Penang laksa

Penang Laksa, also known as Asam Laksa from Penang, is a popular Malaysian dish. It is a spicy noodle soup dish with a sour taste, primarily due to the use of tamarind (asam in Malay).

Ingredients

The main ingredients of Penang Laksa include mackerel (ikan kembung), which is poached and then flaked. Other ingredients include lemongrass, galangal, and chilis. These are ground into a paste and cooked with tamarind to create a rich, tangy broth. The dish is served with rice vermicelli noodles and garnished with fresh ingredients like cucumber, onion, red chilis, pineapple, lettuce, mint, and torch ginger flower. A dollop of shrimp paste (petis udang) is often added to enhance the flavor.

Variations

There are several variations of Laksa in Malaysia, but Penang Laksa is unique due to its distinctively tangy flavor profile. Other variations include Curry Laksa, which has a coconut milk-based broth, and Sarawak Laksa, which features a base of sambal belacan, sour tamarind, garlic, galangal, lemongrass, and coconut milk.

Popularity

Penang Laksa is not only popular in Malaysia but also internationally. It was ranked 7th in the "World's 50 Best Foods" by CNN in 2011. The dish is a staple in hawker centres across Penang and can also be found in many Malaysian restaurants worldwide.

See Also

• Malaysian cuisine
• Noodle soup
• List of soups