Nasi Dagang

Nasi Dagang or Traders' Rice is a typical fare in Kelantan and Terengganu. It consists of a steamed rice with coconut milk, served with some fish curry and cucumber pickles. Normally, ikan tongkol is used for the curry.

For the rice, a mixture of long-grain and glutinous rice is used at at 2:1 ratio. The rice is then soaked overnight and then steamed. Later coconut milk is added together with salt, shredded ginger, shallots and fenugreek seeds. This results in fluffy, yet slightly sticky texture in the rice. It is also fragrant due to the generous use of coconut milk and spices.

The fish curry is cooked separately in a concoction of spices which include coriander, fennel, cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, star anise, cumin, turmeric, and chillies. There are even pre-mixed spices sold in Kelantan and Terengganu, called "Rempah Gulai". The spices is cooked with the fish till it reaches a thick consistency.

I have a colleague who makes great Nasi Dagang. Over the years, I've eaten it on many special occasions at school and have enjoyed it tremendously every time. Today, she makes it for a fund raising event .... and of course, how can I not buy some .....

Nasi Dagang, with fish curry and pickles 

I've always loved the delicious rice ... sticky and yet not dense, the fish curry which is slightly sour and very flavourful. There is also belimbing buluh in the fish curry that day ... and that adds to the sourness of the dish. The pickles provide texture and bring to the whole dish a refreshing flavour. I absolutely love this humble, yet delicious dish that is a staple for fishermen in the East Coast.