This prawn paste is sometimes called shrimp paste (not to be confused with belacan/terasi; I know, it's confusing), and it's best known as the base for Penang rojak aka fruit rojak, and as a topping/dip for Penang Assam Laksa. It's molassy, dark brown, sweet and pungent. In Chinese it's known as Hei Ko, and in Malay it's called Petis Udang or Otak » Read More
How to Cook Oxtail Asam Pedas
December 10, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe by MasterChef Malaysia Judge Chef Jo I had the privilege of meeting Chef Johari Edrus during my last trip to Kuala Lumpur, and I was intrigued by the concept of his restaurant, Symphony By Chef Jo, located in Damansara City Mall. The cuisine is "eclectic", meaning it derives ideas, styles, and tastes from a broad » Read More
How to Cook Steamed Fish with Choy Poh (Preserved Radish)
October 30, 2018 by
I've previously posted a couple of steamed fish recipes with preserved vegetables, and this is a variation on one of them; this time around, I'm using barramundi instead of silver perch (though, really, this would work with most white fish/fish fillets). Since I get asked all the time, I'm also showing you the type of "choy poh" ie. preserved » Read More
Chillies (30 Days 30 Asian Ingredients Series)
September 2, 2018 by
In this Live broadcast on Chillies, I cover the different types of chillies used in Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking, and explain their uses and preparation methods. I also reveal a good, cheap substitute that I’ve encountered in my recent trips to my local non-Asian fruit and vegetable shop, and how to “hack” the flavour to achieve the same » Read More
How to Flip & Cook Roti Canai | Roti Bom | Murtabak & More (Part 2)
July 17, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Roti Canai Masterclass by Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur This is part 2 of a two-part series on how to make roti canai; part 1 (click here) covered how to make the dough, and this part shows you how to flip, fill and fold the roti. Chef Chandra of Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur covers all the popular roti styles available at your » Read More
How to Make Perfect Roti Canai Dough
July 2, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe By Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur When I got into this whole “food thing” back in the day, I had to learn how to make everything myself through trial and error, because hawkers in Malaysia were notoriously secretive about their craft. One of these recipes was for roti canai (roti prata if you’re Singaporean), and I’ve » Read More
How to Make Jackie M’s XXO Sauce
June 12, 2018 by
I remember when XO sauce started popping up in Chinatown menus as an option for your stir-fried Chinese dishes a couple of decades ago, and thinking it must refer to cognac. I eventually learned that it was in fact a condiment made with dried scallops, an ingredient that’s expensive enough that it would deter me from ever entertaining the thought » Read More
How to Make South Indian Appam, Dosai and Mutton Curry
May 15, 2018 by
I had a bit of a culture shock when I first arrived in Australia and found the Indian food available in this country (and much of the West, as it turns out) to be very different to the Indian food I grew up eating in Malaysia. That was when I learned the difference between the North Indian curries found in Indian restaurants here, which are usually » Read More
How to Cook Spicy Chocolate Seafood Pasta
May 10, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe Courtesy of Symphony By Chef Jo Masterchef Malaysia judge Chef Jo's restaurant, Symphony by Chef Jo in Kuala Lumpur's DC Mall, serves what he describes as "eclectic cuisine" - he draws inspiration from food and flavours from around the world to produce a menu with intriguing-sounding items like Spicy Chocolate Seafood » Read More
How to Cook Khmer Seafood Amok
April 19, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe by Chef Chanrith Van of Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort I knew very little about Khmer food prior to Siem Reap, but I had heard of Amok, a strong contender for the title of Cambodia’s national dish. I was also vaguely aware of some lively online debates as to what constitutes an authentic amok. Chef Chanrith Van » Read More