From fresh tamarind and spicy chillies to blades of pandan and lemongrass, these essential ingredients grown in the tropical climate of Southeast Asia have become beloved and familiar additions to kitchen pantries around the world. The region boasts a long history and rich tapestry of people and culture; you could spend a lifetime discovering Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine.
To get you started on your culinary journey, we’ve rounded up some of the Malaysian and Indonesian recipes that best represent the vibrant flavours of the region.
Prawn Fritters – Cucur Udang
A quick and easy recipe, it only takes three minutes to fry up these prawn fritters and create a satisfyingly crispy, moreish snack.
Curry Leaf Chicken Legs with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce
Ideal for impressing a crowd, this unique, umami-packed dish coats juicy chicken legs with a buttery salted egg yolk sauce, which combines the sweetness of evaporated milk with the spice of fresh bird’s eye chillies and the peppery aroma of curry leaves.
Sambal Mussels
Inspired by the vibrant culinary landscape of the port city of Melaka, this recipe brings a Malaysian twist to steamed mussels with the addition of spicy paste made from sambal belacan (blended dried chillies), lemongrass, and plenty of garlic.
Roti King’s Roti Canai
Roti canai is a staple breakfast dish for Malaysians, paired with a bowl of chicken, fish, or dal lentil curry. The dough is a simple one but requires great skill to be kneaded, stretched, cooked on a hot pan, and most importantly, fluffed to take it from flat to flaky. Once you master this technique, there is no going back; you’ll always be craving it.
Roti King’s Nasi Lemak
Nasi lemak, Malaysia’s national dish, boasts flavourful components, including a tender fried chicken with crispy, spiced skin, spicy sambal, fried anchovies and peanuts, and refreshing cucumber slices – all tied together with fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves.
Roti King’s Chicken or Pulled Shiitake Rendang
In this hearty dish, chicken (or shiitake mushrooms, for a meat-free option) is steeped in deep, complex flavours, stewed until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth soft. In Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine, a good rendang suits every occasion, from a casual lunch to festive celebrations with family.
Nasi Goreng
This simple recipe gives you the foundation of an authentic Malay-style nasi goreng: rice, kecap manis, and a runny fried egg to top it all off. From there, you can make it your own by throwing in any meat or greens you desire, as the locals do.
Chicken Satay Skewers (Sate Ayam)
These tender, flavoursome chicken skewers, served with a moreish peanut dipping sauce, are a guaranteed hit at any dinner party.
Gado Gado: Indonesian Salad with Warm Potatoes, Green Beans, Beansprouts and Peanut-Coconut Dressing
Gado gado can be found in every corner of Indonesia. In this variation, roasted potatoes sit on a bed of crunchy beansprouts and green beans, drenched with its signature peanut dressing.
Prawn Curry Laksa (Kari Laksa Udang)
The key to this indulgent dish is its rich broth made with dried chillies, lemongrass, coconut milk, shrimp paste and mixed spices. Vermicelli noodles soak up these delectable flavours, which are further enhanced by the plump prawns and tofu cooked in this creamy soup.
Nyonya Vegetable Pickle
Best eaten with rice, these vegetables tossed in vinegar, nuts, and an aromatic blend of spices are a refreshing addition to any meal, offering a delightful crunch followed by bursts of sweet, sour and spice with each bite.
Indonesian Coconut Rice, Crispy Chilli Tofu and Peanut Sambal
This easy vegan recipe serves up coconut rice cooked with lemongrass, cloves, and cassia or cinnamon stick. It is accompanied by crispy tofu and spicy peanut sambal, and topped with coriander and crispy shallots for extra crunch.
