Ramadan is the Holy month for Muslims around the world that promotes spiritual purification to perform religious rituals and experience the sufferings of the poor by fasting from dawn to dusk without a spoon of food and a drop of water.
In Malaysia, Ramadan is associated with social and cultural activities and has become a platform to bond the community, regardless of religion and race. We handle iftar (breaking fast) events such as Iftar@KL that has been done since 2012 where everyone including tourists has a chance to experience Iftar together at Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, the capital itself. Not to forget, the most awaited food market that everyone has been rooting for every year, the bazaar Ramadan.
Bazaar Ramadan is the name of food markets that can be found in every community that opens every evening for the society to buy delicacies for iftar. Bazaar Ramadan operates from 3-4pm until 7-8pm daily during the whole month of Ramadan. Believe me, this is the only place where you can find everything that you have been craving for especially some traditional Malay desserts that has been benchmarked to only appear during Ramadan. Apparently, Bazaar Ramadan has become the heaven of food for Malaysians, and I can assure you that you will be very lucky to visit Malaysia during this period as you will have the chance to taste all the best rated and special food and beverages. Below are some of the food and beverages that should be in your bucket list in this month especially when visiting Bazaar Ramadan.
- Ayam Golek
Photo courtesy of Vkeong.com
For the direct translation, ayam is chicken and golek is rolling in Malay. Basically, it is just a roasted chicken, but what is basic when you smell the strongly marinated scent and see all these chickens skewed and rolled at the grills like that? The marinate itself is one thing, but what makes an ayam golek the king of the day is the home made black pepper sauce to be eaten with it. There is also ayam golek madu or honey roasted chicken for the ones who savour for the sweets. You can get roasted chicken anytime at deli bars at supermarkets and restaurants, but no roasted chicken can beat this champion.
2. Tepung Pelita
Photo courtesy of womensweekly.my
The Malays are very metaphoric in their words, even in giving names to their traditional desserts. Just look, tepung is flour and pelita is oil lamp in Malay. But, I have to admit that the shape of the dessert does look a bit like the traditional Malay oil lamp, maybe it’s because of the green pandan (screwpine) leaves coating it. The tepung pelita has a white layer on top made of creamy, salty coconut milk mixed with rice flour and a pinch of salt. The green bottom layer is made with rice flour, juice from pandan leaves and sugar. They’re steamed in moulds made from banana leaves. The texture is like a pudding, I must say, so do eat this with a spoon. Don’t try to find this dessert outside the month of Ramadan, it will only exhaust you. So save your energy and buy them now while the month lasts!
3. Roti Jala
