A
Asam paya
a thorny palm (eleodoxa conferta) found in tropical swamps. The fig-shaped fruit has reddish brown, scaly skin and is very sour.
B
Belacan
pungent dried shrimp paste, light grey to dark brown in colour, sold in the form of cakes or rolls
Beehoon
white rice noodles commercially available in dried form. It has to be boiled or soaked in hot water to soften before use.
C
Changkok Manis
small-leaf, dark green vegetable (sauropus androgynus merr)
Chilli padi
bird chillies, small and very hot
Choy Sam
a variety of Chinese cabbage. It has bright green leaves with pale green stems and sometimes sprigs of yellow flowers.
H
Hako
sticky black shrimp paste used in sauce for Malaysian salad.
K
Kangkong
Water Spinach (Ong Choy in Chinese)
It has arrowhead-shaped leaves and hollow stems and is rich in iron and vitamin A.
Kwayteow
flat white rice noodles
L
Lemon Grass (Serai)
This plant has a grass-like stem which fills out to a bulb-like base. It has a delicious, somewhat lemon-like fragrance. (cymbopogon citratus) Use only 10-12cm of the white bulbous base.
Lengkuas
greater galangal, also known as Siamese Ginger or aromatic ginger
This delicate flavoured rhizome has yellowish roots with pink fibrous looking knobs. (alpinia galangal) It must be pounded or pulverised.
Limau Kasturi
small round green lime (citrus mycrocapa), is not to be confused with the larger lime which the Malays call limau nipis.
M
Midin
edible wild fern (stenochlaena palustris)
P
Paku
edible wild fern (athyrium esculentum) which is thicker and darker green than midin
Pandan
Screwpine leaf
S
Santan
coconut milk, the creamy extract from the meat of mature coconuts
T
Tamarind paste (Asam Jawa)
It is a sour, brown, pulpy paste derived from the ripe pods of a tropical leguminous tree (tamarindus indica). This paste is usually mixed with water and strained to extract a sour juice for cooking.
Turmeric (Kunyit)
This is another one of the rhizome family and is yellow in colour with a slight fragrance. It is also available in powder form and can last if kept in an air tight container. If the recipe calls for fresh turmeric, do not substitute with the powdered form.
