- My Sizzling Lamb Kurma -

One of the things I miss the most aside from home (and my family, but they are not things. So…) is Malaysian food! I miss the spicy, somewhat sweet and sour, and sometimes hot taste of food like curry, kurma, masak merah, tom yam, even goreng kunyit. I think I miss the taste of gulai/kuah pedas the most.  And of course, sambal bilis is thoroughly missed too. The people’s definition of hot and spicy is quite funny. There was once when the Jewel of India owner asked me if I was really sure I want extra Chicken Vindaloo sauce on my rice.

Mak Cik: It’s really hot, dear. Are you sure you want it?
Me       : That’s the  whole point, actually.

Always, the ‘very hot’ warning doesn’t live up to it’s definition. They’re usually only a little bit spicy, but not at all hot. If I want to eat something really hot or really spicy, I’ll have to cook my own meals.

Which is what I’ve been doing from the past few months until now.

I don’t cook at home, but maybe I am blessed with Mama’s ‘natural cook’ instinct. Or maybe I’ve learned to imitate what I remember Cik Mah (our housekeeper) did in the kitchen whenever I happen to be there. I can cook lauk pauk like curry, masak merah, kurma, rendang, sup, tom yam, and many others. Nasi, mee and mihun goreng are included.

I think I’m blowing my diet. No, seriously. Geez, I know I wouldn’t eat so much if I don’t cook. But the spices and ingredients are there in front of my eyes, making it hard for me to resist the temptation to cook. Besides, the smell of onions when I’m still at tumis stage is heavenly.

Sure they sell spices here, mostly from India and Pakistan. But they don’t compare to Malaysian spices, or at least I think so. That’s why I’m always so reluctant to use the spices Mama sent over from home. She sent the spices via PosLaju, so it was rather expensive. I’m afraid I’d use up the spices! I’m really glad when I found a store in Otahuhu that imports a lot of products from Malaysia, including Baba’s spices. The only problem is that Otahuhu is more than 1 hour away from Auckland City on bus via Newmarket/Mount Wellington route, and at least 30 minutes via the express motorway.

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