We have a large variety of food in this country and kuih-muih is an essential part of our cuisine. It is a crowd favourite, often served during festivities and even on a regular day.
As Malaysians, we’re also known for our sweet tooth so we often lean towards the sweet kuih muih but sometimes crave that spice over the sweets.
Here’s a few of our favourite spicy kuih-muih.
1. Pulut Panggang
Pulut Panggang gets its smokey flavour from being grilled above a fire.
The filling is made from onions, dried peppers and shredded coconut and is cooked until dry. Once the filling is ready, scoop it onto the sticky rice and shape it into a cylinder. Wrap it with banana leaves and it’s ready to be grilled! You can also use sambal udang kering as the filling.
If you want to try and make it, get the recipe below!
2. Kuih Cara Berlauk
Kuih Cara Berlauk has a complex mix of flavours. It has a soft and creamy base, with a spicy filling and topped with crunchy fried shallots and cut chillies. This kuih is usually served during festivities and is especially popular during the fasting month.
The batter consists of flour, eggs, coconut milk, salt and a bit of yellow colouring and the filling has minced meat, curry powder, garlic and white pepper in it.
To make this, you will need a special pan. Pour the batter in, scoop some of the filling inside then sprinkle the fried shallots and chilli on top.
3. Burger Malaysia
Also known as Pau Sambal, this kuih is a stuffed bread with spicy filling.
You’ll need to make bread dough for this kuih. Once this dough is prepped and rested, fry it until golden brown. After that, cut a slit in the dough ball, spread the sambal inside and place a slice of cucumber in it.
Get the recipe below.
4. Kuih Keladi Kukus
This is basically a yam cake. To make it, you’ll need to cook a flour mixture over low heat then add in mashed yams, shrimps, onions and chillies. Keep stirring the mixture over low heat until it thickens. Once it thickens, pour the batter into a cake tin and steam it for 30-40 minutes.
Let it cool completely before cutting it into squares. Garnish it with chili sauce, cut chillies and onions.
5. Cucur Badak
Cucur badak is a combination of sweet potatoes and spicy dried shrimp filling.
To make the outer layer, you’ll need to mix mashed sweet potatoes, flour and salt together. The filling is a mixture of shredded coconut, dried shrimp, onions, chilli, lemongrass and ginger. Once all those ingredients are shredded, they are cooked together until it’s mixed well. Take the dough and flatten it, scoop the filling into the middle then roll it until it becomes a ball.
Watch the video below to get a better look on how to make these.
6. Popiah Goreng Bersira Pedas
What makes this different from other spring rolls is that it’s slathered with a spicy sauce.
To make the spicy sauce, you’ll need chilli paste, onions, garlic, chilli sauce, tamarind and sugar. Once the sauce thickens, put the popiah inside until it is fully covered.
7. Karipap
We could never leave this one out! Everyone’s go-to kuih, karipap seems to be at the top of everyone’s favourite savoury kuih list.
The filling is usually made from just potatoes but sometimes chicken, beef and sardines are used.
Want to try and make them? Watch the video below to know how.