Bringing us to the midpoint of this special Meet The Manufacturer series is some Singapore Laksa. Here’s some info about it from Wikipedia –
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup popular in Peranakan cuisine.[1][2] Laksa consists of rice noodles or rice vermicelli with chicken, prawn or fish, served in spicy soup based on either rich and spicy curry coconut milk or on sour asam (tamarind or gelugur). Laksa is found in Malaysia,[3] Singapore, Indonesia,[4] and Southern Thailand.[5]
There are various theories about the origins of laksa. In Indonesia, the dish is believed to have been born from the Chinese coastal settlements and the mixing of cultures between Chinese merchants and the local cooking practices.[6] Historians believe laksa is a dish that was born from actual intermarriage.[7] In early coastal pecinan (Chinese settlement) in maritime Southeast Asia, it was only Chinese men that ventured abroad out from China to trade. When settling down in the new town, these Chinese traders and sailors set out to find local wives, and these women began incorporating local spices and coconut milk into Chinese noodle soup served to their husbands. This creates the hybrid Chinese-local (Malay or Javanese) culture called Peranakan culture.[7] As Peranakan Chinese communities have blended their ancestors’ culture with local culture, Peranakan communities in different places now demonstrate diversity according to the local flavour.[8]
In Malaysia, the dish is believed to have been introduced by Chinese immigrants in Malacca.[9] In Singapore, the dish (or its local “Katong” version) is believed to have been created after interaction between the Peranakans with the local Singaporeans.[10][7]
Because laksa has different varieties across the region, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of the dish. Nevertheless, numbers of laksa recipes has been developed along the trade channels of Southeast Asia—where the ports of Penang, Medan, Malacca, Singapore, Palembang, and Batavia (now Jakarta) are the major stops along the historic spice route. The intensive trade links among these port cities enables exchanges of ideas to took place, including sharing recipes.[7]
Well now that you have some background, let’s make some laksa!
Way Premium Foods Authentic Singapore Laksa – Malaysia
Detail of the side panels (click to enlarge). Contains fish and shrimp. To prepare, boil noodles for 3~4 minutes. Drain and set aside. add liquid sachet to 160ml water and bring to a boil. Add noodles. Finally, stir and enjoy!
A pillow pack of instant noodles.
Here’s the back of the package (click to enlarge).
Non-fried noodles.
A very large sachet.
There was more, but it would have overflowed my cup!
Finished (click to enlarge). Added hard boiled egg, coriander, fried tofu with lemongrass, Dodo Shrimp & Fish ball, Salad Cosmo mung bean sprouts and fried garlic. The noodles have a tooth on them which is just right for this bowl. They work very well with the soup – ah, the soup. It’s thick, rich and exceedingly tasty. It has heat, depth of flavor – it’s just excellent. 5.0 out of 5.0 stars. EAN bar code 9555861000481.
Penang Heritage Food: Yesterday’S Recipes for Today’s Cook
Join me as I cook this on an episode of Instant Noodle Recipe Time!
