Sultan Ibrahim preparing a meal of bread crumb-crusted lamb chops and mashed potatoes at Istana Flintstones in Mersing in November 2020. — All photos courtesy of His Majesty’s official Facebook page
FROM sizzling lamb chops to fragrant nasi briyani, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar is no stranger to the kitchen.
Cooking has long been one of the Ruler’s pastimes, and His Majesty often shares glimpses of his culinary creations with the people through photos and videos posted on his official Facebook page.
Despite his many responsibilities as the 17th King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim continues to find time to cook mouth-watering dishes for his staff.
In October last year, Sultan Ibrahim prepared a special Japanese curry for his officers, using Japanese beef with a blend of traditional spices and ingredients along with a local touch.
While cooking, His Majesty interacted with the staff who also witnessed his skills in preparing the food, according to a post shared on the King’s official Facebook page.
His Majesty is known to make a variety of dishes to share with his staff such as sardine-filled curry puffs, Japanese curry and lamb chops.
Over the years, His Majesty has prepared a variety of dishes including bread crumb-crusted lamb chops served with mashed potatoes, lobster nasi briyani and gulai nanas (a curry-like dish made with fresh pineapples).
On other occasions, Sultan Ibrahim makes traditional snacks like sardine-filled curry puffs to share with the palace staff.
These posts often receive praise from the rakyat, with many lauding the King’s culinary skills and others appreciating such glimpses into the monarch’s more “domestic” side.
In a 2015 Facebook post, His Majesty remarked, “Cooking is not alchemy; there’s no magic in the pot. As a cook, you must bring soul to the recipe.”
Sultan Ibrahim goes beyond just cooking for his staff as the Ruler once took the time to personally prepare meals for flood victims at a relief centre in Segamat.
On that occasion, Sultan Ibrahim arrived at the Balairaya Gemerah 4 shelter to meet with the flood victims and listen to their experiences.
Then, the Ruler surprised the families by cooking fried rice for them, aiming to lift their spirits after the natural disaster.
Similarly, Sultan Ibrahim made it a point to cook bubur lambuk – a porridge dish filled with meat, spices and vegetables that is typically eaten during the holy month of Ramadan – to share with the less privileged.
In 2021, His Majesty added a “special touch” to the dish, stirring it with a custom-made wooden spatula engraved with his initials.
According to the Royal Press Office, the utensil, which was made from heavy timbre and epoxy resin, was crafted by the Ruler’s personal carpenter in Mersing that same year.
The Ruler was seen cooking up a storm with palace staff to ensure that the pots of porridge were cooked well and packed and distributed to the public in time for the breaking of fast.
The bubur lambuk was then distributed to cancer patients at Sultanah Aminah Hospital and Sultan Ismail Hospital, as well as the rakyat in Kluang.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Sultan Ibrahim also personally prepared bubur lambuk for frontliners during Ramadan, including those on roadblock duty.
The Ruler was accompanied by Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah while His Majesty cooked the porridge in large pots.
In a recent interview with Bernama, Sultan Ibrahim’s personal chef Hamdan Dollah, who has been serving His Majesty for the past 13 years, noted that the Ruler can cook a variety of dishes, including Western and Chinese cuisines.
Sultan Ibrahim stirring a pot of bubur lambuk with a custom-made wooden spatula
“The King also likes to cook in large quantities to share with the palace staff,” the 57-year-old said, adding that His Majesty has a personal doctor who advises him on the nutritional aspects of food.
The chef also shared insights into Sultan Ibrahim’s sensitivity to flavours, noting that His Majesty is particular about achieving a balance of salty, sour and sweet.
According to Hamdan, Sultan Ibrahim prefers his dishes to have a hint of spiciness and not be overly sweet.
Made from heavy timbre and epoxy resin in April 2021.
“His Majesty enjoys traditional kampung dishes such as asam pedas, gulai nanas ikan kering, ulam with sambal belacan, siput sedut and boiled clams,” he said.
