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Last week semperna ulang tahun kelahiran Haze Long, we went to Templer Park Forest Retreat for a bit of a getaway (blog post some other time). A place that’s a bit out of the city and more in tune with nature, which also translate to making our own food.

Fortunately, there’s a pretty well equipped kitchen for our usage, and the Selayang market nearby. So on the morning of the 2nd day, we went to the market and picked up a chunky barramundi fish (siakap) for a bit of DIY ikan bakar.

I want to share with you the recipe of this dish, as it is  a very simple dish to prepare at home. It’s pretty delicious and the use of banana leaf in this preparation method ensure that the skin is edible and never charred.

home cooked ikan bakar with siakap fish

Ingredients:

• 600-800 gram barramundi fish (or stingray, or any other fish of similar size)
• turmeric powder (kunyit)
• salt
• lime
• 2 pieces banana leaves big enough to cover the fish
• a couple table spoon of cooking oil or butter

ikan bakar with kunyit (turmeric) – sedap!

cooking instructions:

• clean and dry the fish
• cover generous amount of turmeric powder and two teaspoon of salt on the fish, set aside for at least a few minutes
• heat up a flat surface frying pan, then pan fry the fish on top of banana leaf for 10 mins with oil
• fry the other side of fish with a fresh banana leaf for another 8 minutes
• serve with a couple slices of lime (bonus: with sambal)

Happy cooking!

What is the very first meal you ever cooked all by yourself?

For me, as I’m sure with many others, it will undoubtedly be Maggi instant noodle. Bring a bowl of water to boil, add Maggi, add the flavoring pastes, and maybe an egg for good measure, and two minutes later, viola! You have a meal.

In fact, my very first bowl of self-cooked Maggi was when I was still in primary school and probably 8-9 year old (without my mom’s knowledge, of course).

my university days in US

After high school and a couple years in college locally, I went off to continue my studies in the States.

My very first university was at Bemidji, this frigid winter wonderland that had temperature as low as -40 Celsius and was so far away from the city that Maggi became our number one product among Malaysians and many other Asians alike.

To get a box of Maggi, we had to drive about 7 hours to Minneapolis, oh it was so precious. If you want any favors from your classmates, perhaps to take a look at their assignment for “reference”, you cook a pack of Maggi for them. Good times!

my favorite dishes at mamak – Maggi goreng

After a few years in the States where I continued to have Maggi in my kitchen cupboard pretty much at all time, I came back to KL.

This was a time when the whole generation of new workforce and college kids found themselves renting rooms in Klang Valley without a proper kitchen. So how do you solve that Maggi cravings?

The local mamak restaurants picked that needs right up and we now have Maggi goreng, Maggi soup and the likes offered at those eateries. I believe Malaysia is probably the only country you find instant noodle being served in restaurants, we love it, and we’re proud of it.

Maggi Royale Penang Seafood Curry

Throughout the years, Maggi continue to refine their product and introduced to the market different varieties, flavors, and packaging (cup noodle for example), with the latest being Maggi Royale Penang Seafood Curry and Maggi Royale Korean Spicy Braised Beef.

Maggi Royale is Maggi noodles premium range, made with higher quality ingredients and springy noodle made from real wheat.

spice things up with a small prawn

I tried their Maggi Royale Penang Seafood Curry that comes with real toasted belacan and seafood broth made from fresh prawns (added my own prawn for good measure too). Cooking instruction is something that we don’t really need to explain, and I find that using correct amount of water is key to making the broth thick and flavorful.

here’s my Maggi Royale Penang Seafood Curry, with prawn!

The end result is a bowl of noodle that isn’t foreign to my taste buds, but also one that is markedly superior. It was a good start of the day to have this as breakfast. I like the broth that seemed to have a bit more character compared to their single sachet instant noodle (this one comes with 3).

Maggi Royale Korean Spicy Braised Beef flavor

Maggi Royale Korean Spicy Braised Beef is another product I have in my kitchen that I would be trying real soon. Made with thick, springy wheat noodle with meaty spicy broth and comes with real carrots, spring onions & chili garnish too. Soon!

For more information, check out Maggi Royale on the web.

Craving for Maggi (especially if you’re overseas!)? Well, tell us your story! What is your first memory with Maggi? Leave a comment below about your memory, and the 10 most interesting stories will win a Maggi Royale gift pack! Remember to leave your correct email address so that you could be contacted.

When I was a student in the States years ago, I remember one of the things we always struggle to find when it comes to cooking ingredients is santan, or coconut milk.

I mean, if you’re a Malaysian, you got to have curry, and to make curry and a host of other Malaysian dishes, santan is often a key ingredients. Back in the days, we had to substitute santan with milk, so  you can imagine how happy I would have been if I had access to something like S&P Santan instant coconut cream powder back then.

S&P Santan and other FFM’s sponsored products at the cooking workshop

A couple weeks ago, I was invited to attend the I love S&P Santan Cooking Workshop with Chef Andri to check out some of the products from S&P Industries as well as getting our hands wet at the kitchen learning from the good chef in making three different dishes.

Lex from KampungBoyCityGal and I are in the same team

A little bit on S&P Industries Sdn Bhd.

S&P Industries is the pioneer in coconut milk powder manufacturing in Malaysia since 1983 and is the world’s largest producer of coconut milk powder with distributions to more than 40 countries.

Their Santan Instant Coconut Milk Powder is made 100% from fresh coconut, does not have preservative or artificial coloring.

The coconut milk powder comes in 50 gram sachets in original, omega, & pandan. They also have coconut milk coming in 200 ml and 1 liter packs.

working on our first appetizer dish

We had a lot of fun at FFM Marketing’s kitchen with the lively Chef Andri showing off his three recipes – an appetizer, a main dish, and a dessert.

I really liked how versatile the coconut cream powder was, it is very easy and convenient to use compared to traditional method. Simply add in the powder while cooking and let it dissolve. The S&P Sejati Desiccated Coconut also came in very handy for making desserts and other dishes, the longer shell life is most helpful too.

With Lex from KampungBoyCityGal as my partner (we called our team Kampung Utara), we competed with other teams in creating these dishes, and although we did not win, I think we can claim that we made some of the best looking dishes among the contestants. If you aren’t the best, try to look the best, right?

I also like the choice of venue, the FFM cooking facility located at Sungai Buloh is really well equipped. In fact we were the first group of people to get to use it. The venue is open to rental too, do contact marketing@ffmb.com.my or 03-61457888 for inquiries.

The recipes from Chef Andri are shared below so you can give them a try at home.

For more information on S&P Santan, check out www.spfood.com and www.facebook.com/SPISantan

here’s our spinach broccoli coconut soup (nice plating?)

Spinach Broccoli Coconut Soup

Ingredients:

• 50 gram fresh baby spinach
• 100 gram fresh brocolli, cut into florets
• 25 gram butter
• 1/2 red bombay onion, chopped
• 2 nos garlic, crushed
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 50 gram S&P Santan Instant Coconut Cream Powder
• pinch of salt, pinch of nutmeg powder, pinch of white pepper powder

Cooking Instructions:

• Rinse fresh baby spinach leaves, shaking off excess water. Melt butter in large sauce pan t medium heat. Add onion and garlic, saute for 3 mins of until tender.
• Add vegetable stock, let boil and add broccoli. Put heat at low temperature and simmer for 3 mins or until broccoli is tender. Add fresh baby spinach and cook till just soft. Let cool for a while.
• Using a food processor, process soup until smooth. Return soup to sauce pan and place over medium heat.
• Add S&P Santan Instant Coconut Cream Powder, nutmeg powder, and white pepper. Bring to gentle simmer. Ladle into cups and served with Massimo Wheat Germ garlic bread.

baked cajun chicken wings, with S&P Pandan Santan Coconut Cream Powder

Baked Cajun Chicken Wings

Marination:

• 3 pairs of chicken wings
• 1 teaspoon Krystal Pure Sunflower Oil
• 2 teaspoon cajun spice
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh curry leaves
• pinch of salt

Coconut Pandan Cheese Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon Blue Key Superfine Flour
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• 50 gram S&P Pandan Santan Coconut Cream Powder
• 2 tablespoon grated cheddar cheese
• pinch of nutmeg powder, pinch of salt

Garnishing: 1 tablesppon grated parmesan cheese (sprinkle)

Cooking instructions:

• Clean chicken wings and marinate, keep chill for 30 minutes
• Meanwhile, preheat sauce pan with low to medium heat and put in butter. Let it melt and add Blue Key Superfine Flour. Mix well with a balloon whisk until smooth.
• Add in vegetable stock, whisk well and add in S&P Pandan Santan Coconut Cream Powder, whisk until warm but not boiled.
• Add in nutmeg powder, grated cheddar cheese and grated parmesan cheese, stir well until thicken. Turn off heat and put aside.
• Preheat oven to 170C and preheat frying pan with medium heat  and seaf the marinated wings until golden brown.
• Put seared wings on oven tray and bake for 15 mins.
• Spread coconut pandan cheese sauce on plate and arrange the baked wings, sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on top.

Cavendish coconut fritters, with S&P Santan Sejati desiccated coconut

Cavendish Coconut Fritters

Ingredients:

• 1 Cavendish banana, peeled and sliced to 3
• 2 cups Seri Murni Cooking Oil for deep frying

Batter:

• 1 cup Blue Key Self Rising Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda powder
• 1 cup soda water

Dry Coating:

• 1 cup S&P Santan Sejati Desiccated Coconut
• 1 cup Blue Key Superfine Flour

Caramel Sauce

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cooking cream
• 50 gram butter
• 1 drop Star Brand Artificial Banana Flavor

Garnishing:

• fresh mint leaves
• toasted dessicated coconut-sprinkle
• vanilla ice-cream to serve

Cooking Instructions:

• Preheat sauce pan at medium heat to make caramel sauce, stir the sugar, cream and butter, stir well for 4-5 minutes for until smooth. Then drop Star Brand Artificial Banana Flavour and stir well.
• Sift the Blue Key Self Raising Flour and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Whisk in soda water until smooth.
• Spread S&P Santan Sejati Desiccated Coconut and Blue Key Superfine Flour over separate plates.
• Preheat saucepan at medium heat with Seri Murni Cooking Oil. Roll 3 pieces of banana in flour and shake off excess. use bamboo stick and dip in batter, then roll in desiccated coconut to coat.
• Carefully add to the oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel.
• Spread the caramel sauce over a serving plate and arrange the fried bananas, put vanilla ice cream at side and garnish with fresh mint leaves and sprinkle toasted desiccated coconut.

Do you love cooking and have some awesome recipes to share? You might even get to win cool prizes!

Just share your very own recipes using S&P Santan products and stand a chance to win attractive prizes.

Head on to S&P Santan Facebook Page to find out more.

A few weeks ago my colleague Joyceanne came out of nowhere and told me she was going to give me some live crab and if I was going to be able to bring them home on my motorcycle. Well, since you don’t get opportunities like this very often, with the help of her friend Kaiqi, who actually supplied the crabs all the way from Johor, we loaded 3 live mud crabs into my backpack. Thank you Joyce & Kaiqi!

The crustaceans took a ride of their lifetime, and arrived safe and sound at home just in time for Haze and I to decide that butter crab is in the menu of the night.

first, you have to do the dirty job by killing the crabs

For the muslims who may not want to consume mud crab, flower crab can be used in replacement with this cooking method as well.

Here’s the pretty simple recipe we found online for butter crab, originally shared on Rasa Malaysia.

The ingredients to serve 2-3 person:

• 3 live mud crabs (or flower crabs)
• 1 stick of butter
• 1/2 cup of evaporated milk
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch as thickening agent
• 6-12 chili padi
• 2-3 stalks of curry leaves
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt (to taste)

melt butter, add chilli padi and curry leave before the crabs

The trickiest part of this recipe turned out to be .. killing the crab!

For those of you who has a heart made of steel, just go ahead and rip apart the crab’s shell alive and that’ll do the trick. We ended up using a chopstick and drove into the belly of the crabs, which also effectively killed the crab after about 10-15 minutes.

add evaporated milk and simmer for about 5 minutes

Anyway, here’s the cooking instructions:

• clean and kill the crabs, then cut in halves and remove gills after removing shells, use pestle to pre-crack the crab claws for easier consumption
• heat up wok with medium heat and melt butter
• add chilli padi and curry leaves
• when aroma is released, add crab and stir until the shells turn red
• add evaporated milk and cover to simmer for about 5 minutes
• add cornstarch (pre-mixed with water) and stir for a minute to thicken sauce before serving

here it is, creamy butter crab, goes well with some fried buns

And here you go, the butter crab turned out rather delicious. You can enjoy this dish with some fried buns or with rice/noodle, or basically anything.

Now you know what to do with live crabs! Check out other recipes by yours truly by clicking on the KY Cooks category.

The most famous instant noodle in town, MyKuali Penang White Curry Mee, has been widely praised as one of the bests. Authentic Penang flavor with that aromatic sambal paste right in your kitchen within a few minutes, it’s about as good as it gets, or is it?

the ingredients, with Penang White Curry mee

When it comes to cooking, I always like to experiment. So when I started to get a little bored with the standard way of cooking the MyKuali White Curry Mee, I improvised, and came up with this fried MyKuali Penang White Curry mee. The result turned out to be pretty good!

Here’s the recipe.

first, fry some chopped garlic and perhaps onion or shallots too

Ingredients (for 2): 

• 2 packs standard MyKuali Penang White Curry Mee
• 1-2 bulb garlic and some shallots or onion, skinned and sliced
• 3-4 tablespoon cooking oil
• 2 eggs
• 8 crab sticks (or otherseafood of your choice)

use some hot water to stir the accompanying chilli paste and santan

Cooking instructions:

• heat up cooking oil and fry garlic to golden brown, remove and put aside
• fry shallot/onion to golden brown, remove and put aside
• at the same time, boil the noodle for 3 minutes
• use 2 tablespoon hot water (from boiling noodle) and mix up the seasoning and sambal from MyKuali packets
• fry crabstick/seafood, remove and put aside
• when noodle is done, remove from pot and start frying in the pan with oil
• add the premixed seasoning (I only use about 70%)
• add eggs and continue to fry till eggs are cooked
• served with the fried garlic, shallots, and crab sticks

boil the noodle first before frying with “rempah” and egg

Yeap, this does take quite a bit more effort than your usual 3 minute work for coming up with a bowl of instant noodle, but unlike Indomie or Maggie goreng, you can’t get this at your friendly local Mamak restaurant, and dare I say, it tastes a whole lot more awesome as well.

Try it and let me know if you like it!

Fried MyKuali Penang White Curry Mee with Crab Sticks

For more simple recipes, check out my Cooking section.