Baba Nyonya Traditional Foods

Nyonya Rice Dumpling (Nyonya Chang)

Rice dumplings are started from China, many overseas Chinese have adjusted their country local flavor into their version of rice dumpling. Nyonya rice dumpling (Nyonya Chang) is a version created by the Peranakan community, whose cooking combines both traditional Chinese and localized Malay ingredients. Traditionally, Nyonya-style rice dumplings have a touch of blue in them. This natural blue color is obtained from the blue pea flowers (butterfly pea flowers or Bunga telang).

It is both sweet and delicious at the same time, as candied winter melon is added into the filling together with the meat.

Nyonya Laksa

Laksa Lemak, also known as Nyonya laksa (Malay: Laksa Nyonya), is a type of laksa with creamy coconut gravy. Lemak is a culinary description in the Malay language which especially refers to the presence of coconut milk which adds unique plenty to a dish. As the name implies, it is made with rich, slightly sweet and strongly spiced coconut dressing. Laksa Lemak is usually made with a fish-based gravy (with vegetarian food stalls omitting fish) and is heavily inspired by Thai laksa (Malay: Laksa Thai).

Nyonya Kuih

Nyonya Kuih (kuih is a term for Malay cakes) is a bite-sized dessert that is both colorful and sweet. Kuih is widely popular among people of all ages. Some of the Nyonya Kuih are steamed or grilled. The most popular Nyonya Kuih is Ondeh-ondeh (or onde-onde). It is either made from sweet potato or glutinous rice flour. The ondeh-ondeh are infused with pandan (screwpine leaf) juice and are filled with Gula Melaka (local sugar) or palm sugar and then were rolled with some freshly grated coconut. When you take a bite, the palm sugar that is in it will burst in your mouth and the warm dessert will ooze into your mouth.

References

Jones, C. (2011). Snapshots from Malaysia: How to Make Curry Laksa (Nyonya Laksa).

Retrieved 25 June 2020, from https://www.seriouseats.com/2011/08/snapshots-from-malaysia-how-to-make-laksa-curry-lemak-noodle-soup.html

Liew, A. (2015). Nyonya Rice Dumplings Recipe (Zong Zi) 娘惹粽子 | Huang Kitchen.

Retrieved 25 June 2020, from https://www.huangkitchen.com/nyonya-rice-dumplings/

Mok, O. (2016). Malaysian kuih: A marriage of flavours and cultures | Malay Mail.

Retrieved 25 June 2020, from https://www.malaymail.com/news/eat-drink/2016/03/27/malaysian-kuih-a-marriage-of-flavours-and-cultures/1087719