Kway teow

Malaysia...truly Asia,is how the tourism ad goes and it is true in every sense. It is truly the whole of Asia ensconced in 1 country ! A melting pot of traditions, cultures ,languages and of course cuisines. Here,without having to even look for it,one does come across an array of restaurants serving authentic Malay ,Thai , Chinese,Indian and Japanese food...truly Asia indeed.It's funny how as an Indian,one does feel right away at home but still experience the exotic flavour of a foreign land .The Malays on the whole are huge foodies,why else would one find such a staggering number of eateries everywhere,an absolute foodie paradise. Even if you are pressed for time and visit the country on work,the local food finds a way of charming itself into your stomach and have you craving for more.

While I did hope to treat myself to a Laksa at some point,thanks to many wonderful foodie friends,I was introduced to another very popular dish...the KWAY TEOW...a local speciality,it has different versions in Indonesia and Singapore,this one I was told was a Penang version.It also comes under the category of fast food or street food. No matter the setting,the dish is nevertheless delicious and I'm sure will appeal to most palates. The name itself means flat rice noodles.While this dish ,originally was considered very unhealthy when cooked in pork fat,it's now cooked mainly in oil and a lot of vegetables and sprouts are being added to the recent variations ! 

Kway teow

Traditionally served on a banana leaf it comes with an accompaniment of soy sauce and red chillies...very tempting despite the intense heat ! Though this dish does contain chicken ,egg and prawn they do offer vegetarian versions of the same and are also quite scrummy !


The streets and alleys leading to eateries have a festive air about them as if in preparation for an impending celebration...the sounds of large groups of families and friends in loud laughter and conversation,enjoying a meal indoors as well as outdoors ,despite the warm evenings, will always be a part of my memories of the short but enjoyable time spent in soaking up the 'warm ways of Malaysia' !

Recipe for Kway Teow (shared by a friend)

Stir frying is a quick method of cooking using a wide shallow dish called a wok where the heat is spread and allows for space in tossing and stirring...very fast and also quite dramatic.

Ingredients

Serves: 4 

3 tablespoons dark soy sauce 
4 fresh red chillies, pounded in a pestle and mortar
4 fat cloves of garlic, pounded or smashed with the back of a knife and then chopped fine
2eggs, beaten1 kg flat rice noodles (kway teow), cut into 1 cm wide strips 
250g fresh prawns, shelled and deveined
450g boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into strips 
350g-400g beansprouts
200g Chinese chives, chopped (you can use spring onions)
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste 
3-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil

 Method
Heat oil in wok and saute' the pounded chillies and garlic until fragrant.
Add chicken and stir fry on high heat for 5-8minutes. Add shrimp and quickly stir fry for another 3 minutes .
Add the beaten eggs, making sure to stir quickly so that it does not turn into a dry scramble. Add the light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and beansprouts.
Add the noodles and toss well.
Check seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste,if required.
 Stir fry for another 5 minutes and add the chives before turning off the heat.
Note...as you can see the flavours of this dish offer a huge possibility for variations,both vegetarian or otherwise !
I look forward to introducing you to many more sights and smells of Malaysia... :))

SriLanka on a plate

The island nation that is so close to home ,that feels like home but is yet so different , unique and beautiful...Sri Lanka ! Visiting a country where the people are so familiar and hospitable...makes for the perfect getaway...adding to that, is the charm of a culture very prevalent even today while simultaneously embracing modern thinking ! The mouthwatering food that is so similar to our own Indian cuisine and yet manages to surprise and excite the taste buds with it's own special flavours and fragrances,keeps the visitor waiting to return to savour it again ! However number of times one visits this country,it still never ceases to amaze us by the sheer cleanliness , respect shown to visitors,the vibrant Tuk Tuks (my favourite!!!)

and unimaginable vistas....you can tell,I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and I bring with me ,some very simple recipes to share with you and help you put together an authentic SriLankan meal at home !
A simple vegetarian Sri Lankan meal
Milk rice
Sri Lankan Dhal
served with coconut sambol/chilli sambol
Very comforting and very satisfying...what more does one want ?!!

The Tuk Tuk :))))

milk rice

Sambols

SriLankan dhal and Fish curry

Recipe for milk rice
250g brown/white rice
11/2 cups of water
A pinch of salt
1/2 cup of coconut milk
Method
Wash the rice well and transfer it to a medium sized cooking vessel
Add the water and salt and cover and cook on low heat until the rice is soft and plump and all the water is absorbed.
You may alternatively cook the rice in the rice cooker and then transfer to a vessel before adding the milk
Now,with the heat on very low,add the coconut milk and stir it in with a spoon
Let it cook on a very slow simmer for 10mts...check seasoning,add a bit more salt if necessary !
If it cooks too fast,the texture will not be right and the rice may burn
Once it is creamy,take off the heat and let cool a bit
Grease a baking dish and press the rice onto it and flatten well with the back of a spoon
Score a square or diamond pattern on the surface of the rice
Once it has cooled and stiffened,cut with a knife and place the squares onto a serving plate
Serve with warm dhal or fish curry with sambols as an accompaniment.
Sri Lankan dhal curry
1 cup red lentils (masoor dhal)
1 onion sliced
3 green chillies
turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
fenugreek powder-1/2 tsp
red chilli powder-to taste
curry leaves-a few
a small piece of Cinnamon
pandan leaves(if available)-1 inch
1/2 c of thin coconut milk
1/2 thick coconut milk
For seasoning-mustard seeds,curry leaves and dried red chillies-3
salt to taste
Method
Wash the dhal really well a few times
Add it to a pressure cooker with all the ingredients except the thick coconut milk
Add salt
Cook until the dhal is cooked
Add the thick coconut milk,on low heat and mix
Temper the mustard,curry leaves and red chillies in some oil and add to the dhal at the end...like a tadka
Serve hot.
While I'm sure the pandan leaves add aroma and flavour,do try the recipe even if you don't get your hands on the pandan leaves...it will still taste pretty good !!!

Road trips and food

India being so vast and varied in landscapes , climate and experiences...we all need to take road trips every once in awhile to explore quiet vistas...for a real getaway,  a rejuvenation for the soul...whether with a group or in solitude ,such road trips always have a companion...the food....that just doesn't taste as good, when eaten indoors !!!

Murrukkus

While breathing in fresh air and listening to the amazing sounds of nature,that sadly are drowned in cities due to the hustle and bustle of civilisation,conversations always tend to become more introspective and enlightened...very little bothers the human mind in such surroundings ! One owes it to beautiful hillsides,the respect that only photography can pay,even through the lens of an amateur...and when we do stop to capture these breathtaking images,an unspoken understanding is to relish the moment with small nibbles of food,that one always craves while soaking in unpolluted air !

Aalaiyar

The perfect picnic spot

Just to be able to be at such a serene spot is such a gift...how dare we not fight to preserve these amazing treasures!!!! To have had the privilege and pleasure of sighting a horn bill in flight is incomparable...the hills indeed are alive and breathtakingly so !!!!

Thattai murrukkus

Being on a trip with fun loving teenagers is such a joy and their voracious appetites also gives others an excuse to indulge...a lot of the other grub could not be photographed owing to lightning actions of hand to mouth ;)))))

While I should have taken pictures of the simple but delicious meals served at the place we vacationed in...I was simply having too much fun,to remember to take fun food photos !!! It happens sometimes !!!

So,if this has got you thinking of taking a road trip to a place not too far away,do check out THE WOODBRIAR GUESTHOUSES AT VALPARAI ,TAMILNADU. They offer beautiful bungalows/rooms,wonderful staff to make your stay comfortable and breathtaking location...hammock included !!!!!