M
alaysia is a country that draws
on influences from near and
far – Chinese, Indian and
even Portugal – so it’s no surprise the
resulting cuisine is both delicious and
diverse. Food is serious business here
and small talk revolves around it rather
than the weather. Don’t be surprised if
you are peppered with questions like,
“Have you makan today?” Makan is the
Malay word for eat and it might be the
most used word in the whole language.
Here are some of the dishes you can’t
miss, either at hawker stands or in
restaurants, while you’re there.Nasi lemak
Imagine starting your day with fragrant
rice cooked in coconut milk served with
peanuts, ikan bilis (small fried anchovies),cucumber slices and a spicy sambal. If
you’re extra hungry, you might even add
a piece of fried chicken or a boiled egg.
Nasi lemak is Malaysia’s most popular
breakfast dish and some would even say
its national dish.satay
Just look for the tell-tale drift of smoke
from a makeshift charcoal barbecue, a
little auntie furiously fanning the flames
over dozens of sticks of delicious satay,
and you’ve hit the jackpot. Usually
chicken or beef is cut into bite-sized
pieces and strung on bamboo skewers
before being lovingly barbecued to
perfection to create one of Malaysia’s
most popular and recognisable dishes.
Don’t forget to enjoy them with heaps of
spicy peanut sauce for dipping.If a holiday destination’s variety and quality of cuisine is
on top of your must-have list, you can’t miss Malaysia.The Fine Flavours
of Malaysia
140 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER
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