Malaysian cuisine: the delicacy in spices

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No wonder many say Malaysian food isn't getting the global recognition it deserves, because the truth is, they are really delicious.

Malaysia is a kingdom of spices and a paradise for gastronomes. Besides traditional Malay cuisine, exotic flavors from China and India, even all over the world, can be found here.

Malaysia dishes are mostly cooked with beef, chicken, and fish, together with peppers and onions. It is famous for its fragrance, bright color, and spicy taste. There are many kinds of spices used in the cooking process. Coconut juice and curry are the main sauces, which form the unique characteristics of Malaysian cuisine.

Malaysian Indian food Banana Leaf. /VCG Photo

Malaysian cuisine: raw mackerel marinated with chili. /VCG Photo

Malaysian cuisine: shrimp with spicy curry. VCG Photo

Pork and chicken satay. /VCG Photo

Malaysian cuisine: Nasi lemak and other local cooked foods. VCG Photo

Malaysia is located in the tropics, which is rich in many kinds of spices. It is also located on the ancient Silk Road where the caravans on the spice trade used to stop. Thus its spices industry is more developed than that of any other country in Southeast Asia.

The delicacy of Malay cuisine lies in its variety of condiments. It is said that no fewer than 10 kinds of spices are used in each dish. What's more, there are roughly five kinds of Malaysian sauces made of spices which are commonly used: Ginseng sauce, Peranakan, Sambal sauce, Belacan, and mint sauce. Malaysian curry also deserves a mention here. There are more than 20 kinds of cooking methods with curry. In addition to the above sauces, Malaysians also like to use Satay sauce for barbecue.

Malaysian food is one of the best choices when you want to try to feel something thrilling for your taste buds.

What are the cultural elements that best represent Asia? Follow up with the "Know Asia Better" series. It will offer you a glimpse of 47 Asian countries, through architecture, art or cultural figures to show you a diversified Asia that you may never have noticed before. Themed in the exchanges and mutual learning among Asian civilizations and building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations will be held in Beijing in May.

(Cover photo from VCG and redesigned by Fan Chenxiao)