It’s the eve of Hari Raya / Eid! This year – much like the last – may have taken on a different, slightly solitary mood… and you’re missing out on a lot of those delicious Raya dishes.
Make them yourself this year *awkward smile*. No, but for real, I compiled these classic dishes that you can whip up. Each of these take no more than one hour to make.
Tip #1: One-Shot Blending
There’s a blending component for all the dishes, so if you do all the blending at one shot, you can save a hell lot of time – and washing up. Just rinse out the blender after each blend.
Tip #2: Dried Chilli Paste
A main component would be the dried chilli paste – I would always recommend my own concoction. However, there are ready-made dried chilli paste easily available at supermarkets if you’re from Singapore/Malaysia. For the rest, drop by your local Asian grocer and look for jarred Sambal Oelek. For either of the ready-made options, they tend to be salted as a preservative so adjust salt levels in the recipe accordingly.
1. Spicy Chicken Rendang
I used chicken, because it is a lot more foolproof and quicker to make than using beef or lamb. My recipe easily translates for beef/lamb. Simply up the water content and the time required to fully cook and braise the meat to ultimate softness. While chicken takes some 30 minutes to get fall-off-the-bone soft and delicious, beef might need at least one hour. The timing is also dependent on the type of cut.
Go to: Spicy Chicken Rendang | Rendang Ayam easy Singapore Malay recipe
2. Sambal Goreng
While most people head straight for the meat dishes, I look for Sambal Goreng first. I’m a rare breed, but this vegetable dish is low-key my favourite during Hari Raya.
Go to: Authentic Malay Sambal Goreng Recipe | spicy tofu tempe stir-fry
3. Ayam Masak Merah
Another classic Raya dish. Despite its fiery red appearance, this is not the most spicy dish. This is a mostly tomato-based dish, and you can adjust the spice levels based on your preference. If you want a totally non-spicy, super kid-friendly version, then omit the dried chilli paste.
Go to: Ayam Masak Merah | Spicy Tomato Chicken
4. Sayur Lodeh
The only non-spicy dish here.
Go to: SAYUR LODEH | VEGETABLES COCONUT CURRY STEW
5. Sambal Udang
Not really a staple, but I love me some yummy, briny Sambal Udang, or Sambal Shrimps and Prawns.
Go to: Sambal Udang | Sambal Shrimps or Prawns
And that is my roundup of easy, classic Malay dishes to whip up for Hari Raya. As an accompaniment to these delicious dishes, you also have to have lontong, ketupat or rice cakes too – but I would just grab them off the supermarket shelves. Otherwise, good ol’ plain rice never fails. Happy trying!
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