Malaysian Pantry
The cuisine of Malaysia is a delicious hybrid of Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Thai, Middle Eastern and native Malay flavors. Chef Zak Pelaccio, who’s spreading the word about Malaysian food around the globe, shares his pantry essentials.
Belacan
A pungent seasoning made by grinding small shrimp into a paste that is fermented, dried and pressed into cakes. Belacan is often toasted before being used.
Recipes
Black Vinegar
A dark, complex, aged Chinese vinegar made from a variety of grains. Its closest Western cousin would be balsamic vinegar.
Recipes
Gula Jawa
A palm sugar that’s made from the sap of various palm trees. Dark-brown sugar or muscovado sugar can be used in its place.
Recipes
Kecap Manis
A thick, slightly sweet Indonesian seasoning, sometimes called sweet soy sauce, that’s flavored with garlic and/or star anise.
Recipes
Shaoxing Wine
An aged Chinese rice wine often used in cooking. Dry sherry can be substituted.
Recipes
Belacan, gula Jawa and kecap manis can be ordered from indomart.us.