Suguna (in green) serving customers at the stall. — Photos: SAMUEL ONG/The Star
Spice-filled Indian-style porridge sold by motherly vendor a hit in Bandar Sunway
IN THE evenings, a stall in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, has been drawing customers with its array of traditional sweet porridges.
Five types of Indian-style porridge are usually available.
For the past 24 years, Suguna Velumurugan has been operating Mother’s Sweet Porridge.
She said among the ingredients used are navathaniyam – the nine sacred grains, which are wheat, rice, horse gram, green gram, chickpea, black sesame, black gram (urad dhal), millet and white beans.
“Since I started this business, I have been developing the porridge’s taste and texture according to feedback from customers.
“Each type of porridge is made with ingredients known to have health benefits. Among them is urad dhal porridge,” she said.
The urad dhal porridge has a savoury-sweet flavour as the black gram pairs perfectly with the sweetness of jaggery.
A hint of black pepper adds a subtle kick and cumin seeds deliver an earthy undertone.
The sweet potato porridge has coconut milk for a smooth, velvety texture.
Sago pearls give a chewy element while vanilla provides delightful aromatic sweetness to the porridge.
The addition of jaggery provides gentle sweetness, while cardamom and ginger lend a warming and aromatic flavour.
The green gram porridge has cardamom, ginger and a blend of mung beans with coconut milk while the black rice porridge is lovely with palm sugar and the fragrance of pandan leaves.
Milk blended with cracked wheat and a small amount of ghee are used for the wheat-rice porridge, which also has cashews, raisins and cardamom.
The stall also has semiya payasam on Fridays.
Each bowl sells for RM4.
The stall is located along Jalan PJS 7/18, Bandar Sunway, opposite Shell petrol station.
A branch called “Porridge Paradise,” is located at Lorong Ara Kiri 1, Bangsar, opposite the Bala Banana Leaf restaurant in the afternoons.
Mother’s Sweet Porridge is open daily from 2pm to 7pm, although the hours of operation may vary during festive periods.
The stall accepts takeaway orders at 012-271 0039.