Coconut Custard Crème Squares
Baked Fish with Fennel, Turmeric and Olive Oil
This simple pompano is my stand-by dish from the oven to the table, especially after hours in traffic on a rainy day. I love how pleasantly sweet pompano tastes and when marinated with ground fennel, turmeric, salt and extra virgin olive oil it becomes magically caramelized. The olive oil is the key to seal the […]
Tilapia Baked in Coconut Sambal
Coconut with Tilapia is a marriage made in heaven that works in so many forms. Tilapia is a gentle fish, and coconut is similarly creamy and gentle enough to accentuate the fish. In this recipe, the tilapia is baked in all natural banana leaves that will keep the fish moist and seal in the flavors. […]
Grilled Marinated Lamb Chop Satay
After travelling and seeking the world’s barbeque trail, if I had to pick my favorite region it would have to be Southeast Asia. In my homeland of Malaysia, pushcart satay vendors are found grilling their marinated chicken and beef cubes on bamboo skewers over red hot charcoal grills at the night markets and along main […]
Halibut Braised in Coconut
Serves 4 5 garlic cloves 4 to 6 fresh red jalapeno chilies, roughly chopped 2 small shallots, chopped 1 tablespoon toasted shrimp paste (page 000) ¼ cup canola or peanut oil 1 cup coconut milk 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste 1½ pounds bone-in halibut steak (1 inch thick), cut into 4-inch […]
Malaysian Chili Prawn
This is one of my favorite recipes and I make it interchangeably with prawns and crab. At home we cannot resist using our hands to dip the bread into the most delicious messes – the rich creamy chili sauce. The al fresco restaurants in Malaysia dish out chili prawns right from the blazing wok. Chili […]
Black Rice Pudding
Most people who taste black sticky rice for the first time find it exceptionally delicious. Gluten-free and high in fiber and antioxidants, this unmilled rice actually appears a deep burgundy color when cooked. You’ll need to plan a day ahead to make this traditional recipe because glutinous rice needs to be soaked a minimum of […]
Chicken Satay
Tiny pieces of meat grilled over an open flame are found the world over. The Turks have their kebab, the Greeks have their souvlaki, and the Japanese have their yakitori. In Southeast Asia, we call this treat satay: thin, marinated strips of meat on bamboo skewers, cooked over a flaming grill. Chicken or beef is […]
Traditional Beef Rendang
Traditional Beef Rendang Rendang is a signature dish and “comfort food” in Malaysia. Think of it as akin to the American pot roast in its comforting associations. Unlike pot roast, however, rendang is spiced completely differently. It is richly flavored with fresh lemongrass, galangal, ginger, shallots and earthy spices such as cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and […]