Hari Raya Puasa signifies the end of Ramadan where Muslims observe dawn to sunset fasting for the entire month. Food is an important component in the celebrations of Hari Raya Puasa. Muslim families, like Sha’dah’s, would be busy preparing delicacies for family and friends.

“Sambal Goreng, Ayam Masak Merah, Rendang Lembu and Ketupat are dishes that we will prepare for Hari Raya Puasa,” said Sha’dah Binte Suib, SPD’s senior EIPIC teacher at SPD@Jurong, who enjoys cooking for her family. Sha’dah shares a few recipes that you could also whip up for this festive occasion.

1) SAMBAL GORENG

• Stir fried bean curd, ‘tempe’ and long beans

Ingredients

Instructions

• Heat up the oil. Deep-fry the beancurd, ‘tempe’, beef/beef lung and prawn in batches. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a non-stick wok/pan.
• Fry the paste mixture along with the lightly pounded lemongrass and galangal. Sprinkle some water if it is too dry.
• Add the beancurd, ‘tempe’, long beans, beef/beef lung, prawn. Stir and mix well. Sprinkle some water if needed, to prevent it from being scorched.
• Add the sliced onions and chilies. Stir and mix well.
• Pour in coconut milk and tamarind juice. Add salt and sugar.
• Toss well and cook until gravy is dry.
• The flavour gets better as the dish rests.

2) AYAM MASAK MERAK 

• Chicken in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

Instructions

• Preparing the chicken – Rub the chicken with turmeric and salt. Set aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat up the oil in a wok. Deep fry the chicken pieces until golden in colour. Set aside.
• Roughly chop the red onion, ginger, galangal and lemongrass. Transfer to a blender or food processor. Add in dry chilies and garlic. Process into a paste.
• Heat up the wok with ½ cup of oil.
• Sauté the spices (cinnamon, star anise, cloves and cardamom) until fragrant.
• Then add in the blended paste. Bring the heat up until the paste bubble then lower the heat.
• Simmer till the paste is thoroughly cooked, fragrant and the oil separates from the paste (pecah minyak).
• Add in the canned tomato puree, coconut milk and chicken pieces. Bring up the heat for a quick boil, then lower to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickened.
• Add peas and season with salt to taste.
• Garnish with some spring onion before serving.

3) RENDANG LEMBU

• Beef Rendang

Ingredients

Instructions

• Roughly chop the shallots, ginger, galangal and lemongrass. Transfer to a blender or food processor. Add in the dried chillies and garlic. Process into a paste.
• Heat the oil in a stew pot. Add the spice paste, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamom, and stir-fry until aromatic.
• Add the beef and stir for 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, tamarind juice, water, and simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently until the meat is almost cooked.
• Add the kaffir lime leaves, kerisik (toasted coconut), sugar or palm sugar, stirring to blend well with the meat.
• Lower the heat, cover the lid and simmer for 1 to 1½ hours or until the meat is tender and the gravy has dried up. Add more salt and sugar to taste.
• Serve immediately with steamed rice or ‘ketupat’.

Recipe Notes

• To prepare the kerisik or toasted coconut, just add the grated coconut to a dry wok and stir continuously until they turn golden brown.

4) KETUPAT

• Rice dumpling

Ingredients

• Young coconut leaves
• 1kg of rice
• The amount of rice depends on the number of ‘ketupat’ you will be making
• Use good and fragrant rice

Instructions

• Weave the pouches of the ‘ketupat’ using young coconut leaves (can be bought on the market or weave it yourself).
• Wash and drain the rice.
• Fill ¾ of the woven pouches with drained rice.
• Heat up water in a pot but not to boiling point. Put the ‘ketupat’ that has been filled with rice into the water.
• Make sure all the ‘ketupat’ are submerged in water.
• Stew the ‘ketupat’ for about 4 to 5 hours.
• Once cooked, drain the water.
• Let it rest before serving with sambal goreng, ayam masak merah or rendang lembu.

We hope these appetite-whetting recipes will come in handy when you are deciding what to put on the dining table this festive season. Lastly, selamat Hari Raya Puasa to all our Muslim friends!