Malaysian Recipes

Malaysian food reflects the country's mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous communities, plus the Peranakan (Nyonya) kitchens of Penang and Melaka. Rice is the base of most meals, often cooked in coconut milk, and noodles are just as common. Spice pastes built from chilies, shallots, garlic, lemongrass, galangal and turmeric flavor curries and sambals, while belacan (fermented shrimp paste), tamarind, pandan and palm sugar add depth and sweetness. Coconut milk appears in everything from curries to desserts. Breakfast might be nasi lemak or roti canai, lunch a plate of noodles, and dinner several shared dishes with rice. Street stalls and kopitiam coffee shops are the heart of eating out, and each state has its own dishes, from assam laksa in Penang to Sarawak laksa on Borneo. Festive tables bring rendang, ketupat and kuih at Hari Raya, pineapple tarts at Chinese New Year and sweets at Deepavali.

Staple ingredients

• rice
• coconut milk
• chilies and sambal
• belacan (fermented shrimp paste)
• tamarind
• lemongrass and galangal
• pandan leaves
• palm sugar (gula Melaka)

• Breakfast 1
• Appetizers 3
• Soups 4
• Salads 1
• Main Dishes 14
• Side Dishes 2
• Breads 1
• Desserts 1
• Snacks 2
• Drinks 1

Breakfast

• Nasi Lemak (Malaysian Coconut Rice with Sambal)MY1 h 20 minMedium

Appetizers

• Satay (Malaysian Grilled Chicken Skewers with Peanut Sauce)MY1 h 5 minMedium
• Pie Tee (Nyonya Crispy Cups with Jicama and Prawn Filling)MY1 h 40 minChallenging
• Hinava (Sabah Lime-Cured Fish Salad)MY20 minEasy

Soups

• Bak Kut Teh (Malaysian Pork Rib Herbal Soup)MY2 h 30 minEasy
• Curry Laksa (Malaysian Coconut Curry Noodle Soup)MY1 h 10 minMedium
• Penang Assam Laksa (Sour Fish Noodle Soup)MY1 h 30 minMedium
• Sarawak Laksa (Prawn and Chicken Noodle Soup)MY1 h 50 minChallenging

Salads

• Rojak Buah (Malaysian Fruit and Vegetable Salad with Tamarind Sauce)MY35 minEasy

Main Dishes

• Beef Rendang (Slow-Cooked Beef in Coconut and Spices)MY3 h 40 minMedium
• Ayam Masak Merah (Malay Chicken in Spiced Tomato-Chili Sauce)MY1 h 45 minMedium
• Char Kway Teow (Malaysian Wok-Fried Flat Rice Noodles)MY28 minMedium
• Hainanese Chicken Rice (Malaysian-Style)MY1 h 30 minMedium
• Hokkien Mee (Kuala Lumpur-Style Dark Soy Fried Noodles)MY40 minMedium
• Kari Kepala Ikan (Malaysian Fish Head Curry)MY1 h 5 minMedium
• Mee Goreng Mamak (Indian-Muslim Fried Noodles)MY35 minEasy
• Nasi Goreng Kampung (Malaysian Village Fried Rice)MY30 minEasy
• Sambal Udang (Prawns in Sweet-Spicy Sambal)MY40 minEasy
• Asam Pedas Ikan (Spicy Sour Fish Stew)MY1 hMedium
• Ayam Pongteh (Nyonya Chicken with Fermented Bean Paste)MY1 h 10 minEasy
• Kari Kapitan (Nyonya Chicken Curry)MY1 h 15 minMedium
• Kolo Mee (Sarawak Dry Noodles with Minced Pork and Char Siu)MY40 minEasy
• Manok Pansoh (Sarawak Chicken with Lemongrass and Ginger)MY55 minEasy

Side Dishes

• Dhal (Malaysian Red Lentil Curry with Curry Leaves and Tomato)MY55 minEasy
• Kangkung Belacan (Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Shrimp Paste)MY21 minEasy

Breads

• Roti Canai (Malaysian Flaky Flatbread)MY55 minChallenging

Desserts

• Cendol (Pandan Jelly Dessert with Coconut Milk and Palm Sugar)MY50 minMedium

Snacks

• Murtabak (Malaysian Stuffed Pan-Fried Flatbread)MY1 h 25 minChallenging
• Pisang Goreng (Crispy Malaysian Fried Bananas)MY30 minEasy

Drinks

• Teh Tarik (Malaysian Pulled Milk Tea)MY13 minEasy