Hari Raya Recipes

Can you believe it’s already Hari Raya? With the past few celebrations tamed by Covid-19 restrictions, we look forward to going big with celebrations this year with the no pax limit, and of course, a delicious Hari Raya spread.  

Eid-al Fitri or Hari Raya is celebrated after the holy month of Ramadan. As we look forward to a Hari Raya celebration filled with the spirit of sharing and caring, here are some popular dishes for you to try at home. Whether you’re expecting many guests or just want to enjoy a sumptuous meal on your own, let’s get the rempah and kueh kueh ready for your families to enjoy this Raya holiday! 

1. Beef Rendang

Beef Rendang is definitely one of the signature dishes in Malay cuisine that makes for a super hearty Hari Raya meal. In our tried-and-tested recipe, the rempah consists of various herbs and spices and other aromatics such as cinnamon stick, cardomman, star anise, cumin seeds and cloves to form an incredible depth of flavour. Another important ingredient that is unique to the rendang dish is the addition of toasted grated fresh coconut or kerisik.

Of course, the star of the dish are the tender chunks of beef. To get that succulent meat, you can either simmer the meat for 2 hours – or if you’re short on time, follow our simple 30-minute pressure cooker guide. 

One more tip for those who want a healthier option: use half coconut milk and half low fat milk for a guilt-less creamy richness. Paired with rice or ketupak, this finger lickin’ rendang is so shiok!

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/beef-rendang/ 

Preparation Time: 2 hr 20 mins.  Serves: 4.

2. Rendang Perak with Lemang

Lemang is another iconic dish that is commonly served during Hari Raya. Traditionally, it is a savoury side dish made up of glutinous rice and cooked in creamy coconut milk. The sight and smell of it wrapped in banana leaves and grilled with bamboo poles definitely brings out childhood memories for many of us. For us at home, we can achieve similarly aromatic and delicious results by using a steamer and an oven. 

This Perak Chicken Rendang is a killer combo with lemang. It may look slightly complicated, but it is easy to cook once you have the ingredients ready. Simply blend the spices such as lemongrass, galangal, ginger, turmeric till fragrant before adding your chicken pieces, coconut milk and a dollop of caramelised kerisik. 

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/rendang-perak-with-lemang/

Preparation Time: 2 hr 30 mins.  Serves: 6.

3. Lontong Sayur Lodeh

For those of us who prefer a lighter meal this Hari Raya, Lontong Sayur Lodeh is a mildly spiced vegetable stew that’s effortless to prep and cook. Packed with protein and fibre from tempeh, tau kwa plus an assortment of vegetables, this dish is packed with nutrition. 

The fragrant rempah here consists of chillies, garlic, turmeric, galangal, shallots, lemongrass and candlenuts, not forgetting a handful of soaked dried shrimp and belachan for that extra umami flavour. At the end, coconut milk is added to achieve a creamy broth. This dish is not only simple and wholesome, it is a stunning meal when generously poured over longtong (rice cakes) or with plain rice.

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/lontong-sayur-lodeh/

Preparation Time: 1 hr. Serves: 4.

4. Mee Soto

Another hearty and soothing dish is Mee Soto. A dish commonly found in our hawker fare, but you too can create this from scratch at home! The full flavours of the dish come from the rempah base that is stir-fried with more aromatics and cooked with chicken to obtain the flavourful broth. 

For the best mouthfeel, pour the fragrant soup over fresh yellow noodles and top with crunchy bean sprouts, some shredded chicken, coriander and fried shallots. This makes for a truly irresistible bite! 

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/mee-soto/

Preparation Time: 55 mins.  Serves: 1.

5. Air Fryer Chicken Satay

This addictive snack-ish food is a favourite as a side snack or on the dinner table. That said, not many of us have time to fire up the grill (or even have a grill), so here we have an air fryer-version for a mess-free and smoke-free kitchen. 

However, the foundation to make a good satay remains the same – the homemade marination consisting of spices and herbs to give that lovely vibrant colour, caramelisation and aroma! Take our Air Fryer Chicken Satay to the next level with our homemade peanut sauce that’s flavourful, creamy and simply irresistible.

Watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ONORXY8G3Pc

6. Sambal Sotong

Just the thought of this dish makes us drool! If you love both sambal and squid, this hits the perfect spot! Packed with the delicious spicy, sweet, savoury and tangy flavours of the sambal, this blend of flavours will easily please your guests. 

The best part? You can make a big portion of sambal ahead of time as it will last for a few weeks in the fridge. Once the sambal is ready or pre-prepared, all you need is a good amount of fresh squid to make it a complete dish that will leave everyone wanting more. 

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/sambal-sotong/

Preparation Time: 10 mins.  Serves: 4.

7. Curry Chicken

Whether it’s Hari Raya or not, Curry Chicken is a common dish that is truly enjoyable by one and all. It is so versatile as you can pair it with just a simple plate of rice, roti prata or even a baguette for soaking in the delicious and creamy gravy. 

If you’re in a hurry, this curry doesn’t take much time to prep. All you need are a good amount of blended shallots, ginger, garlic and chillies and curry powder to form a paste before frying with lemongrass and a bunch of curry leaves. What you’ll get is an aromatic rempah that truly packs a punch.

Also, not to worry if you’ve got leftovers – some say Curry Chicken tastes better overnight anyway. 

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/curry-chicken/

Preparation Time: 1 hr 20 mins. Serves 4.

8. Assam Pedas Fish Head

This spicy and tangy Assam Pedas Fish Head is sure to whet your appetite, especially after a whole day of Hari Raya visitations. Usually,the dish consists of good-quality fish head cooked in a spicy rempah and all the aromatic herbs. 

This recipe also follows that style of cooking, focusing on the tangy gravy. Fresh herbs like laksa leaves (daun kelsom) and torch ginger (bunga kantan) compliment the gravy and give it an overall distinctive flavour. Scoop a generous amount of gravy and the added vegetables, over the steamed fish head and tuck in with your steamed rice for maximum satisfaction!

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/assam-fish-head/

Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4.

9. Kueh Talam & Kueh Salat

Hari Raya feasting almost feels incomplete without the kueh-kueh. These sweet delicacies are super addictive and refreshing – often the first thing you reach out to after a hearty meal. We share 2 dessert recipes here:

First, a common dessert that is equally enjoyed in every household is the Kueh Talam, a Peranakan/Malay dessert consisting of the fragrant pandan leaves infused with coconut layer. This smooth and velvety custard layer with the fragrant pandan and creamy and salty coconut concoction is simply decadent! 

Kueh Salat (or Kueh Seri Muka) is another all-time favourite local delicacy. The glutinous rice is steamed with creamy coconut and infused with pandan leaves for its aroma. What makes this distinctive, of course, is the vibrant blue pea flower (bunga telang) extract that is used to drizzle over the rice. In this recipe, we use Kinmemai Better White Rice for its fiber, vitamins and nutrients.

Both Kueh Talam and Kueh Salat are popular dishes and a joy to make. You’ll love these kueh and the exquisite blend of sweet and savoury flavours. 

Recipe: http://themeatmen.sg/kueh-salat/

Preparation Time: 1 hr 15 mins. Serves 18 pieces.

Recipe: https://themeatmen.org/kuih-talam/
Preparation Time: 1 hr. Serves 12 pieces.

Hari Raya Recipes 2022

These wonderful recipes are yours to try – whether you are celebrating Hari Raya, or just want to cook a great meal for your family and friends. Although these recipes may seem a little more work than usual, don’t let that deter you from trying them out. All you need are these recipes, fresh ingredients and you’re ready to say “Jom, Makan Sama-sama!” or Let’s makan together lah!

One bonus tip for our readers – make lots of rempah in one go as it can be refrigerated or kept in the freezer for months. If you’ve tried any of our recipes or want to share your own tips, do join our Meatmen FB Group. Wishing all our readers Selamat Hari Raya! 

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More of what you might like:

• Kitchen Hacks for Cooks of all levels
• Recipes for Large Groups
• Healthy Home Cook Recipes 

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