CHINESE TRADITIONAL FOOD IN MALAYSIA

 CHINESE TRADITIONAL FOOD IN MALAYSIA 

 Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh is a hearty Malaysian Chinese dish that originated from the Teochew and Hokkien communities. This comfort food is typically enjoyed as breakfast or lunch and is especially popular in Klang. We recommend dropping by your favourite Bak Kut Teh stall early in the morning since some stalls finish selling by noon. 
Bak Kut Teh is a nourishing soup infused with herbs and spices while simmering pork ribs. The distinct aromatic flavour is what makes this soup a favourite to have during the rainy season, but is also available all year round. Bak Kut Teh is served with steamed rice or youtiao (fried dough) that goes so well with the tasty broth. 
Chi Kut Teh would be considered a halal version of Bak Kut Teh. Instead of using pork, Chi Kut Teh opts for chicken and has fewer spices, resulting in a lighter chicken broth that is just as delicious.


Malaysian Bak Kut Teh is essential socially. It strengthens family bonds at gatherings, deepens friendships during meals, facilitates business negotiations in its shops, and promotes cultural understanding as a food - culture ambassador.
1. Put the pork ribs in a pot, add enough water to cover, bring to a boil, then drain to remove impurities.
2. In the same pot, place the drained pork, soaked mushrooms, garlic, star anises, cinnamon, dried tangerine peel.
3. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, some salt, pepper and enough water.
4. Cover and simmer over low - medium heat for about 1.5 - 2 hours until the pork is tender. Adjust seasonings if needed.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Chicken rice is one of Malaysia's most iconic foods that reflects the Hainanese community. It's served everywhere in Malaysia, from hawker stalls to halal eateries and upmarket restaurants. 

The dish comprises steamed rice with steamed or roasted chicken, cucumber slices, a bowl of soup, and a side of condiments such as soy sauce, ginger paste, and chilli sauce. The rice is typically cooked in chicken fat and tropical pandan leaves for extra fragrance.

Aside from chicken rice, there are also other popular variations such as siew yuk and char siew rice, which are considered non-halal versions. Siew yuk, also known as roast pork, is prepared by marinating the pork in seasonings before roasting it until the exterior becomes crispy. 

As for char siew, it's made by roasting the pork belly before coating it in a combination of soy sauce, honey, five-spice powder, and red food colouring. 

Both siew yuk and char siew rice are also served with steamed rice, condiments, and a bowl of soup. The many variations of chicken rice show how diverse Malaysian Chinese cuisine is. 


Malaysian Hainanese chicken rice, charmingly unique, is key in social life. Families bond as they make and share it. Friends chatting over it grow closer. In business, it creates a relaxed mood for cooperation. In cross-cultural exchanges, it spreads Malaysian food culture, promoting mutual understanding and diverse cultures' harmony.

🐔 Chicken:

  1. Rub a whole chicken with salt and cooking wine, marinate for 15 mins.

  2. Boil water with ginger, scallions, and more cooking wine.

  3. Add chicken, simmer 15–20 mins. Turn off heat, cover, and let sit for 10–15 mins.

  4. Cool the chicken in ice water, then chop into pieces.

🍚 Rice:

  1. Strain the chicken broth.

  2. Sauté minced garlic and ginger in oil until fragrant.

  3. Add washed jasmine rice, stir, then cook with the chicken broth.

🍲 Soup:

Use the leftover poaching broth — season with salt and pepper. Optionally, add scallions or cabbage.

🌶️ Sauces (Optional but recommended):

  • Ginger-Scallion Sauce:
    Minced ginger + scallion + hot oil + salt.

  • Chili Sauce:
    Blend chili, garlic, ginger, lime juice, sugar, and a bit of chicken broth.

  • Soy Drizzle:
    Light soy sauce + sesame oil + a little chicken broth.


Peking Duck (北京烤鸭)

Peking Duck (北京烤鸭) is a renowned Chinese dish from Beijing, famous for its crispy skin and tender meat. The duck is roasted to perfection, and it's traditionally served with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and cucumber. The dish is often eaten by wrapping slices of duck with the accompaniments in the pancake, creating a flavorful and unique culinary experience. Peking Duck is a symbol of Chinese culinary tradition and is considered a must-try for food lovers.



🦆 Ingredients:

  • 1 whole duck (about 4–5 lbs)

  • 1 tbsp maltose or honey

  • 1 tbsp vinegar

  • 1 tbsp soy sauce

  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine

  • Salt

🔪 Prep the Duck:

  1. Rinse and pat the duck dry. Trim excess fat.

  2. Pour boiling water over the skin to tighten it. Pat dry again.

  3. Mix maltose (or honey), vinegar, and soy sauce. Brush all over the skin.

  4. Let it air-dry in the fridge (uncovered) for 24 hours — this is key for crispy skin.

🔥 Roasting:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

  2. Roast duck on a rack (breast side up) for 40 mins.

  3. Flip and roast 30 mins more.

  4. Flip again, increase temp to 425°F (220°C), roast 10–15 mins to crisp skin.

  5. Rest before carving.

🥄 Classic Accompaniments:

  • Mandarin pancakes or steamed buns

  • Hoisin sauce or sweet bean sauce

  • Thinly sliced scallions and cucumber


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Social Attributes of Traditional Food in Malaysia

  The Social Attributes of Traditional Food in Malaysia by Angel Tham Chi Kei,Pek Xin Hui,Chang Yu Sze,Chua Qi An,Cheng Yi Rou From:3IRIS Malaysia is a country that finds itself in the middle of most other Southeast Asian countries, experienced colonialism from multiple colonial powers, and has huge minority populations from India and China. Based off of this, it is no wonder that Malaysian cuisine is so incredibly diverse. In this post I will try to highlight some famous dishes that are from Malaysia or have become commonplace in Malaysia. There are so many dishes from surrounding countries that are represented in Malaysia with their own twist, along with the existing immense number of dishes from Malaysia’s three major ethnic groups. Keep reading for a little overview of traditional Malaysian food and some must try dishes!
Read more