February 13, 2010

Nyonya Assam Laksa

Honestly, the origin of the name "laksa" is unclear. One theory says it is referring to a type of vermicelli. Second theory says that "laksa" may also be derived from the meaning "spicy sand" due to the dried prawns which make the gravy taste extremely sandy. Well just THEORY ! There are many version of Assam Laksa depending where you are eating; Kedah, Johor, Ipoh, Sarawak...& not forgetting the famous Penang Assam Laksa.



The recipe I am sharing with you is the Penang Assam Laksa,....Nyonya Style,....this is not the Nyonya Laksa or what they called Laksa Lemak.

This recipe is from a typical nyonya auntie from Penang. Interesting !..., the differences between this Nyonya Assam Laksa and the one you get it from the Penang hawker stalls are; the is the colour is a bit yellowish, strong aroma & taste from the shallots, lemongrass, turmeric,...etc. BUT...taste good.

Try this for change !



First prepare the laksa paste; shallots, turmeric, lemongrass, galangal, garlic, dried chillies & belachan. Blend together till become paste.

Cut and clean the fish. Bring water to boil, add the fish. Boil for approximately 5 minutes. Remove the fish and let it cool down before you flake it. Boiled the remaining bones again for another 5 minutes. Strain the fish stock into new/clean pot. 

Add the laksa paste ingredient, tamarind juice, tamarind peel & polygonum leaves, and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. Then add the fish flake boiled for another 5-10 minutes. Salt and sugar to taste.



Serve with toppings; slice pineapple, cucumber, onion, lettuce leaves, ginger flower, mint leaves & final touch...prawn paste (Har Ko).

Serving for 6paxs

Ingredients

Paste
200g (15)Shallots
10g Dried Chillies, soaked
50g Galangal
50g Turmeric
60g 2-3 Stalks Lemongrass
10g Garlic
15g Belachan

Stocks
800g Mackerel (Kembung Fish)
2Liters Water
40g Polyganum Leaves (Daun Kesom)
20g 2 Stalks Lemongrass, Bruised
150g Tamarind Pulp (Assam Jawa)
5g Tamarind Peel (Assam Keping)

Toppings
300g Cucumber, cut into thin strips
100g Lettuces Leaves, cut into thin strips
40g Mint Leaves
200g (1/2) Pineapple, cut into thin strips
50g Ginger Flower (Bunga Kantan), sliced finely
5tbsp Prawn Paste (Har Ko), mixed with hot water
300g Laksa Noodles, scalded
1tbsp Salt, or to taste
1tbsp Sugar, or to taste

1 comment:

backStreetGluttons said...

Your laksa looks fresh and very easy to prepare ( think so lah). Bet it is easier to eat !

Any comment whether this one here can beat the laksa SS2 ( "best" in Kelang Valley ),PJ Monday 6pm pasar malam guy in front of KTZ onot? Or can you kook for us then we bring to that place and sit & compare !

Then proceed to h2o(water) for final judgement . btw now in Pg got free food and Carlsberg again for 3 days ( 13 to 15 Mar)