply being (THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA). 

Flora and Fauna in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is part of the Cape Floristic Region, one of the richest areas in the world for plant diversity. The region is home to thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth, including proteas, ericas, and other unique fynbos plants. This diverse flora supports a variety of wildlife, from dassies (rock hyrax) and small mammals to numerous bird species.

Things To Do in Cape Town, South Africa

While there are plenty of things to do within Cape Town itself, some must-see sites are about an hour’s drive from the city, with others slightly further along.

The drive from hilltop hotels or resorts winds along slopes with nature on both sides, offering views of deep blue oceans, rugged cliffs, hidden bays, sandy beaches, rolling hills, mountains, and valleys. Waves crash along the shore, and birds fly overhead, adding to the scene. The unspoiled natural beauty of Cape Town unfolds gradually along the route, leaving a lasting impression (TOP ATTRACTIONS IN CAPE TOWN). 

 

This connection to nature continues at the sightseeing spots, where the surroundings remain equally scenic and unspoiled.

Top Attractions in Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa, at the southern tip of Africa, is known for its rich history, diverse landscapes, and long coastlines. Covering about 1.22 million square kilometers (471,000 square miles), it is the largest country in Southern Africa and home to eleven official languages. 

Travelling from Southeast Asian countries can take around 15 to 20 hours, with additional time when transiting through Dubai, Doha, Johannesburg, or Singapore Changi Airport. Touring South Africa can be expensive, but the experience is worth it.

 

Among South Africa’s top destinations, Cape Town stands out. From well-known landmarks to natural scenery, Cape Town offers a range of attractions and sightseeing opportunities. The city’s top sites (TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA) and must-visit places provide lasting experiences. Whether through sightseeing tours, exploring cultural landmarks, or discovering natural wonders, the top attractions in Cape Town are worth seeing.

Taj Mahal, Agra - India

The monument of love, known throughout the world for its stunning marble architecture, is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India (THINGS TO DO IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN).  It attracts thousands of people every day. Locals from across India make up a major part of the crowd, along with travelers from around the world. The Taj Mahal is a must-visit site and has stood for more than 370 years.

Situated in Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal sits on the southern bank of the Yamuna River. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for its cultural and architectural brilliance. The monument also remains one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, a title awarded in 2007 through a global poll.