Local Breakfast in Kuala Terengganu - Nasi Kerabu

Nasi Kerabu, topped wt kerabu, greenish sambal +
 grilled chicken on the side

Next stop for foodie adventure is Nasi Kerabu. Nasi Kerabu is a very popular local delicacies and synonym to the east coast states of Malaysia, i.e. Terengganu and Kelantan. We proceed on Gong Badak Road towards Batu Rakit and stopping at Norra Nasi Kerabu, Ayam Bakar shop at Wakaf Tengah with coconut trees around it. It is a humble stand alone reasonably big shop with few ceiling fans to boot. What is interesting and different here is that they serve grilled chicken and beef which were grilled right in front of the shop.

well mixed Nasi Kerabu + grilled chicken sans the budu

Literally Nasi Kerabu means Rice Salad. The Kerabu is made from various combinations of vegetables or edible shoots. The vegetables and shoots were sliced finely and mixed with grated coconut. The Kerabu served to us were of various vegetables and shoots the names of which escape my mind. In actual fact, I did not recognize any of them though some of them taste familiar to me. 

The rice in its actual color is blue in color from the petals of kembang telang (butterfly–pea) flower which is used as coloring agent. However, at Norra’s shop the rice is white in color. It was served with green sambal and budu sauce (made from fermented seafood products) grilled chicken on the side. According to my brother in law, MN, the budu sauce is a must companion of the Nasi Kerabu. The expert, MN, further reiterated that the Kerabu must be mixed together with the rice, sambal and budu before consuming them. Hence, the rice and kerabu are mixed together and smothered with the best sauce on earth, i.e. budu, which yours truly avoided at all cost.

In conclusion it is the best Nasi Kerabu I’ve ever tasted, earning a respectable 9 on Acepaizah’s scale.

patrons queuing & man manning the grill

Norra - Nasi Kerabu Ayam Bakar

kerabu-yy salad-dy cloudy windy morning
~Acepaizah~

Local Breakfast in Kuala Terengganu- Nasi Dagang

tuna in gravy, nasi kuning, nasi minyak, pulut kuning
pickled cucumber , sambal belacan, chicken tomato, chicken gravy

As usual I spent my Chinese New Year holidays visiting my sister in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, a state situated on the North eastern of the Malaysia Peninsula, a coastal state along the South China Sea. In fact her abode is just a stone away from the beach along the Airport Road which boasted three residential schools along its way and two reputable Universities. Yes, Kuala Terengganu is in fact a scholar town on all counts as far as I am concern.

During my stay, my sister and her husband will reintroduce me to all the local delicacies without fail, starting  with our morning hunting for breakfast. One the first day, we had Nasi Dagang, Nasi Kuning, Nasi Minyak and Pulut Kuning bought from Kak Nor’s stall which is situated along the Gong Badak Road, few blocks from the new Petronas station. We devoured it in the comfort of my sister’s kitchen table. I had a good taste of the Nasi Kuning and Nasi Minyak together. The grains of rice were simply fluffy.

Nasi Kuning wt tuna pieces & pieces of pickled cucumber

The following day, we drove all the way to Chendering and stopped at a shop belonging to Alias Bin Mat Rosidi along Chendering Road, a few “door” from a mosque formerly known as “Masjid Raja” and now renamed after the Regent of Terengganu, “Masjid Tengku Ismail”.  It is supposed to be one of the best Nasi Dagang here, or so I was told. The Nasi Dagang was served on a plate layered by banana leaf for its aroma, I think. The Nasi Dagang came in small helping, with pieces of pickled cucumber and a small portion of tuna fish in gravy. The tuna fish here is known as ikan ayer (water fish?) or ikan kayu (wooden fish?). I think it is called "ikan kayu" since the texture and flesh of the fish is quite 'hardy' and 'dry' as a wood would be. We ordered an extra plate of the rice itself and some extra chicken. I am one who loves my rice with lots of protein and I just help myself to the hardboiled egg which was placed on the table. The tuna gravy is spicy and has sourish taste from  belimbing buluh (averrhoa bilimbi). The rice was tacky since it is a mixture of the glutinous rice and your regular fragrant rice, cooked by steaming it in between intervals to add in the coconut cream. It should be have the bouncy yet tacky effect and not crumbled together. Nasi Dagang is a signature dish of Terengganu; a distinctively Terengganu's cuisine.

Nasi Dagang and the tuna gravy

pieces of tuna and belimbing buluh

We also help ourselves to the famous keropok lekor, like fish sausages or fish sticks which is made from processed fish meat and sagoo flour. It is chewy and eaten as snack dipped in Terengganu home made chili's sauce.                                                           

keropok lekor on the side!

Oops, someone reminded me that this entry is without a Acepaizah's point. Let see, however the dice is toss, my all time Terengganu's breakfast favourite is Nasi Kerabu. and that is an entry for another day. Top scorer for the above is of course the numero uno is Nasi Dagang Alias Mat Rosidi, I shall award his Nasi Dagang an 8 on Acepaizah's scale.His tuna gravy was simply delicious and the belimbing buluh adds the mouth watering ummph upon one's first bite. Kak Nor's Nasi Kuning which was so enticing in form, texture and well balanced color garnered an 8 while her Nasi Minyak a 7. And the keropok lekor, well I've tasted better along the beach of Tok Jembal during my evening food hunting expedition!

eastern waves flavours
~Acepaizah~

full table wt Teh Tarik on the side

Nasi (Rice) Dagang (Trader's) = Trader's Rice
Nasi Kuning (Yellow) = Yellow Rice
Nasi Minyak (flavored ghee rice) 
ikan (fish)
ayer (water spelt the old way)
kayu (wood)

Nasi Lemak Beratur @ Greenwood, Kuala Lumpur

scoop of rice, half hard boiled egg, pegedil &
piece of beef rendang

My never ending Nasi Lemak adventure never take a break in real life. Just the other day, my lecturer Dr. Z commented on our national eating culture and all time favourite, the Nasi Lemak, though its not our syllabus this semester (ha ha). Dr Z told the so called best Nasi lemak in Greenwood where patrons queue for their plate of Nasi Lemak. However, he told us that he do not have the patient to be in the long queue.

Notwithstanding it was all hearsay from Dr Z, SR and myself make our way to the humble stall near the Greenwood (Kuala Lumpur) bus station. Business starts about 6 pm I think, and when we arrived at about 8 pm, people were already snaking their way. It is situated at the end of rows of street stalls, it is relatively clean with table and chairs arranged nicely and comfortably "stall standard" apart.

The accompanying dishes were all in big huge shinning pots and I have to practically peeped the various pots in order to make my choice. And I am a relatively tall person standing at a good 165 cm! I had beef rendang and pegedil (potatoes cutlets) accompanying my Nasi Lemak. The stall server generously scooping ladleful of sambal which I request him to reduce them.

The must have companion of Nasi Lemak for me is naturally the good old Teh Tarik and SR had black tea instead. The Nasi Lemak was so good that I have to have seconds... ops!

only RM13.00!!

my second plate, he he

The Nasi Lemak is cooked traditionally in coconut milk in a rice steamer. However, the usual and traditional accompanying condiments such as fried anchovies and peanuts were missing. There were many choices of add-ons such as deep fried chicken which were being fried nearby, prawn and cockles sambal and many more. The rice grains were fluffy and not clumped together andthe Nasi Lemak were serve on a layer of banana leaf that gave an extra fragrance aroma and ummph to the Nasi lemak dining or rather eating experience. The sambal is spicy of course but not too spicy since they were very generous with onions. Hence, the sweetness of the onion balances the spiciness of the chilli's paste.

Now, the verdict. ITS THE BEST NASI LEMAK I EVER TASTED!!! Its a perfect 10 on Acepaizah's scale. Value for money earns a perfect 10 too. For the above, 2 plates of Nasi Lemak (add-on not included) and 2 glasses of drinks, it only costs us RM13.00. Value for money. Or, may be labour and serving cost not included. 

fluffy fluffy grains of rice

~Acepaizah~