Friday, January 3, 2025

A Day Trip To Sekinchan, Selangor

Vast view of paddy field, with yellowish greenish paddies, Sekinchan, Malaysia.
Paddy fields obviously dominate Sekinchan, a town in the Sabak Bernam District of Selangor, Malaysia. The town is known for rice cultivation. Its Sekinchan rice fields stretch across the land, shifting from vibrant green in early growth to golden at harvest. Sekinchan began as a small fishing village in the 1920s around the Bagan area (WHAT TO DO IN BENTONG, PAHANG).
 

Its flat coastal land and abundant water made it ideal for rice farming. The name ‘Sekinchan’ even means “village suitable for plantation.”

Crispy Potato Cutlet Recipe: Aloo Tikki

Round crispy fried Indian potato cutlets.
Mention potato cutlet, and what comes to mind is piping hot, straight from the wok, crispy on the outside and soft, melting-in-the-mouth potatoes. Alongside potato cutlets, Aloo Tikki also often pops up. Indian-style potato cutlets stand out from other types of cutlets.

 

Whether as vegetarian cutlets or adapted versions, the same mashed potato mixture can be transformed into fish cutlet, lamb cutlet, or beef cutlet by adding minced fish, lamb, or beef.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

Easy Instant Bak Kut Teh Recipe

A bowl of pork soup, made with Chinese herbs, soy sauce, pepper, spring onion and coriander leaves.
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).

Friday, December 27, 2024

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.

Thursday, December 26, 2024

Vegetable Stew in Coconut Milk (Sayur Lodeh)

Vegetable stew made with coconut milk, lemongrass, orange sweet potatoes, beans, tofu, red chili and coriander leaves.
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.

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Spicy Pumpkin Recipe

Sliced pumpkin cooked with spices, chilli powder, tamarind juice, tomato and dried fenugreek seeds.
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).

Friday, December 20, 2024

Fish Head Curry

Fish head curry cooked with spices, curry powder, curry leaves, coconut milk and small star fruits.
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.

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