Saturday, April 16, 2011

Melaka Cuisine: Asam Pedas


Asam Pedas is a Malaysian fish stew where fish is cooked in tamarind (asam) fruit juice and chili paste. The cooking process involves soaking the pulp of the fruit until it is soft and then squeezing out the juice for cooking the fish. Asam paste may be substituted for convenience. Various vegetables such as brinjals (Indian eggplants), okra and tomatoes are added. Fish (such as mackerel or red snapper) or fish heads are also added to make a spicy and tart fish stew. It is important that the fish remain intact for serving so generally the fish is added last. In Bengal, India this dish is called macher tak (sour fish).

There are various ways of cooking asam pedas based on districts and ethnic community in Melaka. The Malays like to add vegetables and shrimp paste. Baba Nyonya and Chitty always put 'buah kluak' in their asam pedas while Portuguese community like to add more chillies. In  Melaka, there are a lot of restaurants served asam pedas everyday such as:

1. Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas
Jalan Laksamana 2
Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Malacca, Melaka.

2. Restoran Mahligai
Basement, Tourism Information Centre,
Jalan Kota, 75000 Melaka.

3. Restoran Alihar19, Jalan Melaka Raya 13
Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

4. Restoran Ole Rasa
264, Jalan Melaka Raya 3, 
Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

5. Restoran Padang Serai, 
40&42, Jalan Melaka Raya 15, 
Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

6. Restoran Amin
23, Jalan Melaka Raya 11
Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

7. Restoran Budi Jaya
308, Jalan Tun Ali, 75300 Melaka.

8. Restoran Cahaya Mawar
334, Jalan Melaka Raya
Taman Melaka Raya, 75000 Melaka.

9. Restoran Sri Percik Sdn.Bhd.
Batu ¾ Off Jalan Malim,75 200 Melaka.

10. Tom Yam Klasik Garden Restaurant Melaka
Lot 48, Jalan Sungai Putat, 75 450 Melaka.

11. Quayside CafĂ© & Seafood Restaurant
Jalan Merdeka, Banda Hilir, 75 000 Melaka.

12. Restoran Ikan Bakar Malim (MITC)
No.2 & 4, Jalan TU 40,Taman Tasek Utama,
75 460 Ayer Keroh, Melaka.

13. Restoran Lot 85
Lot 85, Jalan Hang Li Poh, Durian Daun, 75400 Melaka.

14. Restoran Nyonya Makko
123 Taman Melaka Raya, 75 000 Melaka.

15. Restaurant Peranakan
107 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75 200 Melaka.