Background
Nyonya Cuisine came to birth because the Peranakans had to improvise with the local ingredients to make their traditional dishes due to the unavailability of certain ingredients.
We can find Laksa, a renowned dish of Nyonya cuisine, in several states of Malaysia. However, there are clear differences between Penang and Malacca Nyonya cuisine. Penang Laksa has a sour, tangy flavor using lime, chilli, herbs, shrimp paste and tamarind hence known as ‘Assam Laksa’, while Malacca (curry) Laksa creates curry-like noodle soup using Malaysian local herbs such as cumin, belachan, chilli and coconut milk with sweeter flavour.
Summary
Nyonya Laksa
Ingredients
- 2 packs Noodles
- 1 handful Vietnamese Coriander
- 300 g Prawns
- 1 pack Fried Tofu
- 1 pack Fish cake
- 3 nos Eggs
Paste
- 3 tbsp Oil
- 20 g Dried Shrimps
- 5 nos Chilli (fresh)
- 15 g Galangal
- 6 nos Candlenut(s)
- 15 g Turmeric powder
- 5 nos Garlic clove(s)
- 8 nos Shallot(s)
- 15 g Shrimp paste/Belacan (toasted)
- 4 nos Lemongrass
- 5 nos Chilli (dried)
Soup
- 200 ml Coconut Milk
- Salt
Stock
- 1 handful Daun Kesum
- Prawn Shells
Instructions
- To prepare the prawn stock, separate the prawn meat and skin and head. Then stir fry the prawn’s skin and head until cooked. Add in 1liter of water together with the Vietnamese coriander. Bring to boil, then lower heat and let it simmer for at least 30 mins.
- Blanch the noodles and prawn meats and set aside.
- Boil the eggs in a pot of boiling water for 10 mins.
- Now for the paste, cut dried chillies, fresh chillies, galangal, garlic, shallots and lemongrass into smaller pieces. Then combine with the rest of the paste ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Heat up 3tbsp of oil in a pot, then sauté/ stir fry the paste until fragrant.
- Add in the prawn stock with another 500ml of water into the pot. Let the soup boil for 10-15 mins on medium-high heat.
- Add in coconut milk, fried tofu and the fish cakes. Bring to a boil then turn off the stove.
- Serve by combining the noodle, hard-boiled egg, prawns and soup in a bowl.
Enjoy!
Now, hopefully, you can create your own Nyonya Laksa dish with your loved ones.
Also, I cordially invite you to eat with us and learn more about all the Malaysian local foods recipes
You may also like our next video : Char Kuey Teow
