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Rau muống xào tỏi is a traditional dish that's suitable for vegetarians. It's made with a combination of morning glory (water spinach), garlic, fish sauce, salt, sugar, and oyster sauce. The water spinach is blanched, then stir-fried with garlic, salt, and sugar, while the fish sauce is added near the end of cooking.
This vegetable dish is served hot, usually as a part of a three-course meal, the first is a stir-fry, the second course is a boiled or steamed dish, and the third course is a soup. Rau muống xào tỏi also makes for a great accompaniment to white rice.
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Sambal kangkong is a traditional vegetable dish originating from Malaysia. The dish is usually made with a combination of water spinach (kangkong) and sambal chili paste that consists of hot peppers, garlic, shallots, salt, oil, and dried shrimps.
The sambal chili paste is fried in a wok in vegetable oil until fragrant. The water spinach is chopped and stir-fried in the same wok until wilted. The dish is seasoned with salt, and it’s then served immediately, while still hot.
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Phak bung fai daeng is a vegetable stir-fry consisting of chopped Chinese water morning glory, fried along with red bird’s eye chilis, soybean sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, salted soybean paste, sugar, oil, and chicken broth or water. The chopped vegetable is fried briefly to retain its crispness and its vibrant green color, which is beautifully complemented by red chilis.
This spicy, meatless dish can be eaten on its own or served alongside steamed rice or rice porridge. It is a simple dish that is sold as street food throughout Thailand.
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Tempe orek is one of the most common ways how to prepare tempeh in Indonesia. This protein-rich soy product was invented in Indonesia, and it is commonly used as the main or additional ingredient in numerous dishes. In this version, a block of tempeh is sliced and stir-fried with the subtly sweet Indonesian soy sauce (kecap manis) and various other ingredients that typically include sliced chili peppers, onions, garlic, kefir lime leaves, galangal, tamarind juice, and palm sugar.
Tempeh is glazed and coated with the sauce, and the dish is traditionally served with steamed rice on the side.
This Indonesian stir-fry is usually based on vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, leeks, mushrooms, or Chinese broccoli, but it is occasionally prepared with the addition of beef, shrimps, chicken, or fish meatballs. The ingredients are stir-fried and then finished off with the addition of a thick sauce that usually combines meat or vegetable broth, oyster sauce, spices, cornstarch, and (occasionally) soy sauce.
The dish was created under Chinese culinary influence, and in Hokkien dialect, the name cap cai translates to mixed vegetables.
MOST ICONIC Cap cai
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Tumis kangkung is a traditional dish originating from Java. The dish is usually made with a combination of kangkung (water spinach), shallots, garlic, galangal, hot chili peppers, sugar, salt, oil, and roasted shrimp paste. The garlic, shallots, hot chili peppers, shrimp paste, and galangal are sautéed in oil, then seasoned with salt and sugar.
Chopped water spinach is then added to the pan and the combination is stir-fried until the vegetable becomes tender. The dish can be served as a standalone meal or as an accompaniment to other foods.
Botok is Javanese dish made from a mixture of grated coconut and various ingredients, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed until aromatic and tender. The heart of botok lies in the grated coconut flesh, usually the by-product of making coconut milk, which is then mixed with a medley of aromatic spices such as shallots, garlic, chilies, galangal, lemongrass, and turmeric, and seasoned with salt, bay leaves, and sometimes shrimp paste (terasi).
This spiced coconut base acts as a flavorful carrier for a variety of proteins or vegetables. Traditional versions of botok include fillings like tempeh, tofu, anchovies (teri), salted fish, mushrooms, or even local herbs and edible flowers, depending on what is available or in season.
Terong balado is a traditional dish that's suitable for vegetarians and vegans. It's made with a combination of eggplants and the spicy chili sauce known as balado. It's recommended to use Chinese eggplants as they are softer than standard eggplants.
The vegetables are cut into wedges, deep-fried, then stir-fried with the balado sauce. The sauce is made with a combination of red chili peppers, shallots, palm sugar, tamarind juice, garlic, and salt. When served, terong balado is usually accompanied by lots of white rice on the side.
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Lalap or lalab is a traditional salad originating from West Java. Although there is no set recipe for the salad, it's often made with raw vegetables such as tomatoes, lemon basil, green eggplants, cucumbers, cabbage, and long beans, along with blanched or boiled chayote, spinach, papaya leaves, water spinach, and cassava leaves.
The salad is served cold or at room temperature, and it's always accompanied by sambal terasi dipping sauce. Lalap can also be served as a side dish with pepes, fried fish, and fried chicken.
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Buntil is a traditional dish hailing from Java, consisting of grated coconut, red peppers, chili, onions, garlic, anchovies, salt, and sugar wrapped in taro, cassava, or papaya leaves. The combination is boiled in coconut milk and spices such as garlic, turmeric, lemongrass, and lemon leaves.
Buntil is often prepared at home, but it can also be found in local restaurants or street side stalls called warungs. The dish is especially popular during Ramadhan.
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