Marham (right) collaborates with his 78-year-old mother Asiah Ngah in a village style set-up. Photo: Instagram/Marbitter_/
An increasing number of Malaysian male content creators are stepping into the social media spotlight, captivating audiences with their culinary prowess, just in time for Ramadan.
This surge in male cooks sharing their passion for cooking stems from a desire to foster the festive spirit and assist others in preparing wholesome meals during the holy fasting month.
These creators are gaining popularity by sharing simple and easy-to-follow recipes, making cooking both approachable and enjoyable. What distinguishes them is their ability to infuse traditional dishes with a personal touch, breathing new life into familiar flavours.
Everyone's favourite guy
Since 2018, entrepreneur and cooking influencer Khairul Aming Kamarulzaman has been treating his followers to daily recipes on his Instagram account throughout the month of Ramadan.
Starting the seventh instalment of his "30 Hari 30 Resepi" on March 11, which was the first day of Ramadan, Khairul has showcased sahur and buka puasa dishes such as pad kra pao (chicken and holy basil stir fry), Thai fried fish, tiramisu, and carbonara popiah.
This popular Kelantanese digital creator, with four million followers on Instagram, is known for his laid-back demeanour and easy-to-follow recipes.
He is also the creator of Sambal Nyet Berapi, a spicy sambal in a bottle.
A kitchen affair
Two weeks before Ramadan, digital creator Qayyum Halid was delighting his audience with savoury dishes and indulgent cookies and desserts
Under the slogan "2 Minit 1 Resipi" (2 Minutes 1 Recipe), Qayyum takes to his Instagram, to share quick and sumptuous culinary creations, each presented in under two minutes.
From ayam percik wraps to Indonesian dish ayam kalio and red velvet cheese cookies, this Perak-based cook has amassed over 1.5 million followers on his TikTok (@chesayang_kitchen).
The vegan chef
Kalidevan Murugaya, popularly known as Chef Dave, has been posting a number of Ramadan recipes on his Instagram.
Hailing from Jementah in Johor, this vegan chef has posted tantalising delights like tempeh and vegetarian anchovy sambal, vegetarian fish curry, and vegetarian chicken sambal with torch ginger flower since the beginning of Ramadan.
Additionally, the award-winning chef has curated a selection of refreshing beverages like cocktail amoi ayu (beautiful Chinese girl), watermelon and mint drink, and orange jelly, to combat the sweltering heat. His creations showcase his dedication to reinventing traditional flavours in a vegan context.
When Richard cooks
During Ramadan, Terengganu-based Chef Nyam Lee Chet (Chef Richard) has been sharing a few dishes tailored for the fasting month on his Instagram.
Among his culinary delights are the mouthwatering ayam percik, fragrant pulut lepa (also known as pulut panggang), and butter cornflake cookies.
His methods are presented in a straightforward manner, making them easy to follow for viewers of all culinary skill levels.
Embracing village life
For enthusiasts of rustic village-style cooking, content creator Marham Mohd Yusof’s Instagram feed is a must-watch.
Collaborating with his 78-year-old mother Asiah Ngah in Batu Rakit, Terengganu, Marham shares heartwarming cooking videos using traditional items like mortar and pestle, and brass pots over wood fire charcoal.
Treating his audience to an array of recipe ideas for Ramadan, including oxtail soup, pandan caramel pudding, and sambal hodoh, each upload captures the essence of traditional Malay cuisine.