Malaysia Day came and went in a haze (pardon the pun). Despite it all, we didn’t allow the grey air to dampen our spirits. However, we can’t keep on fighting without taking some precautions. Some took to wearing masks and staying indoors but we prefer to combat the sickly haze with a bowl of hot, comforting and, of course, nourishing soup.
In conjunction with the celebration of Malaysia Day, a day that marks the unity of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak, we wanted to share with you a very much underrated Sarawakian soup which non-Sarawakians may not even know about. The flavours are simple yet potent in nature. So, if you are feeling a little blue and need that pick-me-up, it may be the day to try making some Terung Dayak Soup!
Introducing Terung Dayak
Terung Dayak soup is a very popular dish in Sarawak, made with a native cultivar of wild eggplant. This local eggplant is spherical in shape and slightly larger than a navel orange. It comes in bright hues ranging from yellow to orange. It is often also called terung asam due to its natural tart flavour.
Other ingredients for the soup may include fish, prawns, or preserved fish products such as dried, salted or smoked fish. In the case of this recipe, the Sup Terung Dayak is prepared with smoked Lumek fish.
Enough with the introductions! It is time you try this recipe out. So, put on the pot and start the fire because you are making Terung Dayak Soup today!
Ingredients:
- 1 piece terung Dayak – cut into wedges
- 60 g Lumek fish (local smoked fish)
- 20 g ginger
- 30 g onion
- 30 g garlic
- 20 g lemongrass
- Salt and white pepper to taste
- 1 litre water
Method:
- Bring 1 litre water to boil.
- Remove the bones from the lumek fish and add the fish to the boiling water.
- Add the Terung Dayak.
- Pound ginger, onion, garlic and lemongrass. Add the pounded mixture into the soup.
- Season to taste with salt and white pepper.
- Cook for about 20 minutes.
- Serve immediately
So Easy, So Good!
So, how about that? It doesn’t take long for you to prepare this soup. If you would like to try more authentic Sarawakian recipes, don’t forget to check out the prawn umai recipe. Let us know your feedback by leaving a comment here or just get in touch through Butterkicap’s Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. We welcome any questions or queries you may have and will answer you the best we can.
If you are planning to visit Sarawak and just don’t know what to do or where to go, just visit our Borneo Convention Centre website and check out any upcoming or on-going events here that may pique your interest. Other than that, happy cooking!
