Penang - Local cuisine 09l

Ketupat daun palas (boiled rice wrapped in palm leaves)
The most popular types of ketupat found in Malaysia are ketupat nasi (made with plain rice) and ketupat daun palas (made with glutinous rice). Both varieties are wrapped in palm leaves and then boiled in water until cooked. It is said that ketupat daun palas originated from the northern states – Penang, Kedah and Perlis while ketupat nasi is more popular in Perak.
When I was growing up in Ipoh, ketupat nasi was served on the morning of the first day of Syawal just before the Raya prayers. Ketupat and rendang are usually the main dishes of any Hari Raya spread.
The following recipe is for ketupat daun palas:
Ingredients
2.5 kg glutinous rice
4 coconuts or 3 kg coconut milk
½ kg uncooked groundnuts, boiled - optional
Palas (Licuala palm leaves)
Method
1. Wash uncooked glutinous rice until running water until clean. Transfer to colander and allow to dry.
2. Heat coconut milk with a little salt in large pot or kuali until it simmers.
3. Add the glutinous rice and stir continuously until the rice is half cooked. For extra bite and flavour, add boiled peanuts to the mixture and stir. Leave to cool.
4. Take a small portion of the cooled glutinous rice and place it in the centre of the palm fronds. Weave the frinds into a triangular shape.
5. Immerse the wrapped rice into a vat of boiling water and leave until cooked. Cooked glutinous rice is usually quite soft when pressed.
Ketupat is usually served at room temperature with dried curry (rendang), beef floss (serunding daging) or other rich and spicy sauces. It is also tasty enough on its own.

About the cook
Elizabeth Agatha Cheah, affectionately known as Kak Liza (or Lizzie) by family and friends, has been cooking for as long as she can remember. Over the years, she picked up culinary skills, tips and recipes from friends and family – Liza is equally at home whether cooking Chinese, Eurasian or Malay dishes. Married to Salim and mother to three children, Kak Liza cooks all year round but is especially busy during holidays like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya and Christmas when she has to cook enough for her own family plus seven brothers and sisters, parents, 12 nieces and nephews, grandchildren, in-laws and numerous friends – in short, enough victuals to feed a Greek army battalion. Ever the perfectionist, Kak Liza revealed that she spent 15 years getting her ayam masak merah done right!

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