Winning the hearts of the world with Malaysian cuisines

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Malaysia has become known as a foodie hotspot in recent years. Within Malaysia you are able to find a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines.

Malaysia has become known as a foodie hotspot in recent years. Within Malaysia you are able to find a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian cuisines. Food is incredibly important to Malaysian culture and hospitality. When a Malaysian meets a friend, the first thing he or she will ask is โ€œHave you eaten yet?โ€. This is our Malaysian way to say โ€œHow are you?โ€

Winning awards and accolades in cuisines.

Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world, has listed Penang as the worldโ€™s number #1 foodies for 2014. Penang bagged the top spot beating other culinary spots like Australia, Spain, Italy and the United States. According to Lonely Planetโ€™s editor Robin Barton, โ€œPenangโ€™s food reflects the intermingling of the many cultures that arrived after it was setup as a trading port in 1786, from Malays to Indians, Acehnese to Chinese, Burmese to Thais.โ€

Barton suggested readers try Penangโ€™s famous street food – Char Kway Teow, Hokkien Mee and Assam Laksa. As a matter of fact, Penang Assam Laksa was voted seventh out of 50 most delicious foods in the world by CNN. Penang Assam Laksa is a tangy fish-based soup made from tamarind, dried slices of sour mangosteen, shredded fish (mackerel) and sliced vegetables, such as cucumber, onions, red chillies, pineapple, lettuce, mint and ginger.

Satay, the king of all Malaysian cuisines

Satay is staple dish in Malaysia and a favorite of many visitors. Satay is marinated and skewered grilled meats on sticks and served with tasty peanut sauce. The commonly used barbecued meats are beef, chicken and mutton but today, Satay has evolved to include more varieties, such as fish, rabbit, venison and pork. In Malaysia, the well-known places to have a tasty bite of Satay is in Kajang town.

More Malaysia Truly Asia cuisines

Malaysia has other exciting cuisines that reflect its diverse communities and cultures. The ethnic Indians have the popular Banana Leaf Rice, Tandoori Chicken and Roti Canai (Prata). The Peranakan dishes are a unique mix of Chinese and Malay cooking styles and among them are Otak-Otak (Steamed Fish Paste), Perut Ikan (Fish Stomach), Enche Kabin (Fried Chicken with tangy dip) and Jiu Hu Char (Stir-fried jicama, cuttlefish and mushrooms wrapped in lettuce).

For Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia, the popular cuisines are created by the diverse tribes and indigenous communities. Many of their specialties are made from wild plants, herbs and fruits as well as seafood and freshwater fishes. Among the popular dishes are Jaruk (Wild boar or fish cooked with rice in bamboo shoots), Hinava (fermented dish of fish, ginger shallots, chillies in lime juice) and Manok Pansoh (Chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass and tapioca leaves in bamboo shoots).

The best time to enjoy a taste of Malaysia is during Fabulous Food 1Malaysia, a three-month food festival held nationwide since 2009. This year, Fabulous Food 1Malaysia will be held from August to October, so make a trip this Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and indulge in a fabulously delicious food adventure here.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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