Lontong

Ingredients
1.5kg rice (beras cina)
fresh banana leaves
water for boiling

sturdy stick or toothpick

string (for using lontong mould)

Directions

• soak rice in water for an hour or more and drain it afterwards
• roll banana leaf in cyclindrical shape (glossy side in) at least 2 rounds when using mold and 3 rounds when doing the traditional way
• fasten one end with stick or sturdy toothpick
• fill rice about half (slightly more) of the cylinder and secure the open end with stick
• arrange lontong in a big pot and fill water to cover
• top up with boiling water regularly whenever water level recedes
• boil for up to 4 hours until lontong are firm
• let the lontong cool (standing) for about 1 hour before releasing from the mould

Foodnote
I bought stainless steel lontong mould online from an Indonesian seller. The process to make lontong using the mould is basically the same but need less banana leaves. Need to secure the edges using string (I use dried grass straw that is usually used to tie bak chang) or it might burst open (learn it the hard way in the past ~sigh). I only have 12 pieces of the stainless steel mould + 6 aluminium ones that I bought from a shop locally so I have to add some made the traditional way. The smaller the cylinder the nicer the lontong will be because of the aroma of banana leaves infused to the rice... yum yum.

From the last photo, left to right... lontong made the traditional way, in aluminium mould bought from a shop near my place and the stainless steel one.

Update 2024

This year decided to make the small lontong to gift to my maklong. Using just 8 stainless steel lontong mold. I got smarter... instead of tying the loose caps, I tighten it by sticking in toothpicks! So easy and turns out well. I use fragrant rice and the lontong came out soft. Perhaps need to add a bit more. Also I only boil for 3hrs. Will boil for 4hours next time and wash the lontong in cold water after boiling. I understand that it will keep the lontong longer. I gave my maklong 4 lontong and kept 3 pcs in the freezer. I use shrink wrap and put the lontongs in ziplock. Next time, can just steam it to eat with gado2 or kuah satay.

 

Chicken Soup ala Shark's Fin

Ingredients

chicken meat (sliced into strips)

dried prawns

chicken cube

corn flour

baking soda

salt

sugar

pepper

dark soya sauce

fish sauce

sesame oil

white pepper

Directions

• add corn flour, baking soda, salt and a bit of water to the chicken and mix well... put aside
• in a bowl, prepare corn flour mixture mix with water (can be thick or thin)
• in a pot, add a bit of oil and dried prawn
• stir fry for a while and add water till boiling
• add in the chicken cube
• turn off the fire and slowly mix in the corn starch to desired consistency (mix from the bottom so that it won't be lumpy)
• switch on the fire on low
• now flavor it with salt, fish sauce, dark soya sauce (desired color) and do a taste test
• add oil to the chicken so that it wouldn't stick when cooking
• add the chicken bit by bit and stir
• finally add sesame oil for fragrance, sugar and white pepper
• soup is ready

Footnote: Made this before with chicken and leftover beansprout. Love it so much. Today I added more vegetables and it is so yummy! Updated the picture because the previous one doesn't look very appetizing hehe.

Pulut Kukus Kacang Hijau (Steamed Glutinous Rice with Mung Beans)

Ingredients

250g glutinous rice (soak in warm water for 1hr)

40g mung/green bean (soak overnight)

200ml coconut milk (65ml Kara + water)

1/4 tsp salt

3 tbsp grated coconut

1 pandan leaf

Grated coconut sides

150g grated coconut

1 pandan leaf

1 tsp salt

^ combine all the above and steam for 10min

Directions

• spread the green bean in a steamer and steam for 10min
• in a cooking pan, mix the glutinous rice, pandan leaf, salt and coconut milk
• cook in medium fire and keep stirring till there is less coconut milk (not dry)
• remove the green bean to another bowl and steam the glutinous rice for 10min
• after 10min turn the glutinous rice, add grated coconut and the green beans
• mix well and steam for another 10min
• cooked glutinous rice can be shaped using any mould for presentation

Foodnote: Another comfort food that late mum used to make. Since I have some green beans and glutinous rice, decided to make this. I followed the recipe here because it makes a small portion and I can keep the rest. This food is quite rare and not one that can be easily bought outside. It is actually similar to lepat kacang so can also make this using black eyed peas. To eat with steamed grated coconut or any other dishes eg. rendang, sambal even gula melaka syrup.

Bubur Kacang Hijau (Mung Bean / Green Bean Porridge)

Ingredients

1 cup mung/green beans

1/2 cup gula Melaka 

1 tsp salt

1 pandan leaves

1 cup coconut milk (80ml instant + water)

4 cups water (adjust accordingly)

(optional: ginger, sago or durian. Can also add cornstarch if you want it a bit thicken)

Directions

• clean the green beans in a pot and fill with water about double the amount of beans
• cook and when it starts to boil, leave it for 5mins
• turn off the fire, cover the pot and leave for 30min
• after 30min, boil again for 10min (beans should soften by this time)
• add in gula melaka, sugar, pandan leave and salt and cook till the sugar dissolve
• mix the coconut milk making sure to keep stirring till boiling
• taste and add white sugar if not sweet enough

Foodnote: I have dried green beans or most commonly known as mung beans still in the packat in my pantry. Decided to try out this "secret" to cook bubur kacang fast without having to soak it overnight or few hours. Fast to cook and good to eat. It took overall about just an hour to cook it. I am so impressed that it works and will definitely make this again or try the same method to cook chickpeas or red bean to make gendang kasturi.

Boiled Chickpeas

Ingredients

2 cups dried chickpeas

1 bay leaf

3-4 cloves

few curry leaves

few dried chillies (optional)

1 tbsp sea salt

1 tsp chicken seasoning (optional)

2 tsp baking soda

Directions

• wash and soak chickpeas overnight
• drain the water and replace with fresh water to boil the chickpeas together with bay leaf, cloves and curry leaves for 1 hour
• scoop and remove any white foams that appear on the surface of the water
• after 1hr add in the baking soda and stir well and boil for another 30min
• add in the sea salt and chicken seasoning and stir well and boil for another 30min (total 2hours)
• check that the chickpeas is soft enough, remove from stove and drain

Foodnote: Since I love chickpeas, decided to learn to prepare it myself as buying the dried ones is very cheap. After checking the internet, fail on first try as my chickpeas turn out too chewy... finally success! I don't have pressure cooker so boiling time takes 2hours. But it is worth it. I can boil a lot next time and freeze it. When I want to eat it... just steam it again woohoo. So happy! Munching while WFH.

Spicy Chickpeas / Chilli Chana

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of dry chickpeas 

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp smoked paprika powder

1 tsp cumin powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp chicken stock powder (optional)

sea salt to taste

sugar to taste

2 tbsp oil for frying

Directions

• soak chickpeas overnight and boil for 2 hours till soft (add a pinch of salt)
• drain the chickpeas, add olive oil, paprika, cumin powder, cayenne pepper and sea salt
• mix well
• using a non-stick pan, add oil till hot then add in the chickpeas
• cook till the chickpeas is crispy... ready to serve

Foodnote: I love chickpeas so decided to cook this. Actually I just agak2 the recipe and it turns out yummy. Will definitely make this again as snacks. For healthier version... I will bake it in the oven next time. Maybe it will turn out crunchy... nom nom nom.

Lontong Medan

Ingredients
400g rice (best to use beras cina or beras hancur... if not then normal jasmine rice will do)
550g water (usual amount to cook rice)
1 tsp salt

3 pandan leaves
banana leaves

Directions

• clean banana leaves and run it over stove fire to soften the leaves. Put aside
• cook the rice with water and 1 knotted pandan leaves in a pot or rice cooker
• after 20min after boiling, keep stirring and breaking the rice as much as possible till all the water is absorbed by the rice
• remove from stove and leave the rice to cool to room temperature
• once cooled, scoop about 2 cups of rice to a working surface, squeeze rice to shape into cylindrical shape... put aside and prepare the rest of the rice
• take one banana leaf shiny side up, place the rice on it and roll over (make sure the banana leaf is big enough that it can roll 3x round the lontong... or use 2 layer, small layer inside and bigger outer layer)
• fasten the edges securely with toothpick
• place the lontongs in a pot large enough that water can cover it
• add the balance pandan leaves in the water
• boil for 2-3hours making sure that you check and top up with boiling water every 30min
• cool the lontong by standing it vertically as this will help the lontong last longer

Foodnote: I have always wondered why the lontong made in Indonesia are so evenly shaped, soft and nice. So I try this method that I found here and it is so awesome and easier. Can also see here on how to secure the edges nicely. No more lontong bursting out and I can easily make small quantities.

Bubur Sum-sum

Ingredients
1 cup rice flour
1 cup coconut milk
3 cups water
a pinch of salt
2 knotted pandan leaves

Syrup
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
knotted pandan leaves
small piece of cinnamon stick
gula melaka (optonal)

Directions

• prepare the syrup by boiling all ingredients together and leave to cool
• put all ingredients (except syrup) into a saucepan and stir till flour is evenly mixed
• after that then turn on the heat and keep stirring till mixture is thicker and shiny (bubble start popping)
• scoop into glass container to cool
• pour over the syrup and you can eat it or like me... I keep it in the fridge and consume when it is cold

Foodnote: Love this and also kuih kopchor (just like jongkong). Really miss all the kuih2 that mum used to make. This is a good recipe because it is simple and just like how mum used to make. We don't use gula melaka though many people add that these days. Still can lah if you want just add gula melaka to the syrup. I guess the kueh got it's name because is it soft just like bone marrow hehe. Really yummy because I can't remember when is the last time I ate this. At one look, it looks just like tau huay. Now I know what to do with any balance rice flour woohoo.

Soft Boiled Eggs

Foodnote: I have always love soft boiled eggs especially from Ya Kun. Been trying to cook using the Half-Boiled Egg maker but it never comes out as nice. Some parts of the eggs white will be raw. Been trying some tips online and finally... perfect! Just look at the photo... beautiful yolk and evenly cooked whites woohoo. I bought Seng Choon Farm Fresh Eggs because I like bright color of the yolks.

Ingredients:
6 eggs at room temperature
dark soya sauce
white pepper powder

Directions

• prepare a big bowl with room temperature water that is enough to cover the eggs and put aside
• fill a pan with water, enough to cover the eggs and bring it to a boil
• once the water is on rolling boil (important) turn off the fire or move the pan from the stove and add 1/2 cup of water at room temperature
• slowly scoop each eggs into the pan and cover the pan for 7 minutes (use a timer)
• after 7 minutes, scoop the eggs into the bowl with room temperature water
• that's it... ready after 2 minutes
• enjoyyyy.... 

Shoyu or Hanjuku Eggs

Ingredients
4 cold eggs
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup light soya sauce
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1 tsp dark soya sauce
1 tbsp sugar

Directions

• prepare boiling water & add eggs for 7mins
• scoop & soak eggs in ice water till cool and carefully remove shell... put aside
• in a saucepan, put all other ingredients and bring it to a boil for 10mins then let it cool
• put eggs in a glass container with a cover and pour the liquid ingredients (make sure the sauce cover the eggs)
• cover the container and leave it for 4 hours or overnight before serving

Foodnote: This is a simplified version (my own version) of shoyu egg. It taste like... just like boiled egg hehe. Well, it is not that bad. I like it with my salad because it just look so cool.

Nasi Himpit / Lontong

Ingredients

1 cup rice

4.5 cups water

pinch of salt

Directions

• clean rice and boil with water and salt just like the usual way of cooking rice
• rice should be soft
• quickly fill rice in container and press/level hot rice as much as possible with a spoon or using banana leaf if have lah
• leave to cool
• once cooled can cut like cake already hehe

Foodnote

I still have leftover 'beras cina' from Hari Raya so I make nasi himpit because it is easy. It is really a small serving just for one or 2 person. I'm planning to eat with peanut sauce or meat floss. Maybe I'll just make lontong goreng? Hhhmmm can't decide what to 'tapao' with my nasi himpit for lunch. My rice is not soft enough this time. Will perfect it again next time.

Fish Ball Noodle Soup

Ingredients
few pieces of ikan bilis
4-5 fish balls
choice of noodles (I use udon)
few pieces of lettuce
1 tsp of light soya sauce
white pepper powder to taste
ikan bilis cube (optional)
fried shallots
chilli padi
chopped spring onions

Directions

• boil ikan bilis in about 3 cups of water for 10-15 minutes to make ikan bilis stock
• remove ikan bilis or just leave it if you like
• add in fish balls and noodles and let it simmer
• add soya sauce and pepper to taste
• lastly put in lettuce and remove from stove
• pour in bowl and top it with chilli padi, fried shallots and spring onions

Foodnote
This is a very simple and easy recipe for when you want something simple and fast. Better than instant noodle and healthier too. The chilli padi, light soya sauce and pepper can be added afterwards too... adjusting to taste. 

Sambal Cili Boh

Ingredients
200g dried chilli
1 cup of shallots
some garlic
0.5 cup vegetable/olive oil

Directions

• cut and remove as much seeds from the dried chilli
• rinse and boil the chilli for about 10mins and leave to simmer for 30mins more
• leave to cool and blend together with the shallots and garlic
• cook with some oil till the chilli is fragrant for about 30mins or so
• store in small containers in the fridge/freezer

Foodnote
I prepared this in anticipation for the month of Ramadan. It will help me prep for my iftar meals so that I don't have to rush after work. I can make sambal tumis ikan bilis or fry noodles or make curry... whatever that needs cili boh. I bought the dried chilli from Mustafa. It looks so fresh and smells good. The small containers which are stainless steel and some enamel were bought from Daiso. Planning to get more so that I can prep up other things... like my favorite sambal pecel! I am so looking forward to fasting month :)

Citron Herb Salad with 6min egg

Ingredients
any pre-packaged mixed salad
orange (chopped to small pieces)
egg

citron dressing
chopped garlic
olive oil
Bragg's apple cider vinegar
korean honey citron tea

Directions
6 minute egg

• put room temperature eggs in boiling water for 6 mins
• scoop egg and put in another bowl filled with ice
• egg should be firm but the yolk will be bright orange and a bit runny

Salad

• prepare dressing separately by combining all ingredients to taste
• pour over garden salad and orange
• toss lightly
•  top with nice 6min egg

Foodnote
Got the citron honey tea as a christmas present. Usually I made salad dressing similarly but with honey. I replaced it with the honey citron tea and is hooked. So yummy and is one of my favorite simple salad dressing now.

Lopes Sumpil

Foodnote

I went to Batam recently and finally get to see/eat lopes sumpil. The difference with my usual lopes is that it use stick or toothpick instead of tying to fasten the lopes. Today I tried to make it myself. It is easier to make compared to tying. The seller at the shop told me that they did not use any additives... just glutinous rice and boil it for 10hrs. That's a bit too long for me as I cook on the stove top. 

I use the same steps as my lopes recipe and increase the boiling time to 4 hours. Very soft lopes and I am very happy with it. This is a good alternative since I am against the idea of tying it with rafia string or rubber band.

Lopes

Ingredients
2kg glutinous rice
approximately 30-40g abuchang (soda ash)

banana leaves (approx 20 pieces)
rafia string or alternatives (I use dried grass straw. See lontong post for picture)

Syrup
gula melaka

a pinch of salt
2-3 pandan leaves
water

Coconut
grated coconut (white only)
a pinch of salt
2 pandan leaves

Directions

• soak glutinous rice in abuchang (leave it whole or I pound it to powder) for 2 hours or more and drain the water (rice will be a bit yellowish)
• dip the banana leaves in hot water or heat it over fire to soften the leaves. Cut away the hard stem.
• cut about 8cm width or bigger depending on how big you want your lopes to be
• fold firmly into triangular shape like samosa (see picture) and fill with the glutinous rice
• stack 3 to 5 pieces together and tie tightly with the string
• place the completed wrapped glutinous rice into a big pot and fill with water to cover the kueh
• boil for 3-4 hours and top up with boiling water whenever water level drops below the lopes level
• gula melaka syrup: boil chopped gula melaka, salt, knotted pandan leaves in enough water until syrup slightly thickens
• grated coconut: steam grated coconut with knotted pandan leaves and a pinch of salt for about 20-30 mins
• serve cooled lopes topped with grated coconut and drizzled with gula melaka syrup

Tips

There are 2 types of abuchang... white and orange. Both are fine. My aunt who is an expert in making lopes said that the abuchang helps to make the glutinous rice chewy and soft. She added air kapur for softer texture but I prefer without.

Keep excess lopes in the fridge and just steam it again when ready to eat.

Foodnote
Aaaah... who don't like kueh lopes. Was reluctant to make this for raya but got special request by my niece. Since I also like to eat lopes and it is quite fun to wrap the lopes because it took some special skill (ehem) so I make it lor. Bought banana leaves from tekka because the lady there sells nice longer width leaves that I can choose. Cheap too! 

I used dried grass straw as string because... I just want to keep things natural (avoid boiling plastic or rubber band for long hours with food).

Ondeh-ondeh Keledek

Ingredients

sweet potato (preferably orange ones)

glutinous rice flour (or plain flour also can)

gula melaka (chopped)

fresh grated coconut

a pinch of salt

pandan leaf

Directions

• steam coconut with a pinch of salt & knotted pandan leaf about 20min and put aside to cool
• boil or steam the sweet potato and mashed it
• add enough flour to the sweet potato so that dough can be shaped (if the sweet potato is the soft type, just add enough flour that it come together and keep in the fridge for about 30min)
• take about a tablespoon of sweet potato dough to form small bowl to fill gula melaka and form balls (for soft dough it can be a bit soft and sticky but it is ok. It will firm up after boiling)
• prepare a pot of boiling water
• drop sweet potato balls into boiling water
• cooked ondeh2 balls will start floating to the surface
• scoop balls, slowly drop and roll into steamed grated coconut
• nice to eat once cooled or cool from the fridge

Foodnote

One of the dessert that I can't stop popping into my mouth. I prefer sweet potato ondeh2 anytime compared to plain ones.

Agar-agar Gudil Gula Melaka

Ingredients

Coconut Milk Layer

200ml Kara coconut milk

1 1/2 cup water

1 large egg

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla essence

Agar2 Layer

10g agar-agar strip or 10g agar2 powder

240g chopped gula melaka

2 tbsp dark brown sugar

3 cups water

pandan leaves

Directions

• combine and whisk lightly ingredients for the coconut milk mixture, sift and put aside
• (if using agar2 strip, soak and cut into small pieces before using)
• boil sugar and pandan leaves until sugar dissolved and add in the agar2
• cook till all dissolved and lower the temperature
• pour coconut milk and egg mixture into agar-agar
• bring temperature up to a boil (stirring all the way) until you can see some curdling from the eggs
• once separation can be seen quickly pour into a glass dish or any desired mould (preferably 7x7x3 inch)
• once cooled about 30min to an hour, leave agar-agar in the fridge about 1 to 2 hours until firm enough to cut and serve

Tips
good gula melaka should be soft and brittle. If the gula melaka have impurities, you may want to sieve the agar-agar first before adding the coconut milk and egg mixture. Pandan leaf may be removed at the sametime...

Foodnote

I love love love love agar-agar gudil made by my mum. I pester her for the traditional recipe passed down from my late grandmother. Mum never use agar-agar powder so I must also follow lah. This is so good and and easy to make.