Food Paradise Malaysia 1 - Curry Laksa

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!