Browse recipes for everyday meals, snacks, sides, desserts and drinks. This page gathers the full recipe archive in one place.
Find familiar favorites, international dishes and ideas for days when you’re in the mood to try something different.
Use the categories to narrow the choices or scroll through the latest recipes to find some literal food for thought.
Acar brings crunch, vinegar and a little sweetness to plates that need a sharper edge. In this Malaysian version, cucumber, carrot, cabbage and pineapple sit in a turmeric-tinted pickle with chili, peanuts and sesame. The pineapple is what makes it differ from plain pickled vegetables and gives the bowl a sweeter, juicier bite. I always […]
Cold shaved ice, slippery green cendol strands, salted coconut milk and dark gula melaka syrup are what make cendol so tied to hot afternoons in Malaysia. The bowl looks simple at first, although the balance is easy to throw off. Too much coconut milk and it tastes flat. Too little syrup and the ice washes […]
Curry puffs, usually called kari puff in Malaysia, are small fried pastries filled with curried potato, onion and often some chicken or egg. They’re a well-loved bakery and market snack, with a crisp shell, a soft filling and a sealed edge that keeps everything inside while they fry. This curry puff recipe uses a handmade […]
Wok hei is the smoky, singed quality that gives a good stir-fry its edge. The term comes from Cantonese and is often translated as “breath of the wok.” It’s tied to very high heat, fast movement and the way oil, sauce and food hit the metal during cooking. If you’ve ever wondered why restaurant fried […]
Mee goreng is a Malaysian fried noodle dish made with yellow wheat noodles, a savory sweet spicy sauce and a mix of tofu, vegetables and often egg. The noodles are cooked quickly over high heat so they pick up the sauce properly, and the plate usually includes lime for sharpness and a little fresh crunch […]
Hainanese chicken rice is one of the best known Malaysian chicken dishes, with poached chicken, fragrant rice cooked in broth, and sauces that give the plate its edge. s The rice carries ginger, garlic and stock all the way through, and the chili sauce brings the heat and sharpness to tie everything together. A good […]
Satay is one of those dishes you notice before you even see it. The skewers hit the grill and you get that mix of smoke, caramelized marinade and fat dripping onto the heat. It’s usually served in small batches, straight off the grill, with peanut sauce, cucumber and onion on the side. What makes it […]
Roti canai is one of those things that looks simple until you try to make it. The dough gets stretched so thin it almost disappears, then folded over itself and cooked on a hot griddle until the layers start to separate. Tear it apart while it’s still warm and dip it straight into dhal or […]
Beef rendang is cooked low and slow until the coconut milk reduces and the spices concentrate into a thick coating around the meat. It starts off like a curry, but keeps going until most of the liquid is gone and the flavor deepens. My version focuses on a traditional Malaysian approach, where the paste is […]
Nasi goreng is one of the most recognizable Malaysian fried rice dishes. Cooked rice is stir-fried in a hot wok with aromatics, chili paste and savory sauces until every grain is coated. A fried egg on top is common for more protein and flavor, along with cucumber for freshness and sometimes sambal on the side. […]
Nasi lemak is widely considered Malaysia’s national dish and is one of the first foods people think of alongside nasi goreng and laksa. At its core, it’s rice cooked with coconut milk and pandan leaves, served with sambal, crispy anchovies, peanuts, egg and fresh cucumber. You’ll find it everywhere, from roadside stalls to restaurants, often […]
Char kway teow is a Malaysian stir-fried noodle dish made with flat rice noodles cooked quickly in a hot wok with shrimp, Chinese sausage, egg and bean sprouts. The noodles are tossed in soy sauce and chili paste while the wok heat creates the lightly smoky flavor known as wok hei (read more about wok […]
Nasi dagang is a traditional Malaysian rice dish commonly associated with the east coast states of Terengganu and Kelantan. The rice is steamed with coconut milk and served with a rich fish curry, pickled vegetables and sometimes boiled eggs. This version of nasi dagang focuses on the classic pairing of coconut rice with tuna curry, […]
Ikan bakar is a Malaysian grilled fish dish known for its smoky aroma and bold chili marinade. The fish is coated in a spiced paste, then grilled over high heat until the edges char slightly and the inside comes out soft and a little flaky. This version uses a simple chili paste made with chilies, […]
Nasi kerabu is one of those dishes that stands out straight away because of the color. The rice is naturally dyed blue using butterfly pea flower, then served with herbs, vegetables, sambal and usually something like grilled fish or chicken. What makes it interesting isn’t just how it looks, it’s how everything comes together on […]
Asam pedas is a Malaysian fish stew built around tamarind and a chili-based spice paste. The broth is thin, sharp and quite punchy, with the fish simmered directly in it so it takes on all that flavor. This version includes tomatoes and okra, which you’ll often see in Melaka and Johor styles. The tomatoes soften […]
Sarawak laksa is a Malaysian noodle soup from the state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The broth is built from a distinctive laksa paste simmered with aromatics and coconut milk, then served with rice vermicelli, shredded chicken, prawns and fresh herbs. The broth is built by cooking laksa paste with dried shrimp and […]
Otak-otak is a Malaysian spiced fish paste wrapped in banana leaves and cooked until the edges lightly char and the inside sets soft. The mixture blends fish with coconut milk and spices into a thick paste, which is then wrapped and grilled in small parcels. The banana leaves hold everything together while cooking and pick […]
Babi pongteh is a classic Peranakan braised pork dish made with fermented soybean paste, garlic and palm sugar. It’s cooked slowly until the pork turns tender and the sauce thickens into a rich, savory gravy. Unlike many Southeast Asian pork dishes that rely on chilies, this one focuses on depth and balance. The fermented soybean […]
Kari kapitan is a thick, aromatic Peranakan chicken curry built around a cooked spice paste rather than a sauce heavy with coconut milk. The paste coats the chicken closely and carries the flavors of chilies, lemongrass and toasted aromatics. This curry has a deeper, more concentrated flavor compared to looser coconut-based versions. The shrimp paste […]