This relish exemplifies the degree of attention and refinement that became the mark of the Nyonya kitchen. It makes a good vegetable dish for a party and keeps well in the refrigerator. You can halve the quantity to make it a side dish for a family meal. 1 English cucumber or 3 pickling cucumbers, cut [...]
This Nyonya satay uses pork, which would never be eaten by the Muslim Malays. Its inspiration, however, is Malay. 1 ¾ oz (50 g) pork shoulder or other cut with a little fat attached, cubed 4 tablespoons oil Pinch each of salt and pepper 1 stalk lemongrass with its and crushed (to be used as [...]
This recipe from Penang presents a thoroughly hybrid deep-fired chicken, combining both Malay and Chinese flavors. 3 lb (1 ½ kg) chicken 1 tablespoon commercial Malaysian meat curry powder 2 teaspoons ginger juice 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce 1 teaspoon light soy sauce 1 teaspoon sugar ¼ cup (65 ml)thick coconut milk Salt to taste [...]
In Nyonya cooking seafood is often combined with rich and thick Malay-style fried sambal. This recipe uses a fried sambal sauce to punch up the flavor of Chinese fried fish. Serve with rice or Nyonya Coconut Rice. 1 ¼ lb (600 g) fish, cleaned and scaled Oil for deep-frying fish the Asian way 1/3 cup [...]
The marinade in this recipe is a favorite for seafood in both Nyonya and Malay cooking. Fish or squid sliced into thick rings also works well in this dish. 1 cup (250 ml) tamarind water ½ teaspoon sugar, or more to taste (optional) Pinch each of salt and pepper 1 lb (500 g) large shrimp, [...]
This recipe also works well using peeled and deveined shrimp instead of cuttlefish. For a variation try adding 2 small peeled and chopped tomatoes to the pan once the spice paste is fragrant. Cook them to a thick purée before adding the tamarind water and the shrimp, then stir-fry until the shrimp are opaque. 4 [...]
This is a dish the Malays have taken over from the Chinese and made their own, adding chilies and using less soy sauce than Chinese. It is a favorite afternoon snack. 8 oz (250 g) dried rice vermicelli 4 tablespoons oil 8 oz (250 g) small shrimp, peeled and deveined 7 oz (200 g) chicken [...]
