Penang Laksa
One dish that every tourist must try out when visiting Penang is the Penang
Laksa (or known as Asam Laksa). It is available at many hawker stalls and
eateries all throughout the island. Though all of them tout their asam laksa
dish as the best, the most famous asam laksa stall in Penang is the one
operating at the Air Itam market. Some believe that the dish may have originally
been a fisherman's fare, as the main ingredient used are small and less favoured
types of fishes.
The ingredients used in creating this tantalizing dish are simple and can be
found almost anywhere. Garlic, lemongrass, fresh turmeric, shallots, chilli
paste and belacan are all grounded into a paste before starting on the broth.
Tamarind paste is then mixed with warm water, squeezed and sieved into a stock
pot and brought to a boil. Vietnamese mint leaves, sugar, dried tamarind slices
or locally known as asam keping, slices of torch ginger bud or bunga kantan and
the ground paste of spices are added into the boiling broth. Cleaned whole
mackerel fish is then added into the stock and boiled until cooked. The fish is
then removed, set to cool before cleaning off the bones and flaking its meat.
The broth is simmered to reduce and intensify the flavours. The mint leaves and
dried tamarind slices are removed before putting in the flaked fish meat. It is
usually served with thick rice noodles garnished with sliced cucumber,
pineapples, onions, mint leaves and a spoonful of thick prawn paste.
Though the whole combination of the taste of gravy, noodles and its condiments
blends very well together, it is the soup that most people love. So much so that
there are certain places in Penang where fried spring rolls are sold together
with the soup only, so that the consumers may dip the crispy spring rolls into
the soup before it is eaten. It is not surprising to find that some of these
dishes can also be found in these other states albeit a slight twist to the
recipe.
It is apparent that the consumers do not mind what kind of noodles are used in a
bowl of asam laksa so long as it is tasty. The fragrant aroma of the gravy that
wafts to their nostrils, the anticipation of biting into that spoonful of
noodles and finally slurping it all down with a huge dose of the tasty asam
laksa is magical enough to transport them to another state of mind where nothing
can come between them and their little bowl of heaven.
Some of famous Laksa stalls in Penang
Penang Road Laksa
Address: 475, Jalan Penang (Joo Hooi Café)
Business Hours: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm
Laksa Balik Pulau
Address: Main Road, Balik Pulau (In Front of Pasar Balik Pulau)
Business Hours: Mon – Sat 12:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Sun & Public Holiday 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Closing Date: Wednesdays
Air Itam Market Laksa
Address: Air Itam Market
Open: 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm
undo...back