Malay cooking techniques that are at the heart of your favourite dishes


According to Khir, bahulu made in brass moulds and baked over charcoal fire has a superior taste and crust to any other iteration of this sweet treat. — LAW SOO PHYE/The Food of Singapore Malays by Khir Johari

The Malay culinary universe serves up a gamut of wondrous dishes – from gulai to rendang to a range of grilled meals like ikan bakar and fermented temptations like tempoyak. The cooking methods and processes that make up all these multi-faceted meals are in themselves multi-faceted.

In his ground-breaking book, The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through The Malay Archipelago, Singapore food historian Khir Johari outlines the whats and whys behind many of these long-standing techniques and processes in a chapter devoted to the subject.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Living

7 common plumbing headaches: Call a pro or just do it yourself?
Big Smile, No Teeth: Been there, done that, gimme the tech
How to care for senior cats
Restaurant Chateau Dionne in KL returns with its delightful French fare
How souvenir penny presses could survive after the end of the one-cent coin
Human Writes: Building back better in Malaysia in 2026
Katz Tales: Getting the cat to try pet steps, step by step
Berry good for you: Eat polyphenols, nutritionists say
Online marketplace in US opens doors for makers with disabilities
Heart And Soul: The teacher whose belief in me shaped my destiny

Others Also Read