Famous Indian Food Found In Little India Penang

         
BANANA LEAF DISHES

What is banana leaf rice?

It’s a traditional method of serving rice dishes on banana leaves instead of plates that was brought over to Malaysia during the migration of South Indians. A unique dining experience, it will tickle your taste buds with all kinds of flavours, while filling your tummy with contentment.

A typical serving of banana leaf rice:

1. Banana leaf

Banana leaves contain large amounts of polyphenols, a natural antioxidant. When hot food is served on it, the food absorbs the nutritional benefits. The leaf also imparts a subtle aroma that makes food more fragrant.

2. Curry

Banana leaf rice is best savoured when it is drenched with curry. Most places will offer a range of curries, with a choice of chicken, fish or dhal.

3. Assorted vegetables

Different types of vegetables are placed at the top half of the leaf. The types of vegetables available depend on the cook. They usually consist of a combination of cucumber raita, spinach, beans, cabbage, potatoes and chutney.

4. Side dishes

For a more filling meal, side dishes can be ordered. Some of the most popular dishes are mutton curry, fried squid, chicken 65 and fried fish.

5. Rasam

A spicy and sourish soup, rasam helps to stimulate the appetite and aids in digestion.

6. Tairu

Tairu is a fresh yoghurt that helps tone down the spiciness of other dishes. 

7. Dried Chillis

Crispy, salty and a little spicy, dried chillis add extra flavour to this meal. 

8. Papadam

A thin, disc-shaped dough made from dried lentils and spices, papadam is highly addictive and is served as an accompaniment to the meal.

Sweets

Northern and southern Indian sweets are known for their calorific levels of sugar, but the sweetness level of the confectioneries featured here safely range from mild to moderate. We wish to make sure that you don’t miss out on these goodies especially during this Deepavali season!

Here are 11 Indian sweets ranging from the classic to the latest creations that you can find at Little India, George Town.

Track down these goodies as you train your sights and ears along the boisterous streets of Lebuh King, Lebuh Penang, and Lebuh Pasar, where high decibel beats of Bollywood music would compel any visitor to break into a dance in the middle of the street!

1. GULAB JAMUN

Often referred to as Indian donuts, gulab jamun are deep-fried dumplings that are soaked in a sugar syrup laced with rose water. Intensely sweet, just one small dumpling will be enough to satisfy your craving .

2. JALEEBI

Sweet, sticky and irresistible, jaleebi are deep-fried Indian sweets that are soaked in sugar syrup. The batter is commonly made of chickpea flour and the yellow color is derived from saffron or - sometimes - artificial colorings.

3. KHEER 

A creamy Indian rice pudding laced with cardamom, kheer is often prepared with sliced blanched almonds and raisins. It is commonly enhanced with saffron for very festive occasions such as Diwali or weddings.

4. LADOO

These ball-shaped sweets are often made of either chickpea flour, semolina or ground coconut depending on the region. The batter is cooked into a paste and rolled into balls once cooled.

5. RASMALI

An intoxicatingly aromatic dish of cottage cheese dumplings steeped in cardamom-infused milk syrup. Rasmalai hails from West Bengal but is enjoyed throughout much of India.