Rojak....

Now why on earth would one publish a post about rojak in the first place? Well to those of you fortunate enough to be still living in M'sia or S'pore, you will not understand my love affair with rojak or with any other local food. Fellow countrymen who somehow find themselves living (or was previously living) overseas at the moment, I echo your sentiments or longing or saliva dripping experience once we step into the food we miss at home discussion, pictures etc.

Just today I was happily doing my stitching when suddenly I felt like having rojak! The familiar taste, smell and texture of the dish starts to overwhelm me. But instead of day dreaming about it, I went to make dinner as I thought that I'm just hungry. Being hungry, I was not in a state to day dream about M'sian food as I know myself, I'll "blame" me (and hubby) for being here in the first place!

My home made rojak! YUMMY......

Did the urge for rojak went away after dinner? NO!! So browse the net I did for rojak sauce recipes. Good thing is I still have some left over ingredients and some dry stuff I stock up. I was so happy to find I still have cucumber, hoisin sauce, peanuts (leftover from making Thai chicken salad) and some pears. I know, I know it seems wired to make the sauce in a very different way. Instead of using belacan or hae ko (black shrimp paste), I use hoisin sauce. What to do? Can not find them here what! If can find also, the smell could remind in our apartment for days. Unless of course I "make" my mum send them (the dry type) over! hehehehe... I can imagine the post people delivering belacan to me; wearing a gas mask in full white overalls, like the ones they'd wear while treating nuclear/dangerous disease!!

You might have notice I'm just using pears and cucumbers instead of the usual guava, pineapple, mango etc, as the rojak fruit/veggies. Well, when you're desperate ANY hard fruit/veggies will do! Its really been a long time since I've had rojak; since last year June! So I guess anyone could understand.

Besides eating rojak (and other local goodies) brings back many happy memories; sharing the dish and fighting with my sister for the last bit of it, going out to pasar malam with friends just to get it and many more.... I think you can say that I'm homesick from time to time. I'm actually missing having familiar company while having my meals, be it M'sian or mat salleh food. I've always believe that it is the company that makes any dish more enjoyable, delicious and close to the heart. I can't wait till the full swing of summer hits Switzerland! Then I can make the "real" satay bbq outdoors complete with sauce, ketupat, timun and bawang merah!