Wednesday, 6 July 2016

When it comes to Sarawakian cuisine, the first thing that pop on people's mind is their signature noodles, Sarawak Laksa and Kolok Mee. Yes, both dishes are very popular and Sarawak is known for these dishes. But a lot of people do not know there are more interesting dishes that should be explored!

I am going to list down 10 unique food you should try whenever you have the chance to visit Sarawak!


1. Manok Pansoh 



Manok Pansoh is a traditional dish among Iban community. It is unique in the sense of the ingredients are cooked in a bamboo. Manok means chicken and Pansoh means cooked in a bamboo. Chicken is cut into pieces with lemongrass and tapioca leaves are stuffed into bamboo before it is cooked over  an open fire. This cooking method seals in the flavour, which results in juicy and tender chicken with gravy perfumed by lemongrass and bamboo.


2. Manok Kacang Ma



This dish looks similar with Manok Pansoh but it is totally a different! Kacang Ma is a herb known as Motherwort. It is a Chinese dish consisting of chicken cooked with Kacang Ma-based broth. It is believed to be able to ease the effects of menstruation in women. Rice wine may also be added for a more delicate taste. The taste is slightly bitter because a lot of ginger is used in this dish, and due to Kacang Ma itself but overall, the flavour is fantastic!


3. Fried Oyster Pancake




This dish is a must when you go to seafood restaurant. It is a thin, crispy pancake with oysters concentrated in the centre. It is usually served with light soy sauce mixed with pepper. The crispiness of the pancake really compliments the chewiness of the oysters, which will make you addicted to it once you had the first bite!


4. Umai





Umai is a Melanau delicacy, which is made with thin slivers of fresh fish combined with thinly-sliced onion, chilli, salt, and calamansi juice. It is usually served with roasted sago pearls - sago starch mixed with coconut milk, it is then rolled into balls and cooked. This dish is sometimes prepared using cooked prawn or jelly fish depending on individual's preference. 


5. Bee Hoon Cangkuk Manis




Of Hakka origin, this dish consists of rice vermicelli stir-fried with eggs, fish cakes, chicken pieces and  the most important ingredient, which is Cangkuk Manis or known as sweet Mani Chai herb. This dish is very popular among youngsters because it is light and healthy to eat!


6. Nasik Aruk





Nasik Aruk is basically fried rice, but this traditional Sarawakian Malay dish is fried without using oil! The ingredients consist of onion, anchovies and cooked rice only. It is usually served with Sambal Belacan and salted fish to give it extra kick! It may look simple, but trust me, it is the best fried rice you will ever tasted!


7.  Midin




A crispy wild jungle fern that can be served as Kerabu (Salad) or stir-fried. Midin is typically stir-fried with belacan (shrimp paste) or garlic and chilli. Salted fish may also be added into the dish, is usually can be found at Kopitiam that sells Nasi Campur


8. Bee Hoon Belacan






This dish consists of rice vermicelli served in a sweet belacan (shrimp paste) broth topped with julienned cucumber, cuttlefish slices, century eggs, calamansi and sambal belacan. It is usually paired with ABC (shaved ice) and is eaten during high tea time. 


9. Mee Sapi






This dish uses noodles similar to Kolok Mee, but Mee Sapi is different in the sense that is served with a beef-based broth. with generous amounts of beef slices and beansprouts, this dish will definitely give you a satisfaction! You can opt to have the broth added straight to your noodles or in a separate bowl. I prefer mine in a separate bowl!


10. Bubur Pedas



It is a traditional Malay dish originating from Indonesia, which is a very popular dish during fasting month of Ramadan. The ingredients consist of small cubes of potatoes, dried tofu skin, black fungi, tang hoon, turmeric leaves, beef chunks, lemongrass, galangal, ginger, shallots, chilli and coconut milk. 

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