Thanksgiving 2023

Thanksgiving was special this year. We had a unique dinner spread prepared by Margie from Marge’s Kĭch′ən 🩷 

Our menu:

1) Nasi Ulam (Herb rice)

2) Pandan chicken

3) Cencaru sumbat kelapa - Torpedo scad fish stuffed with coconut

4) Tumis Daun ubi Jepun - stir fried Japanese potato shoots

4) Oseng Tempe - Stir fried fermented soy cakes

5) Batang keladi masak asam - Yam stalks cooked in tamarind

6) Telur dadar ulam - Herb omelette

Desserts:

1) Pais jagung - steamed corn ‘cake’

2) Abok-abok - steamed sago ‘cake’

I spend almost the whole day with Margie, watching her prep and cook our dinner. Amazed at her skill and knowledge. I realized I know nothing about Malay names of herbs for Nasi Ulam and traditional Borneo food. 

Nasi Ulam

Watched Margie patiently picked out young shoots from the bunches of herbs she got from the market at Section 17. Then slowly minced them with her knife. Goodness, so much work!

Pandan chicken

Margie wrapped each of this chicken piece with a pandan leaf so patiently. She was like, “Come, wrap with me!”

Noooooooo! I just wanna eat!!!

Stuffed Cencaru with coconut

Japanese ubi kayu shoots

Oseng Tempe

Yam stalks in Asam

Ulam omelette

Pais corn

Abok Abok ~ Sago, coconut milk and brown sugar

This was our dinner! Wasn’t it cool?

Margie and I chatted and she taught me names of herbs. She was so willing to teach but I was so lazy to learn 🤣 But I did! My brain was overdosed with names that I struggle to remember. 

🍃🍃🍃🍃

These were the herbs / leaves used for the Nasi Ulam:

Daun Ulam Raja ~ "The King's Salad" ~ a must have!

Daun Pegaga ~ Indian Pennywort

Tenggek Burung ~ Euodia redleyi (Scientific name)

Kaempferia Galanga

Aromatic ginger or also known as Cekur in Malaysia.

Kaempferia Galanga

Daun Ubi Kayu Jepun ~ Pokok Chaya @ Pokok Ajinomoto!

These were fried with anchovies and chillies.

Daun Pudina ~ Mint

Daun Kesum ~ Vietnamese coriander

Used mainly for Asam Laksa and ohhh so fragrant. Used these a lot in cooking the yam stalks.

Then, minced everything up! Chop chop chop!

🍚🍚🍚

Nasi Ulam was presented in a beautiful rattan box with its side dishes.

🐔🐔🐣🐥

Marinated chicken breast pieces for Pandan chicken

Pandan leaves

🐟🐠🐟🐠

Stuffed Cencaru with coconut, ready to be baked

🌴🌴🌴🌴

Yam stalk

Yam stalks ~ Keladi Tikus!