|
What Is Eurasian
Food
As the word
“Eurasian” suggests, it is simply a combination of European and
Asian cuisine - Portuguese, Dutch & British cuisine with local
ingredients and influences by Malay, Indian, Chinese, Nyonya and
British East Indian styles of cooking. Eurasian
food has often been called the original East-West cuisine.
The
History
In 1511, Portuguese naval Admiral
Alfonso d'Albuquerque serving under King Manuel I of Portugal and
his flotilla of 18 ships sailed into Malacca, conquered it and
made it a Portuguese colony and settlement. In those days the
Portuguese, Dutch & the British were the main European seafarers
and traders, trading especially in spices from the East. Hormuz,
Goa, Penang, Malacca & Macau were major hubs of trade.
Malacca (1511
-
Portuguese) (1641 -
Dutch) (1824
-
British) and Penang (1876
-
British)
With them came a
century and a half of intermarriages between Portuguese, Dutch,
British settlers and local women which led to a mixed race of
European Asians, the Eurasians, who identified themselves
as Kristangs, meaning Christians. They adopted their
religion, customs, culture and naturally … it's cuisine.
Portuguese settlers in
Malacca especially, having sailed the world's oceans in their
quest for precious spices and goods, had long since acquired a
taste for spicy food. Portuguese home cooking took on a regionally
spicier taste using local ingredients. The Portuguese Eurasian
dish Devil Curry is its most famous. With lots of chilies,
especially dried chilies used in the making of this fiery hot dish
- hence it's name !!.
Also being a
predominantly seafaring community akin to the fishing community of
Portugal, many of the Portuguese Eurasian food condiments were
fish and seafood. A few of the favorites were and are today Salt
Fish Peda (pickled salt fish), Cincaluk (tiny baby shrimp sauce)
and Sambal Belacan (dried shrimp paste).
The diversity and
beginning of Eurasian cuisine was also a “Story of Substitution”
e.g. using coconut milk instead of European cream and Chinese
sausages instead of Portuguese sausages. Local spices like
cinnamon and clove were used in English and Irish Stews.
Traditional Western dishes were found too bland for Eurasian
palates, so
spices and chilies were added while European ingredients e.g.
Worcestershire sauce, vinegar and mustard were found to make a
magical difference to many Asian recipes. See the European-Asian
blend
?.
Eurasian Food
inspired by
the
Portuguese,
Dutch,
British
&
Locals
Portuguese
Devil Curry - a
rich and fiery hot dish which has a unique and distinct spicy hot,
sweet
and sour taste
Saltfish Pickle(Peda) -
appetizer which is a pickled blend of salt-fish, onions, garlic,
grounded chili, vinegar and spices
Cincaluk - tiny
baby shrimp sauce
Dutch
Bergedel / Cutlets -
potato patties with
ground beef, pork, chicken, prawn or fish
British
Irish Stew
- lamb, chicken or corn beef and vegetable stew. Spices like
cinnamon, cloves
and pepper seeds are used
Pineapple Jam Tarts -
pastry tart topped with home-made pineapple jam from locally
grown ripe pineapples
Christmas Cakes -
Christmas Fruit Cake & Christmas Bread Pudding
Afternoon Tea
- a daily ritual adopted by the Eurasians from the British
tradition of tea-time. Sardine and Prawn Sambal Tumis Sandwiches,
snacks such as Curry Puffs, Jam Tarts, Sugee Cake, Scones,
Shepherd’s Pie and Crème Horns
served together with a piping hot pot of English
tea.
English Breakfast
- typically consists of pork bacon, eggs, toast, juice and coffee
British East Indies
Mulligatawny -
spicy shredded chicken soup -
“mulligatawny” from the Tamil word "milagu-tannir" meaning pepper
water
Pork Vindaloo - vinegar
added hot and spicy pork or chicken dish from the Portuguese
settlement of Goa in India
Sugee Cake -
semolina almond cake - unmistakably
Eurasian it is believed to have originated from Goa in the British
East Indies
Nyonya & Chinese
Pineapple Saltfish Curry -
salt-fish bones and fresh sweet pineapple pieces in a coconut
based curry
Babi Assam - curried pork pieces cooked with tamarind,
lemon grass, turmeric powder and spices
Cucumber Acar - cucumber, carrots, radish, green chilies,
garlic & shallots cooked with vinegar & turmeric powder
Indian & Malay
Curry Lada - pepper curry
Roti Jala - with a Eurasian style
chicken curry
Prawn Sambal Tumis - a sandwich spread with dried
prawn chili paste
Nasi Lemak - coconut flavored rice meal served with fried
“assam” prawns and fish, “kangkong” and “sambal belacan” ...
Eurasian style
Note:
The best of Eurasian cuisine can be experienced only during
Christmas, Eurasian festivities and special occasions. Till now
!!
Many of these proud, secret and distinctly unique Eurasian dishes
will be available for all to savor and purchase.
click here >>
Eurasian Cakes & Pickles For Sale
<< click here |
