Watch How To Make Traditional Sarawak Laksa (Recipe Video)
Traditional Sarawak laksa is a famous Sarawak noodle dish which looks like the normal curry laksa. However, the Sarawak’s version of this dish is slightly subtler compared to the normal curry laksa. It is made using a laksa paste consisting of sambal belacan, tamarind, lemongrass, herbs and spices with a little coconut milk. Hence, it has a fine balance of aromatic herbs and spices with a subtle hint of sourish and chili note and not overly rich and creamy.
A typical bowl of Traditional Sarawak Laksa usually consists of rice vermicelli, omelette strips, shredded chicken, beansprouts, prawns, fresh coriander and lime. I have included yellow noodles in this recipe just for variety though. Be sure to use a good brand store-bought laksa paste if you aren’t making your own to ensure a delectable potion of its reddish-brown broth, which can be so fulfilling and addictive. Enjoy!
Traditional Sarawak Laksa 传统砂拉越叻沙
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Ingredients
- 300 grams rice vermicelli, pre soak till just soft
- 300 grams yellow noodles
- 300 grams sarawak laksa paste, store bought
- 300 grams beansprouts
- 300 grams prawns, shelled and deveined
- 200 grams chicken breast meat
- 2.5 litres chicken broth, or water
- 200 grams Thick coconut milk
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten to make omelette
- 6 calamansi, cut in halves
- 1 tbsp salt, to taste
- 1 tsp sugar, to taste
- 1 bunch mint leaves, for garnish
- 1 bunch coriander leaves, for garnish
- 3 red chillies, for garnish
- Have ready all ingredients needed to make this traditional sarawak laksa.
- First, cook the prawns in boiling water for 3 to 6 minutes until they turn pink.
- Peel and devein the prawns, reserving the heads and shells for cooking the laksa stock.
- Then poach chicken breast meat in a pot of water / chicken broth and then take it out.
- Once cooled, shred the chicken meat and set aside.
- Add the laksa prawn paste into the pot of chicken broth.
- Then add in the prawn shells into the stock and bring to a boil. The more prawn shells you add, the tastier the broth.
- Cover and on low heat, allow to simmer for 30 minutes.
- Then, sieve the laksa spices and prawn shells out of the stock. You will get a lovely prawn and chicken laksa stock.
- Bring the laksa stock to a boil again.
- Then, add coconut milk and stir well. Cook for another 5 minutes.
- Taste and season with salt and sugar. And we're done cooking the laksa broth.
- Next, blanch briefly the rice vermicelli and noodles in boiling water for a minute and drain well before serving.
- Then, blanch the bean sprouts for a minute. Drained and set aside.
- Beat eggs and fry them thinly on a frying pan.
- Cut into strips and set aside.
- Pluck mint leaves and cut coarsely coriander leaves for garnishing and set aside.
- Cut red chillies into long strips, for colours. Set aside. And we're done. Time to assemble everything together.
- Place the noodles in a bowl, add chicken strips, omelette strips, prawns and bean sprouts. Then pour the hot laksa soup over the ingredients. Garnish with coriander and mint leaves, and then a squeeze of lime. As always, ENJOY!
4 comments
Thanks For Sharing this amazing recipe. My family loved it. I will be sharing this recipe with my friends. Hope the will like it.
Glad you like it. Thanks for the feedback. Enjoy!
Looks yummy. May I know what’s the paste that you are using?
The paste was given by a friend from Sarawak so the paste is actually prepacked.