Laksa Johor - Uniquely Johor Tradition and Heritage Food

Credit

Laksa Johor is a truly unique and delicious style of laksa created in Johor. Legend has it that Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Johor (1833 - 1895) was visiting Europe, and when in Italy, he fell in love with spaghetti. 

 

When Sultan Sir Abu Bakar returned to Johor, he directed the palace chef to create a dish combining the traditional laksa gravy with spaghetti. Laksa Johor was thus invented - this must be one of the earliest examples of East-West fusion food.

While Laksa Johor is uniquely Johor, it is surprisingly difficult to find at eateries, even here in Johor. The reason is because the preparation of Laksa Johor is extremely tedious and takes long hours.

I've been told many times that the best Laksa Johor can only be found at home - lovingly made for special celebrations.

Going to the market, assembling the numerous ingredients needed for the gravy, like herbs and spices, and fresh Ikan Tenggiri or Ikan Parang is already one big job. And, this is just the beginning.

Then, preparing these ingredients is very labour intensive because to get the authentic taste and flavour, it has to be done by hand, the old way. So, usually most of the family, extended family and even neighbours are involved. Sitting down together, preparing food together is a great bonding ritual.

Finally, when all the ingredients are ready, we need a talented chef who has mastered the skill to put it all together to create this magically delicious dish. No wonder, Laksa Johor is so difficult to find at the shops - it is very hard to make it commercially worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are a few eateries recommended by members of Johor Sedap Halal Food Group that serve good Laksa Johor at reasonable prices

Click on the following pictures of Laksa Johor to read the full story about these recommended Laksa Johor shops.

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV

GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)

 

Restaurant name: Dann's Café
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lvvYg
GPS: 1.547242,103.764613
Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm

 

Credit

Laksa Johor is a truly unique and delicious style of laksa created in Johor. Legend has it that Sultan Sir Abu Bakar of Johor (1833 - 1895) was visiting Europe, and when in Italy, he fell in love with spaghetti. 

 

When Sultan Sir Abu Bakar returned to Johor, he directed the palace chef to create a dish combining the traditional laksa gravy with spaghetti. Laksa Johor was thus invented - this must be one of the earliest examples of East-West fusion food.

While Laksa Johor is uniquely Johor, it is surprisingly difficult to find at eateries, even here in Johor. The reason is because the preparation of Laksa Johor is extremely tedious and takes long hours.

I've been told many times that the best Laksa Johor can only be found at home - lovingly made for special celebrations.

Going to the market, assembling the numerous ingredients needed for the gravy, like herbs and spices, and fresh Ikan Tenggiri or Ikan Parang is already one big job. And, this is just the beginning.

Then, preparing these ingredients is very labour intensive because to get the authentic taste and flavour, it has to be done by hand, the old way. So, usually most of the family, extended family and even neighbours are involved. Sitting down together, preparing food together is a great bonding ritual.

Finally, when all the ingredients are ready, we need a talented chef who has mastered the skill to put it all together to create this magically delicious dish. No wonder, Laksa Johor is so difficult to find at the shops - it is very hard to make it commercially worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are a few eateries recommended by members of Johor Sedap Halal Food Group that serve good Laksa Johor at reasonable prices

Click on the following pictures of Laksa Johor to read the full story about these recommended Laksa Johor shops.

Restaurant name: Al Ansar Café
Address: Jalan Permas 5/16 (right next to Al Ansar Mosque)
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lxJYV

GPS: 1.503983,103.821817
Hours: 6:00am to 3:00pm (closed on Sunday and Public Holidays)

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)

 

Restaurant name: Dann's Café
Address: 42, Jalan Sagu, Taman Daya, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/lvvYg
GPS: 1.547242,103.764613
Hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm

 

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Laksa Johor @ Bumbu Asli in Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Laksa Johor is Johor's unique signature dish, not found anywhere else in Malaysia, or the world. Laksa Johor is something special, uniquely Johor heritage food.

 

According to legend, shared by famous celebrity Chef Wan, Sultan Abu Bakar travelled to Europe in the 1800s. There in Italy, Sultan Abu Bakar took a liking to Spaghetti Bolognaise. When Sultan Abu Bakar returned to Johor from Europe, he directed his Chef to modify this spaghetti dish with a fish based gravy. And so, the uniquely Johorean Laksa Johor was created - an early example of East-West fusion cuisine.

 

Ironically, my makan kakis and I have been lamenting about how hard it is to get a good authentic Laksa Johor, right here in Johor. Actually, this should not be a surprise to anyone. This is because making Laksa Johor is a tedious and labour intensive task. Laksa Johor uses many ingredients like Ikan Kembung, salted fish, belacan, fresh shrimps, dried shrimps, chilies, lemon grass, and various spices and herbs. Assembling the many ingredients for Laksa Johor is in itself, already a daunting task.

Then, there is the preparation and cooking. Preparing the ingredients is very labour intensive and so is usually assigned to different members of the family, and extended family. Making Laksa Johor is a community affair. One person will grind the fish, another grate the coconuts, someone else will pound the chilies and spices, and so on. And, finally, only the person who has mastered the art and skill of cooking the gravy correctly will cook it.

Since it is so labour intensive and skill intensive, Laksa Johor is usually only made at home, and then only on special occasions and during festivals. Little wonder then that Laksa Johor sold in stalls and restaurants, often has to be a watered down version for it to be commercially viable.

Fortunately and thanks to my friend Kumes, I was introduced to a very good Laksa Johor stall and I want to to share it with you :) This Laksa Johor is in Restoran Bumbu Asli along Jalan Kolam Air. Well, Bumbu Asli's Laksa Johor is home made in a sense. All the ingredients and gravy were prepared at the owner's home and then brought to the shop to serve.

 

The gravy which is the soul of Laksa Johor was gritty from the ground fish, salted fish and dried shrimps, spicy from the chilies, tangy from the calamansi, naturally sweet from herbs, and savoury from blending all the ingredients together. Pair this marvellous gravy with relatively bland but al dente spaghetti and we have Laksa Johor magic.

Click on picture for video on making Laksa Johor

 

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)
Halal

Date visited: 3 Oct 2012

Laksa Johor is Johor's unique signature dish, not found anywhere else in Malaysia, or the world. Laksa Johor is something special, uniquely Johor heritage food.

 

According to legend, shared by famous celebrity Chef Wan, Sultan Abu Bakar travelled to Europe in the 1800s. There in Italy, Sultan Abu Bakar took a liking to Spaghetti Bolognaise. When Sultan Abu Bakar returned to Johor from Europe, he directed his Chef to modify this spaghetti dish with a fish based gravy. And so, the uniquely Johorean Laksa Johor was created - an early example of East-West fusion cuisine.

 

Ironically, my makan kakis and I have been lamenting about how hard it is to get a good authentic Laksa Johor, right here in Johor. Actually, this should not be a surprise to anyone. This is because making Laksa Johor is a tedious and labour intensive task. Laksa Johor uses many ingredients like Ikan Kembung, salted fish, belacan, fresh shrimps, dried shrimps, chilies, lemon grass, and various spices and herbs. Assembling the many ingredients for Laksa Johor is in itself, already a daunting task.

Then, there is the preparation and cooking. Preparing the ingredients is very labour intensive and so is usually assigned to different members of the family, and extended family. Making Laksa Johor is a community affair. One person will grind the fish, another grate the coconuts, someone else will pound the chilies and spices, and so on. And, finally, only the person who has mastered the art and skill of cooking the gravy correctly will cook it.

Since it is so labour intensive and skill intensive, Laksa Johor is usually only made at home, and then only on special occasions and during festivals. Little wonder then that Laksa Johor sold in stalls and restaurants, often has to be a watered down version for it to be commercially viable.

Fortunately and thanks to my friend Kumes, I was introduced to a very good Laksa Johor stall and I want to to share it with you :) This Laksa Johor is in Restoran Bumbu Asli along Jalan Kolam Air. Well, Bumbu Asli's Laksa Johor is home made in a sense. All the ingredients and gravy were prepared at the owner's home and then brought to the shop to serve.

 

The gravy which is the soul of Laksa Johor was gritty from the ground fish, salted fish and dried shrimps, spicy from the chilies, tangy from the calamansi, naturally sweet from herbs, and savoury from blending all the ingredients together. Pair this marvellous gravy with relatively bland but al dente spaghetti and we have Laksa Johor magic.

Click on picture for video on making Laksa Johor

 

 

Restaurant name: Restoran Bumbu Asli

Address: 36-L, Jalan Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/3mvtF
GPS: 1.472003,103.736649
Hours: 7:00am to 4:00pm (closed on alternate Sundays)
Halal

Date visited: 3 Oct 2012

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