Chai Buey pictures (1 of 4)
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I hope everyone has had a wonderful Chinese New Year reunion dinner and a festive and fun celebration for the first few days of Chinese New Year. I looooove Chinese New Year, it’s the occasion that brings family and friends together, and it’s a tradition that reminds all Chinese of our root, culture, and civilization. Never mind the obnoxiously loud and cheesy Chinese New Year songs, the bright red and gold Chinese New Year decor, and the endless foods and offerings for the many prayers and rituals. They are what make us Chinese, and we should embrace all these unique practices for generations to come.
While I am always excited about the reunion dinner and the many courses of traditional Chinese New Year dishes, I have to confess that it’s the leftover that really tickles my taste buds. Yes, I am talking about chai buey, or 菜尾, literally meas “leftover.” In Penang, especially in my Nyonya family, the day after the first day of New Year is when we make a huge pot of chai buey—a soup or stew concocted with all the leftover ingredients from the reunion dinner. It’s generally consisted of meat (chicken, roast pork, duck), vegetables (preferably fresh “mustard green/gai choy/ 芥菜” or kiam cai/picked salted mustard green), and all the other leftover from the reunion dinner, including steamboat (hot pot). The chai buey is infused with tamarind juice, bean paste (taucheo), some dried red chilies, with some peeled assam keping (optional). You then stew the chai buey over low heat to bring out all the flavors of the leftover ingredients, and the end result is a pot of mouthwatering, appetizing, and utterly delicious stew that I can eat for days…
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Kuih Bangkit pictures (1 of 3)
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My contributor Siew Loon is baking up a storm for Chinese New Year and today she is sharing a traditional Chinese New Year cookie recipe: kuih bangkit. I remember many childhood days when I helped my family making this goodies. For other Chinese New Year recipes, don’t forget to check out my posts at Rasa Malaysia: soy sauce chicken, ginger and scallion fish, crab noodles, and more.
Contributor: Ho Siew Loon
I am back again with my new year goodies. I have always enjoyed making the new year goodies as this is the time all family members will get together and help. This time around it is the traditional nyonya Kuih Bangkit. This little figurine goodies has lost its popularity among the younger generation and has been taken over by western cookies such as chocolate chips cookies, butter cookies, etc. I remember that Kuih Bangkit is a must for Chinese New Year and every house that you visit, you will sure to find it…(get kuih bangkit rcipe after the jump)
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Udang Masak Lemak Nenas pictures (1 of 4)
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Please welcome Nyonya Pendek Melaka, also known as Petite Nyonya as a guest writer today. Nyonya Pendek Melaka is a wonderful food blog with many delicious and authentic Nyonya recipes. Today, she shares with us her family’s udang masak lemak nenas recipe, or pineapple prawn curry. I tried out this classic Melaka Nyonya recipe and absolutely loved it. Enjoy!
Guest writer: Nyonya Pendek Melaka (Petite Nyonya)
When I started looking into food blogs, Rasa Malaysia was one of the first few I stumbled upon and was in full admiration for. When Bee launched Nyonya Food, I was really glad to see it takes shape as a focused tribute to our rich culinary heritage. Thus, I was honored and delighted to receive an invitation from Bee to be a guest writer on Nyonya Food and contribute to it. I just don’t seem to be cooking Nyonya dishes as often as I should unless I am back in my hometown for family gatherings, so this invitation is just perfect! Bee also requested if I could prepare a dish that is synonymous with the Peranakan household in Melaka. While there are many similarities with Peranakan food in Melaka (where I’m from) and Penang (where Bee’s from), there are a few distinct signature dishes exclusive to or more favored in each of these two Malaysian states…
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Chai Kueh (Steamed Vegetable Dumplings) pictures (1 of 3)
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Contributor: Ho Siew Loon
Happy New Year! Last week, my neighbors and I had a wonderful potluck party to usher in 2010 and one of the special traditional delicacies that I learned from a neighbor is her ever popular Chai Kueh. Her Chai Kueh has always been a hit at all our gatherings. I have always enjoyed the chewy texture of Chai Kueh and since it is steamed, it is a rather healthy snack to enjoy……(get Chai Kueh recipe after the jump)
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