Traditional Malaysian chicken curry and roti jala

A traditional Malaysian meal

This traditional Malaysian curry chicken proves that you can make an authentic curry quickly. This easy and tasty cocnut-based curry is traditionally served with roti jala.

Malaysian chicken curry recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

• Cut up the chicken breast into small cubes.
• Heat up a frypan and add the oil.
• Lightly cook the shallot until light brown.
• Add in the curry paste and stir well, mixing it all through.
• Taste to ensure that the spiciness is enough.  More chilli can be added.
• Once it has browned a little and smells fragrant, add the chicken.
• Stir and cook lightly for a few minutes.
• Add the water and stir through.  Leave until it boils.
• Turn the heat down and simmer the curry for 10-15 minutes.
• Add in the coconut milk just before serving and stir through.
• Serve with the roti jala whilst hot.

*see recipe for curry paste below.

Curry paste recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

• Put the red chillies and birds eye chillies, onion and garlic into a blender and mix until it forms a fine paste.
• Heat oil in a pan and add paste.  Add in dried chilli and curry leaves.  Cook until fragrant and oil seeps out.

Roti Jala recipe

Roti Jala means “net bread” and is a typical Malaysian food.  Whilst these lace-like pancakes can be eaten as a snack, they are a popular addition to curries.

Ingredients

Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix the milk, water, egg, salt and turmeric powder.
• Sift the flour into the mix and stir to combine.  Using a whisk is easiest.
• Add in the oil and mix well.
• Leave the batter to rest for at least 10 minutes.
• Heat up a frypan and lightly grease it.
• Pour some batter into the roti jala mould.
• As the batter flows through the holes, make a circular motion around the pan to make a net.
• Leave to cook for a few minutes, or until light brown.  Flip and leave for only a short time and then transfer to a plate.
• Roll the roti jala or fold into triangles.
• Arrange the roti jala on a plate.  Add a bowl of Malaysian chicken curry and serve immediately.

Note – not everyone will have access to a roti jala mould.  Just improvise however you can.  Having an engineer as a husband can prove quite advantageous in times like these.  Stirling quickly came to the rescue with a custom made milk bottle.  It may not have been as perfect as what the chef used but it did the job well enough.

Tip:  It’s best to roll whilst they are still quite warm.

When making all of these together, I suggest making the roti jala batter first and letting it rest whilst you prepare the curry.  Next, make the curry paste and then the Malaysian chicken curry.  Whilst the curry is cooking, the roti jala can be cooked.