The dishes that give Malaysians comfort.
When you’ve been travelling out of the country, what’s that one dish you long to eat when you’re back home?
The Oxford dictionary defines comfort food as “food that makes you feel better, often because it contains a lot of sugar, or because it reminds you of home.” Basically, it is something you find enjoyable to eat and it makes you feel happier because it evokes certain feelings, although it may not always be good for you or healthy.
Many of my European friends and relatives often say they miss freshly baked bread as you don’t get the same quality in Malaysia. For Malaysians, however, the answer is as varied as the people – maybe because of the different ethnicities in the country, and we are also spoilt for choice. Ultimately, food that comforts us best is something that reminds us of home or brings back memories of home. — Compiled by PATSY KAM
1 “It’s food which we grew up with. My parents had a limited budget so Mum would cook something that was relatively cheap, but filling. My favourite was nasi goreng (fried rice); Mum would slice the hot dogs and limit this to three pieces for our family of five. When I grew up, we had more money to spend but my go-to would always be local food. I need the spiciness! Once, on Malaysia Airlines, the cabin crew was serving breakfast and I could hear them asking from five rows back, ‘Nasi lemak or eggs?’ Before they could even ask me, I replied, ‘Nasi lemak, please!’” – Rafina, senior hotel manager
2 “Anything that is home-cooked is comforting to me. We use very little seasoning when we cook at home, and I often find outside food too salty. Something simple like scrambled eggs with tomatoes is satisfying enough.” – Lilian, teacher
3 “When I was living in Finland, I found myself craving for soupy noodles like fishball noodle soup as you cannot get anything like it there. It reminded me of my childhood in Segamat (Johor) when my dad would take me to this cart, operated by a robust lady at a small lane, selling the tastiest noodles swimming in soup with lots of fried onions and the springiest of fishballs. It reminded me of home, comfort and security.” – Julie, business consultant
4 “When I come back from a trip, the first thing I go for is good old Chinese food. It’s something I grew up eating and has been part of my DNA. Post-holiday, nothing beats a bowl of piping hot noodles: wantan mee (dumpling noodles) or kai si hor fun (shredded chicken noodles). Chinese food reminds me of home-cooking, especially Mum’s food. The taste is soul-satisfying, no matter how simple the dish is.” – Alice, business development director
5 “To me, comfort food is something I would eat or cook, or get someone to prepare when I miss home. Now that I live in Australia, dishes such as nasi lemak, pan mee and char yoke (deep-fried pork) are my comfort food. My Malaysian friends would ask my wife to cook prawn noodles, their comfort food, as they look forward to the hearty broth infused with flavour from lots of prawn shell heads. Sometimes, we would make our own wantan mee with char siew (roast pork). In fact, any food that reminds us of Malaysia qualifies as comfort food.” – Tim, healthcare provider
6 “My ultimate comfort food would have to be payaru gravy (green gram gravy made from a type of lentil) and ikan bilis sambal (anchovies chilli dip). It holds a special place in my heart, as it has been a constant source of comfort and familiarity throughout my life. It’s not just about the taste, but also the memories and emotions associated with it. Whenever I returned home after travelling, my mother would always have these ready, waiting for me even if it was 3am. It was a gesture of love and care that made me feel cherished and connected to my family, in particular my Mum. It was also our go-to meal after periods of feasting or indulgence, like after Deepavali. For me, comfort food offers a sense of emotional well-being, and the love and warmth of my family.” – Janitha, sustainability consultant
7 “I crave for something wet and soupy like Maggi Mee Curry or Wat Tan Hor (Cantonese-style fried rice noodles). There’s something in the soupy noodles that spells comfort to me. Warms my tummy and tells me it’s good to be home again. Oh, and a cup of Milo!” – Evan, bio-tech researcher
8 “It used to be nasi lemak as the combination of sambal, peanuts and anchovies is a taste of home. But lately, I miss fishball noodles. Maybe because when I’m away during winter, I crave for something hot and soupy. And I really miss local kopi peng as coffee from coffee chains just doesn’t cut it for me.” – Mei Kuan, PR agency consultant
