kelantan traditional delicacies

Kelantan food has always been popular, but not many know of the unusual names of the various delicacies.

Names of traditional sweets and cakes like tahi itik (duck’s droppings) and badak berendam (bathing hippos) are among them.

[badak berendam]

“Nasi 100” is a rice dish that contains 100 herbs, and is a form of traditional medicine usually consumed by women in the post-natal period.

These delicious traditional dishes are among many that are unique to the state.

The better-known Kelantan dishes include nasi kerabu, nasi berlauk, nasi tumpang, laksam and solok lada, and they are so popular that they are being used to boost tourism here.

[nasi kerabu]

Kelantan Tourism Association vice-president Mustafa Ibrahim said there were more than 170 Kelantan traditional delights.

“Kelantan is not only renowned for the its unique culture, but also for its traditional kuih (Malay cakes) heritage,” he said.

[cik mek molek, buah tanjung, nasi kaya, jala mas, tepung pelita dan akok]

To ensure that the various traditional kuih are not lost in time, the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry has compiled the recipes in a book.

The ministry’s deputy secretary-general Datuk Che Mat Md Daud said this was done in 2005, and added that it would be a shame if the traditional recipes were lost.

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