Brunei, with its rich cultural influences, offers a variety of local delicacies. Here’s a list of foods you shouldn’t miss when visiting Brunei:
- Ambuyat:
- A traditional Bruneian dish made from the interior trunk of the sago palm. It is often served with a selection of side dishes and sauces.
- Nasi Katok:
- A simple and popular Bruneian dish featuring plain rice served with fried chicken and sambal (spicy chili paste).
- Roti Canai Brunei:
- A variation of the Malaysian-Indian flatbread, typically served with curry or dhal.
- Ayam Penyet:
- Fried chicken that is smashed or “penyet” and served with sambal, cucumbers, and often fried tempeh.
- Ambuyat with Daging Salai:
- Ambuyat paired with smoked beef, providing a unique flavor to the traditional sago dish.
- Nasi Lemak Brunei:
- Bruneian-style coconut rice served with anchovies, peanuts, boiled eggs, cucumber, and sambal.
- Pulut Panggang:
- Grilled glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves, often filled with a mixture of dried shrimp, grated coconut, and spices.
- Kuey Teow Goreng:
- Stir-fried flat rice noodles with prawns, chicken, or beef, seasoned with soy sauce and other flavorful ingredients.
- Laksa Brunei:
- A spicy noodle soup typically made with vermicelli noodles, coconut milk, prawns, and herbs.
- Bamboo Chicken:
- Chicken marinated in a blend of local spices and cooked within bamboo tubes over an open flame.
- Lamb Satay:
- Skewers of grilled marinated lamb served with a flavorful peanut sauce.
- Kolo Mee:
- A noodle dish with a mix of ingredients, often including minced meat, char siu (barbecued pork), and vegetables.
- Umai:
- A traditional Melanau dish made with raw fish (commonly mackerel or tuna), lime, chilli, onions, and other seasonings.
- Kuih Mor:
- A sweet treat made from coconut, ghee, and flour, often shaped into bite-sized balls and coated with powdered sugar.
- Pusu:
- A type of rice cake wrapped in banana leaves, often served during special occasions and celebrations.
Exploring local markets, hawker stalls, and traditional eateries will provide you with the opportunity to savor the unique flavors of Bruneian cuisine.