Fried rice is a staple in almost every household in Asia. Every family has unique style to an amazing plateful of fried rice. At it’s most basic variation, fried rice is simply topped with frozen mixed vegetables and some prawns, this can be levelled up to include char siew (barbecued pork) and a multitude of optional ingredients, limited only by one’s imagination.
Sar hor fun or char hor fun literally translates to stir fried thick flat rice noodles. And while there is an abundance of stir-fried noodles in mind-boggling varieties and variations in Penang, Sar hor fun is indelibly a permanent and established fixture in the realm of hawker fare in the gastronomic capital.
I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but I actually love the challenge of making cakes and desserts.
Kuih talam is a Penang speciality. Part of an amazing range of steamed ‘cakes’ known as Nyonya kuih.
One of the things I miss most out of all the tremendous range of hawker food in Penang is Ikan Pangang (literally: barbecued fish). Fish and seafood wrapped in banana leaves barbecued over coal fires. Here is my away from Penang hack.
Approx. 24 pieces (serves 4) | sides | finger food
My earliest memories of this savoury, slightly sweet, sticky and aromatic snack is embedded with all the sights and smells of the season, bright red clothes, fire crackers, red packets, loud lion dances.
Approx. 8 pieces (serves 4) | mains | with meals
Approx. 15 pieces (serves 3) | starter | finger food | with meals | as a side