Sambal Shiok

Book excerpt: Shortlisted for the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards (2022) Guild of Food Writer’s Awards, Highly Commended in ‘First Book’ category (2022) André Simon Awards shortlisted (2022) "Beautiful, inspiring, but above all authoritative. Mandy Yin holds all the secrets to exquisite Malaysian cooking... It is a rare treat that she's chosen to share them." – Grace Dent, restaurant critic for the Guardian A soulful tribute to Malaysian cuisine, from snacks, soups and salads, to rice and noodle dishes, curries and sweet things. Sambal Shiok is a brilliant collection of over 90 accessible recipes that were handed down from Mandy Yin’s mother as well as those that she has developed for her critically acclaimed, award-winning London restaurant. The recipes – such as her signature curry laksa, Penang assam laksa, Malaysian fried chicken, prawn fritters, spiral curry puffs, flaky roti canai, beef rendang, KL golden fragrant clams, sambal mapo tofu, and the perfect steamed rice – can be made for a weekday family meal, a dinner party or celebration. Malaysian food results from the unique merger over centuries of indigenous Malay ingredients with Indian spices and Chinese techniques. Every dish delicately balances sweet, sour, salty with chilli heat and a hint of bitter. With Mandy’s evocative look at Malaysian food culture, her recipes, and the basics of a Malaysian pantry (shrimp paste, lemongrass, tamarind and coconut milk), you can easily enjoy the most delicious Malaysian meals at home.