My Rendang Isn’t Crispy and Other Favourite Malaysian Dishes

Book excerpt: Take a culinary voyage through the vibrant flavours of Malaysia with MasterChef UK contestant, Zaleha Kadir Olpin, as she shares her favourite family recipes in this cookbook. Malaysian-born Zaleha pays tribute to dishes she grew up with, including laksam, a rolled rice noodle dish unique to the East Coast of Malaysia; nasi lemak, one of Malaysia’s most iconic dishes; as well as chicken rendang, the controversial dish she prepared on the show. Other dishes include: • nasi goreng udang (prawn fried rice) • roti jala (lace crepes) • kari ikan mak (mum’s fish curry) • ketupat sotong (Malaysian-style stuffed squid) • ayam golek (Malaysian-style roast chicken) • kerabu daging (beef salad) • karipap pusing (spiral curry puffs) • lempeng kelapa (coconut pancakes) Mostly handed down from her mother and grandmother, Zaleha’s recipes maintain traditional methods of cooking, but are suitable for use in the modern kitchen so you can experience Malaysian cuisine in all its authenticity. Zaleha also shares lessons she learnt growing up in a culinary family, with insights into the importance of food in Malaysian culture. Written from the heart, this book will appeal to anyone looking to expand their flavour repertoire or just wanting to dip their toes into the delightful world of Malaysian cooking.