COLOURFUL dishes have a way of making home-cooked meals feel more inviting, turning everyday dining into a more enjoyable experience for the whole family.
While many people think of ingredients such as chillies, tomatoes and onions to add vibrance to food, the choice of cooking oil can also contribute to a dish's appearance.
Red palm oil (RPO) gives dishes a rich, natural colour that makes home-cooked meals even more appealing at the dining table.
This is a quality that housewife Dayana Hani says her family particularly enjoys, as it makes her dishes more vibrant and appetising.
From fried rice to scrambled eggs and local curries, RPO enhances the appearance of everyday dishes with a warm, intense colour that makes them even more inviting.
With its high smoke point and stability at elevated temperatures, RPO is well-suited for sautéing and low- to medium-heat frying, two cooking methods commonly used in Malaysian cuisine.
As someone who frequently cooks Malay dishes such as ayam masak merah and rendang, she finds the oil to be a suitable companion for her daily cooking.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), in collaboration with consultant dietitian and content creator Georgen Thye, has developed a video series showcasing the many ways RPO can be incorporated into everyday home cooking.
Among the recipes showcased is spicy tomato Nyonya chicken, a simple yet flavourful dish that takes on a richer, more vibrant appearance with the addition of brightly coloured RPO.
Beyond adding a rich splash of colour to meals, the red hue indicates the presence of carotenoids, which are nature's most widespread pigments and the source of the bright yellow, orange and red colours found in many plants.
Several studies have indicated that RPO is a source of provitamin A carotenoids and vitamin E, nutrients essential for supporting bodily functions.
These naturally occurring nutrients are among the qualities that make RPO an attractive option for everyday cooking.
For homemaker P. Reina, nutrition and healthiness are top priorities when selecting a cooking oil for her family.
“As a mother, I pay close attention to the ingredients I use because they play an important role in my family's well-being.”
This is why she chooses RPO for her home cooking, valuing its nutritional benefits and the vibrant touch it brings to everyday dishes.
She said she first became interested in the oil after learning more about its nutritional properties, and as someone who cares about her family’s diet, this quality stood out to her and led her to use RPO.
“It allows me to prepare wholesome meals while giving me confidence that I am making a healthier choice for my loved ones.
“Cooking is one of the ways I express my care and love, so I always try to use quality ingredients, like RPO, that contribute to both flavour and nutrition,” she said.
