The traditional Malay food is simple. It consist
of its staple, rice eaten with fried or roasted fish [pangang], a bowl of
fish stew [kuah] and the Ulam [salad] taken with the traditional sauce like
Sambal Belacan [Shrimp paste sauce] or Budu or Cencalok or Tempoyak. Sambal
Belacan remains the choice of most Malay and now Malaysian when enjoying their
Malay food. Before the introduction of vegetable by the Chinese in the early
twentieth century the Malay takes their vegetable mostly raw or lightly boiled
or steamed. The assorted raw vegetable is call the Ulam. It mostly
consists of young shoots of leaves or freshly grown greens. Most are taken
from their own garden around the house. In those days it is normal to seen
the Malay enjoying their rice with just one dish like Ikan Singgang or Asam
Pedas or the like with their Sambal and Ulam. Before the coming of the
refrigerator most vegetables are picked just in time before eating, thus it is
always fresh and full of nutrition. Image above shows the Ulam eaten by the
Malay with their foods.
Thanks to the wisdom of their forefather the Ulam
provides them with a balance diet for a healthier living.
Have a nice day.
9 comments:
Pak Idrus, I think the ulam is Asian's favourite too. Indonesian, Thais, and others loves raw vegies as well. It's just different type of vegies depending on the location.
U-ulam
L-lambat
A-atuk
M-marah.
Cucu-cucu pun tahulah, pentingnya ulam dalam hidangan Atuk. Have a nice ulam day!
pak idrus...i love to eat ulam...:) it is so yummy...!!! my mum n my late grandma too...we love to eat umal so much..but of course with the presence of sambal belacan, or tempoyak, or the cencalok...(ohhh...mouth watering) heheheh...i guess it answers me y my late grandma n mum look younger than their age...shhhh..that's the secret...;p
Aziela, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
True what you said. It is indeed the favorite of folks of common culture in this region. But then the Malay version might differ a little than the Thai or the Indonesian.
Have a nice day.
Temuk, Ha! ha! ha! that's indeed a good one Ulam Lambat Atok Marah.
Well we old folks mellowed at this age and with the grand kids we often give way. Jarang sekali Marah Marah kepada cucu!
Have a nice day.
nanasyazna, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
Yes it is indeed a favorite among the older generations but nowadays I found the young too love to indulged in the green as well. Perhaps for dieting and health aspect of it.
Yes taking lots of green especially the raw one would help to keep one's skin healthy, thus they say it is sort of a recipe for Awet Muda.
Have a nice day.
i guess it's an asian thing . same goes if you eat vietnamese cuisine , a big portion of it is ulam
xplore, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on this subject.
Yes indeed, it is an Asian thing.
Have a nice day.
I love making Ulam, the richness of the ingredient (so healthy!!!) and the balance of its taste. It doesn't matter where I am, Ulam remains as my most favorite salad. It reminds me of my malaysian heritage, my friends, and my family. Thank for sharing Pak Idrus.
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