| Malaysia is situated in south east Asia | | | | Indian and Chinese food too, remained as |
| and is rather unusual in that one part | | | | central to the diet. Muslim Malays |
| lies south of Thailand on the south east | | | | excluded pork and Indian Hindus excluded |
| Asian peninsular, with Singapore at its | | | | beef but delicate Chinese flavourings, |
| tip. This is where the capital, Kuala | | | | Indian spices and herbs from South East |
| Lumpur, is to be found. The other part | | | | Asian made an appearance. |
| lies across the South China Sea and | | | | Nasi means cooked rice in Malay and Nasi |
| forms the northern one third of the | | | | Goreng, that well known Indonesian dish, |
| island of Borneo, surrounding the | | | | is cooked rice, usually fried with |
| Sultanate of Brunei. | | | | flavourings for breakfast. For special |
| Malaysia has a mixed history which | | | | occasions it has a fried egg on top. But |
| reflects in today's cuisine. | | | | I digress, Malay Nasi dishes include |
| In the 15th Century, the southwest | | | | Nasi Kander, much influenced by Indian |
| (April to October) and northeast | | | | cuisine and consisting of both fish and |
| (October to February) monsoons brought | | | | meat curry, rice and hard boiled eggs. |
| the ships of the Arabs, Indians and | | | | This dish used to be bought from an |
| Chinese who traded in spices, silk and | | | | itinerant salesman who carried his wares |
| precious stones. Many of the traders | | | | in baskets suspended from a pole over |
| remained behind and married local women. | | | | his shoulder (kinder means shoulder in |
| A slow conversion to Islam began, which | | | | an Indian dialect). A bit of everything |
| meant that pork was excluded from the | | | | would be placed on a banana leaf and the |
| Malay diet. | | | | sauce dripped over the hard boiled eggs. |
| The 16th Century saw the arrival of the | | | | The Malays adopted some Indian recipes |
| Portuguese, who brought chillies with | | | | and in return the Indians started to add |
| them, the Dutch and the British, all of | | | | galangal, lemon grass and coconut to |
| whom remained for some time to rule the | | | | their food. Then came the food of the |
| country. | | | | Nonyas which resulted from the marriage |
| During the late 18th and 19th centuries, | | | | of Malay men to Chinese women which |
| Great Britain established colonies and | | | | introduced Chinese seasonings such as |
| protectorates in the area and brought in | | | | star anise and salty soy sauce. |
| more Indians and Chinese to work in the | | | | The resultant cuisine is a pleasant mix |
| tin mines and rubber plantations. Many | | | | of hot and spicy with mild and perfumed. |
| of these Asians stayed too and from all | | | | Liz Canham: |
| these influences, current day Malay | | | | As well as a love of Asian cooking as |
| cuisine evolved. | | | | you can see in her Asian Food and |
| Originally, Malay cooking consisted of | | | | Cookery website, Liz seeks to help |
| fish flavoured with shrimp paste, | | | | newcomers to the world of internet |
| pepper, ginger, turmeric, lemon grass or | | | | marketing with tools, tips and training |
| tamarind. Rice was always a staple in | | | | from her website. |
| this area and being a major part of | | | | |