Homemade Lemonade

Imagine sipping a homemade lemonade that is lightly sweet, refreshing, nourishing, and instantly wakes up the taste buds. This unique drink works as a summer refreshment, for hot days, casual gatherings, or as a mocktail party drink. It combines classic lemon juice with common Southeast Asian ingredients (COCONUT MILK DESSERT RECIPE). 

The ingredients for this homemade drink are also available in other parts of the world, as Asian grocers are now common. For home gardeners, lemons and mint leaves are grown fresh at home, while basil seeds come from simply removing the seeds from basil leaves and drying them.

Coconut Milk Dessert - Bubur Cha-Cha

One of the well-known Malaysian sweet desserts is Bubur Cha-Cha. It is made with boiled or steamed sweet potatoes and yam cooked in coconut milk, flavored with pandan leaves. This simple dessert requires only a few ingredients that are common and affordable in Southeast Asian cooking (PUMPKIN BARLEY DESSERT). 

 

Bubur Cha-Cha originates from the Nyonya community, created by the Peranakan Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore. It is a part of Nyonya cuisine and has become popular as both a Chinese-style and Malay dessert. Today, it remains a staple in Malaysian dessert culture (DURIAN SWEET DESSERT). 

Easy Vegetarian Lotus Root Soup

This vegetarian lotus root soup is easy to make, using ingredients that are affordable and easy to find at any grocery store. Lotus root, tofu, black fungus, and leek cook together in a light, healthy broth. The soup is high in fiber, easy to digest, and a good choice for anyone looking for a simple, plant-based, vegan, healthy soup (PUMPKIN SOUP). 

 

Unlike versions made with pork bones, this recipe is completely meatless. It can be served on its own as a light meal or with rice for a wholesome, filling dish. Family- and kid-friendly, it works well for any time of the day, including breakfast.

Papaya Salad Recipe

Crunchy, fresh, crisp, spicy, and tangy papaya salad. Truly an appetizing dish that wakes up your taste buds instantly. Whether as a healthy salad for nibbling or paired with rice as an Asian meal, this green papaya salad is versatile. Known as Som Tum in Thailand, Bok Lahong in Cambodia (ANGKOR WAT CAMBODIA), Kerabu Betik in Malaysia, and Gỏi đu đủ in Vietnam, it can be made with unripe or semi-ripe papaya.

 

The best thing about this no-cook papaya salad recipe is there’s nothing to heat on the stove. While traditional preparation may involve pounding ingredients, thinly sliced or chopped papaya work just as well.

Vietnamese Noodles: Lamb Pho

Inspired by Vietnamese pho, here is a tweaked version of the classic noodle soup, Lamb Pho. While it may not be the exact version of Vietnam’s world-famous national dish (WHAT TO EAT IN VIETNAM) the Malaysian-made version can be known as a Malaysian-style lamb noodle soup or homemade lamb pho recipe.

Following the traditional pho style from Vietnamese street stalls, the dish features an aromatic and flavorful lamb bone soup, poured over blanched rice noodles or bee hoon. The broth is simmered with essential spices, as in Vietnamese pho - cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and coriander seeds, which are also common in Indian cooking.

Mee Siam Goreng Recipe

Springy rice vermicelli (bee hoon), stir-fried to the right texture, coated in a spicy, mildly salty rempah with taucheo (fermented soybean paste) and dried shrimp. Tossed with tofu pok, chives, and beansprouts, then served with cucumber, fried egg, and a wedge of lime, the beloved Mee Siam Goreng. Goreng basically refers to a dry-style, stir-fried noodle dish. (MEE SIAM GRAVY VEGETARIAN). 

 A Peranakan (Nyonya) noodle dish found in Singapore and Malaysia, and part of the wider Malaysian food heritage. There is also Malay Mee Siam, though the core ingredients remain similar.

How to Make Jelly: Natural Green Jelly Recipe

Green Cincau Jelly (Cincau Hijau) is a two ingredient homemade jelly that is soft, wobbly, and naturally cooling. In its natural form, this no-cook jelly carries a fresh, grassy, and lightly earthy flavor with a hint of bitterness. It’s an acquired taste, and not everyone can digest it easily.

 

But sure, as a sweet dessert, as an Asian dessert, it can be anything more than coconut milk and palm sugar/Gula Melaka syrup. Or, to convert to a Western style dessert, honey, a scoop of ice cream, or even pancake.

 

A top notch healthy dessert, Green Cincau made from Cencau Perdu leaves (Premna oblongifolia or Cyclea barbata), is valued for its chlorophyll, natural cooling effect, gentle digestion, hydration, and antioxidants. 

How to Make Easy Overnight Oats

Breakfast on the go doesn’t have to mean sacrificing nutrition. Overnight oats are a quick, no-cook option, ideal even for grab-and-go mornings. Just assemble the ingredients and refrigerate. This make-ahead breakfast is not only convenient but also nutritious and delicious (EASY VEGETARIAN BREAD PUDDING).

You can prep overnight oats 2 to 3 days in advance, but food safety is key, a healthy (PUMPKIN BARLEY DESSERT) breakfast shouldn't cause an upset stomach. Follow these simple hygiene tips to keep your oats fresh.

Easy Chicken Curry Recipe: Indian Style

Easy, quick, and made with pantry-friendly ingredients, this spicy and delicious chicken curry is a must-try. These days, for an easy chicken curry or instant chicken curry, store-bought curry paste, or even dry spice blends, can do the job (CHICKEN CURRY WITH COCONUT MILK). 

 

Still, nothing beats this homemade chicken curry, made with aromatic spices, curry leaves, and store-bought chili powder.

Spicy Prawn with Beans Recipe: Sambal Petai Udang

Healthy, spicy superfood. Petai Sambal with prawns, or stink beans cooked in a Malay spicy gravy, is a classic Malaysian seafood recipe. Petai is an acquired taste, not for the faint-hearted due to its strong smell, but beloved by Malaysians (SARDINE SAMBAL/SAMBAL SARDIN). 

 

Packed with health benefits, it contains a list of nutrients. Petai can also be eaten raw as a salad or ulam, dipped in sambal belacan, and paired with fresh vegetables like cucumber and salad leaves.

Stir-Fried Winged Beans: Kacang Botol Goreng Belacan

Stir-fried in a spicy, umami belacan paste, these winged beans stay crunchy and full of taste. This dish is a classic Malay-style stir-fried vegetable (KERABU BENDI/OKRA SALAD). It is known as Kacang Botol Goreng Belacan. The key ingredient is shrimp paste (belacan), a staple in Malaysian sambals, spicy gravies, and sauces.

 

Winged beans, also called four-angled beans or kacang botol in Malaysia, are nutritious and affordable. They can be replaced with French beans or long beans. Kangkung Belacan (water spinach stir-fry) is cooked the same way but softer for easier chewing.

Easy Rice Pudding Recipe

Looking for a simple, comforting dessert? This easy homemade rice pudding recipe uses pantry staples like rice, sugar, and milk, or coconut milk. It’s similar to Indian kheer in the north and payasam in the south, loved for its creamy texture and gentle sweetness (EASY BREAD PUDDING).  

 

This recipe is flexible, affordable, and quick to make. With rice and some milk, you’re already halfway there.

 

This rice pudding can be served warm or chilled and is ideal for anyone who loves familiar, homey desserts. Whether you call it rice pudding, kheer, or payasam (PAYASAM RECIPE), the comfort is universal.

Bread Pudding Recipe: Malaysian Style

When it comes to bread pudding, it's all about waste not, want not. This Malaysian-style bread pudding recipe is a go-to when needing to use up near-expiry bread slices, crusts included. No waste, no fuss (FRUITY BREAD PUDDING). And when you add the beautiful aroma of pandan leaves (screwpine), you get that unmistakable local Malaysian taste.

 

This is a healthier version of bread pudding. Instead of condensed milk, which is often too sweet, plain carton milk is used with a light touch of sugar. You can even swap in coconut milk for a creamier, more indulgent texture.

Fried Banana Chips Recipe

Crunchy, crispy, and lightly spiced, these banana chips are a beloved accompaniment for home-cooked rice meals (RICE-COOKER TURMERIC RICE) and are looked forward to in unassumingly Indian eateries. Making fried banana chips isn’t complicated. It’s all about time, batch-frying, and ensuring they are crispy fried without burning. This Indian banana chips recipe shows you how to make banana chips easily at home.

The bananas used for these crispy banana chips are green bananas, known as Valakkai in Tamil, which gives the recipe its name in Tamil as Valakkai Chips or Valakkai Poriyal (though “poriyal” usually refers to stir-fries).

Chinese Steamed Chicken Recipe

Tender and juicy chicken, served with ginger sauce. The fresh aroma of ginger, the bright burst of spring onions, and the nutty scent of sesame oil make this a delicious, wholesome, and simple Chinese meal (CHINESE EGG FRIED RICE). 

 

Truly, Chinese cooking doesn’t get easier. Steaming is straightforward, and the no-cook Chinese Ginger Dip delivers a beloved spicy kick. The succulent steamed chicken (EASY CHICKEN SALAD) is eaten by dipping into the Chinese sauce.

Best Turmeric Rice Recipe: Rice Cooker Style

Best in the sense that it’s not only known as turmeric rice but also as golden rice. Fluffy grains, earthy, peppery, and buttery, with a satisfying crunch from nuts and natural sweetness from raisins. Though some stove-top prep is required, this recipe is mostly cooked in the rice cooker for ease and consistency.

 

Turmeric powder, a powerful antioxidant with numerous health benefits. A staple of Indian cooking and has now found its place in Western kitchens. Basmati rice is also known for its health benefits compared to plain white rice, with light, separate grains and a fragrant aroma.

Vegetarian White Bee Hoon Recipe - Indian Style

Forever a classic - fragrant, nutritious, and wholesome. This Indian-style vegetarian white bee hoon (rice vermicelli) is a family favorite. The aroma of curry leaves, the gentle heat of dried red chilies, and the crunch of cabbage come together in soft or al-dente fried bee hoon.

 

Simple, affordable, and homemade (INDIAN CREAMED SPINACH), this stir-fried bee hoon is enjoyed for breakfast, tea-time, or even as a light dinner.

Mutton Curry Recipe/Masala Mutton Gravy

The simply aromatic, top-notch flavor profile of Indian spices defines this Indian-style Mutton Curry. Tender mutton in a thick, spicy gravy awakens the palate instantly, while crushed black pepper adds a sharp heat and lingering spiciness (CHETTINAD MUTTON CURRY).

 

Mutton curries with black pepper are popular across regions, each with unique local names. In Kerala, it’s called Meat Pepper Curry or Irachi Milagu Curry. In Tamil Nadu, simply South Indian Mutton Curry. It is Milagu Mutton in Sri Lanka, whereas, in Bangladesh, known as Kala Bhuna, and in Durban, South Africa, as Durban Mutton Curry.

Sardine Sambal/Sambal Sardin: Canned Sardine Recipe

Ever classic, ever beloved, spicy sardine made with canned sardines is simply irresistible. No dried chilli paste is needed, so you don’t have to pound or blend even if using fresh chillies. For tanginess, there’s no need for tomatoes. The sauce in the canned sardines works as it is.

 

The twist for this recipe is home-grown lemongrass, turmeric leaf, and bird’s eye chillies, which add fragrance, spiciness, and the health benefits of cooking with herbs. Known as sambal sardine for Malay cooking, or sarden sambal for Indonesian food, it’s called sarden balado when made with balado sauce (SPICY EGGS/TELUR BALADO).

Easy Indian Creamed Spinach Curry (Vegetarian)

All natural goodness and deliciousness. Healthy, nutrient-packed coconut milk creaminess, glossy spinach, golden turmeric, and aromatic curry leaves. Along with chillies and a splash of lime juice, this creamed spinach recipe brings vibrant flavor and extra nutritious value to your plate (PICKLED EGGPLANT). 

Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and wholesome plant-based goodness, it’s a budget-friendly dish that doesn’t compromise on benefits. Nothing beats home-cooked meals for wellness.