MALAYSIA
Ingredients
• 500g laksa noodles, cooked, rinsed and
drained
• 1 kg ikan parang, ikan kembong or ikan
tengirri (all from the mackerel family)
• Stock ingredients
• 1 litre water
• 8 to 10 pieces assam gelugor (sometimes
called tamarind skins)
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 6 laksa leaves (daun kesum)
• 2 pink ginger flower (bunga kantan) stems,
bruised (reserve the buds for garnish)
• Spice paste (rempah) ingredients
• 3 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and chopped
• 1 (5 cm) piece turmeric, peeled
• 8 fresh red chillies (or to taste)
• 1 tablespoon belacan (shrimp paste)
Garnish ingredients
• 5 fresh red chillies, sliced
• 2 pink ginger flower buds, sliced finely just
before serving
• 1 fresh pineapple, cored (add to stock) and
shredded
• 1 cucumber, peeled and shredded
• Handful of mint leaves
• 3 tablespoons heiko (black prawn paste),
mixed with hot water to make a drizzling
sauce
Preparation
1. Steam the fish until opaque and the flesh flakes off easily with a
fork, about 10 minutes. When the fish is cool, remove the flesh
from the bones and set aside.
2. Reserve the “juice”, i.e. the water that accumulates on the plate
that the steamed fish sits on.
3. In a large pot, combine the water, assam gelugor, sugar and salt.
Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, using a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind
the spice paste ingredients into a smooth paste. Add to the pot.
5. Add the laksa leaves, the stems of the pink ginger flowers, and the
pineapple core to the stock. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes to
reduce and intensify the flavor. Strain and discard the solids. Add
the cooked, flaked fish meat and the fish "juice" to the stock.
6. With the fish meat added, it should be a light gravy-like
consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings, if desired. Keep the
gravy hot over a low heat on the stove for serving.
7. To serve, put a handful of laksa noodles in a metal strainer and
immerse in a pot of boiling water to scald the noodles for half a
minute. Drain and put into a bowl.
8. Pour a ladleful of gravy over the noodles, making sure to scoop up
some fish meat.
53
SYABRINA NURIN REFEI
SCHOOL:
SM SAINS TENGKU
MUHAMMAD FARIS
PETRA
Main Course