Malaysia boasts a diverse, rich cuisine from its 3 main ethnic groups i.e. Malays, Chinese and Indians.
Each culture has brought with it traditional food that remains to this day.
In addition, these cuisines (and people) have married, mixed and intermingled to produce a myriad of wonderful dishes. One such dish is curry laksa which is a spicy coconut-milk based noodle soup with a combination of chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu, long beans etc.
Photo credit : http://www.canyon-travel.com/ncanyon/Kuala-Lumpur.html
Curry laksa's origins are shrouded in mystery. Some folks say it is a combination of malay and chinese dishes. Others maintain that the curry soup has indian origins.
The word "laksa" is said to have originated from the indian word "laksh" which means "100,000" (lakh). Another theory is that it is a chinese word that means "spicy grit". Wherever the word originated from, curry laksa is now a staple in Malaysia.
Variations are also found in Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
Curry laksa can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner in Malaysia. Many stalls and restaurants serve it and each cook personalises his/her curry laksa with various additional ingredients e.g. cockles, pork slices, fishballs, fish cakes, potatoes, slices of hardboiled eggs.
Anything goes - heck, it's even possible to enjoy a vegan version of curry laksa.
A typical Malaysian scene of enjoying curry laksa in a roadside stall. Photo credit : http://www.applefoodees.com/curry-laksa-madras-lane-petaling-street/
What makes curry laksa delicious and healthy apart from the basic meat/seafood/fresh vegetables is the combination of spices which are believed to provide the following health benefits i.e. :-
1. Ginger : promotes stomach health and is a powerful antioxidant
2. Shallots/Onions : anti-inflammatory, improves blood circulation
3. Garlic : immune system booster
4. Chillies : fights infections, antioxidant
5. Lemongrass : helps digestion, cleanses and detoxifies
I hope you will try cooking curry laksa soon - it is possible to get the ingredients in any Asian store in your area.
Here's a youtube video with a simple curry laksa recipe :-
Enjoy!
this is one of my faves
I'm hungry ;)
I love ginger in foods would eat any food with ginger in it!!!
Thanks for making me hungry! I have never tried curry laksa but reading this post makes me want to now.
This looks delicious!!
Where in Malaysia can you find the best Curry Laksa? Kuala Lumpur has some great options, but I haven't ventured too far from this area, so would love to hear more about it.
I have found delicious curry laksa in Restoran Soon Hing (they have a few branches in Puchong). Also check out this list http://my.openrice.com/klangvalley/article/7-best-curry-mee-in-kl-pj/414 - I have eaten in most of these shops.
If your are venturing out of the Klang Valley, another place for yummy curry laksa is Gurney Drive, Penang. In Ipoh, I love the curry laksa in Restoran Yei Lock.
Choices abound...