Shine bright like the crescent moon this Raya! Inspire your diners to feast like royals this festive season when you give a contemporary twist to 6 traditional dishes and desserts.
Satay Kebab Sticks
Make the ultimate all-in-one satay! Imagine: a grilled meat of your choice, nasi impit, cucumber and onion wrapped in beef slices, and serve it all up with fragrant, smooth or chunky peanut sauce on the side. If that’s not enough to charm your guests, serve the satay kebab sticks on top of an ice-cold mocktail. Great as a party starter, especially in garden or beach settings.
Roti Jala
Also known as net crepes, roti jala truly shines in social gatherings such as house warming parties, weddings and of course, during the Raya period. These delicately rolled perorated crepes go swimming well with sambal and plain, meat or fish curry. Make things interesting by serving roti jala savoury or even sweet. Garnish with parsley and chili flakes, or stir-fry grated coconut with gula melaka syrup as a dessert option.
Rendang
Raya season is synonymous with chicken and beef rendang. Put a spin on these old favourites by adding thinly sliced or grated orange peel. Not only will your rendang look aesthetically pleasing, the orange peel will also impart a zesty tang that cuts through the rich flavours. Another simple and vibrant way to add pizzazz to your dish is by plating thinly sliced oranges on the sides of the plate.
Lontong
Here’s a heart-warming and versatile dish that can be served as both an appetiser or main course. A traditional Indonesian broth made with various vegetables, turmeric and other spices boiled in coconut milk, lontong pairs well both rice, nasi impit and noodles. Add a little punch of flavour with spicy prawn sambal and garnish with serunding (fried desiccated coconut). For a more au courant presentation, serve your lontong in clear glass bowls.
Nasi Lemak
Another Malaysian favourite, this nostalgic dish is made from a variety of local ingredients. A steamed coconut rice base is topped with roasted peanuts, dried anchovies, sliced cucumber, hardboiled egg and the famous red sambal consisting spicy red chili paste, onions and other delectable spices. Try serving nasi lemak the way it’s sold – wrapped in banana leaves. For a healthier alternative, replace the rice with quinoa for a dish that’s still full of flavour, low on carbs and bulked up with protein!
Kek Batik
Whether it fulfills its sweet purpose as an appetiser, snack or dessert, kek batik can be sliced up into any shape of your choice then drizzled with warm chocolate syrup. For presentation points, serve it in marble tablespoons or unusual saucers. If you’re in a fancy mood, whip up a chocolate ganache and sandwich it between two slices of kek batik. Not a bad way to keep your diners asking for more!
