6 Cookbooks to Up Your Malaysian Cooking Game

Trusty companions in the kitchen written by Malaysians for Malaysians when preparing a great Malaysian meal

Whether you want to whip up a heartwarming family dinner, impress your overseas guests, or wow the crowd at a potluck, these Malaysian cookbooks should set you on the right path.

1. 'Recipes are for Sharing' by Kalsom Taib with Ungku Balkis Ungku Abdul Hamid and Ungku Marhamah Shereen Ungku Abdul Hamid

Kalsom Taib is the one half of the powerhouse duo (the other being Hamidah Abdul Hamid) behind the Gourmand Award-winning cookbooks, Johor Palate: Tanjung Puteri Recipes and Malaysia's Culinary Heritage. In March, Taib, in collaboration with her two nieces, released Recipes are for Sharing that contains a whopping 200 recipes across nine categories including sambal, sauces and seafood. As the name suggests, these are age-old family recipes meant to be shared and enjoyed in the company of others.

2. 'Amazing Malaysian: Recipes for Vibrant Malaysian Home-Cooking' by Norman Musa

Once invited to cook at the residence of the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Penang-born Norman Musa is currently the executive chef at Kuala Lumpur Restaurant and Bar in Leeds. His cookbook details 100 vibrant and easy recipes that utilise easily accessible ingredients to make dishes he learnt from his mother to Penang hawker staples.

3. 'Sambal Shiok: The Malaysian Cookbook' by Mandy Yin

Above Photo: Instagram/@sambalshiok

Recently shortlisted for Fortnum & Mason's Food & Drink Awards Debut Cookery Book award, Mandy Yin's cookbook is a homage to her Malaysian heritage. The owner of London's Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar's debut takes us through the recipes you can find in her restaurant as well as from her childhood, so expect lots of comfort foods, from Anchovy Fried Rice to Satay Burger.

4. 'The Fat Spoon Cookbook' by Michelle Pong and Melissa Pong

The sister duo behind Fat Spoon chain of restaurants and cafes has a cookbook that chronicles their love of food. You'll find twists on nonya dishes and crowd favourites such as pumpkin fritters and cempedak spring rolls.

5. 'Malaysia: Recipes from a Family Kitchen' by Ping Coombes

Above Photo: Instagram/@pingcoombes

The freshly crowned MasterChef Champion of Champions, teacher and proud mother of two's cookbook is a delightful tome on Malaysian cuisine, breaking down the complexities of Pan Fried Seabass with Kicap Manis and Nyonya Fried Rice into simple, easy-to-follow guides that even a novice home cook can master.

6. 'The Malaysian Kitchen: 150 Recipes for Simple Home Cooking' by Christina Arokiasamy

As the first-ever official Malaysian food ambassador to the US, former Four Seasons Hotel chef Christina Arokiasamy compiles more than 25 years of experience and wisdom into this handy cookbook that extols the virtues of classic Malaysian dishes. She also lets us in on her modern iterations of traditional food.

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