Three Beginner-Friendly Food Recipes for Hari Raya Haji

As with every festive occasion in Singapore, food is one of the main events at any Hari Raya Haji gathering. As families go from house to house and catch up with one another around the dining table, much laughter is often shared alongside delicious food for all to enjoy. 

However, not everybody is a master chef; some may just be beginning their own cooking journey, while others may not have even started theirs. Regardless, there is no doubt that a hearty home-cooked meal warms the heart more than any gourmet restaurant can. So, this year, why not try your hand at these three beginner-friendly Malay food recipes that are easy enough for anyone to whip up for Hari Raya Haji? 

All you’ll need are the right ingredients and kitchen equipment — regarding the latter, Kenwood Singapore supplies some of the best cooking appliances you can find in the market — and you’re all ready to go! 

1. Chicken Rendang

The staple of all Hari Raya celebrations, rendang is a must-have at the dinner table for your family and guests. While often construed as a complicated dish, our Kenwood blenders make this Hari Raya recipe much more achievable, even for beginner cooks. Simply follow the below steps! 

Recipe Yield: 5 to 6 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Shallots (8 – 10)
  • Garlic (5 cloves; peeled)
  • Ginger (2.5cm; cut into small pieces)
  • Turmeric stalk (2cm fresh or 1/2 tbsp powdered; for the former, cut into small pieces)
  • Turmeric leaves (3 leaves; finely shredded)
  • Galangal (2cm fresh; cut into small pieces)
  • Lemongrass (6 sticks; white portion only; 3 cut into small pieces, 3 bruised)
  • Dried Chilli (15 pieces; cut into rough pieces, de-seeded, soaked in hot water until soft and drained)
  • Chicken (1 whole; cut into pieces)
  • Coconut cream (250ml)
  • Toasted coconut paste (200g)
  • Palm Sugar (1 tbsp) 
  • Sugar (½ tbsp)
  • Salt (1½ tbsp)
  • Cooking oil

Instructions: 

  1. Blend shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric stalk, galangal, cut lemongrass, and dried chilli.
  2. Heat oil in a large wok over medium heat. Add blended spice paste and stir-fry until fragrant. 
  3. Add bruised lemongrass and chicken pieces. Mix well and let cook for 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
  4. Add coconut cream. Mix well. 
  5. Add palm sugar, sugar, and salt. Mix well until combined. 
  6. Bring to a boil, then lower heat slightly. Let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes while stirring occasionally. 
  7. Add toasted coconut paste. Mix well. 
  8. Add finely shredded turmeric leaves. 
  9. Cook for another 10 minutes over low heat until thickened. 
  10. Serve.

2. Oven-Baked Lemang

Almost synonymous with the Hari Raya holidays, lemang is another iconic dish that can be easily made. Traditionally, it is wrapped in banana leaves and grilled with bamboo poles to give it its uniquely aromatic deliciousness. However, you can also duplicate its distinct aroma and taste with a Kenwood convection oven in your very own kitchen by following the easy recipe below.

Recipe Yield: 5 to 6 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cooking Time: 90 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Glutinous rice (750g)
  • Coconut milk (1250ml)
  • Salt (1 tbsp) 
  • Empty cans to use as molds (with tops cut off) 
  • Banana leaves (cut into squares with sides of 15cm and circles with circumferences of 5cm)

Instructions: 

  1. Wash banana leaves and wipe dry. Place circle cuts in the bottom of can-moulds and square cups, wrapping the inside. 
  2. Soak glutinous rice in water overnight or at least 3 hours. 
  3. Combine coconut milk and salt in a large bowl.
  4. Drain glutinous rice and place in coconut milk mixture.
  5. Fill can-moulds with glutinous rice ¾ way through.
  6. Top with coconut milk until slightly above the rice level.
  7. Preheat the electric kitchen oven to 160°C.
  8. Bake can-molds for 90 minutes. 
  9. Let cool before removing can-moulds. Cut and serve.

3. Grilled Mutton Satay

Singapore’s favourite skewered meat is always eagerly welcomed at any Hari Raya Haji celebration. With a Kenwood food processor and a Kenwood electric grill, you can now make grilled mutton satay from the comfort of your home without needing a barbeque pit. The best part? You can do so easily by following the simple recipe below! 

Recipe Yield: 5 to 6 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • Mutton fillet (900g; sliced thinly)
  • Bamboo skewers (as needed; soaked in water for several hours)
  • Cooking oil (as needed)
  • Shallots (9 – 10)
  • Garlic (6 cloves; peeled)
  • Lemongrass (1 stalk)
  • Meat curry powder (3 tbsp)
  • Chilli powder (3 tbsp)
  • Coriander powder (2 tsp)
  • Cumin powder (¾ tsp)
  • Soft brown sugar (3 tbsp)
  • Salt (1½ tbsp)
  • Pepper (1½ tbsp)
  • Black pepper (1½ tbsp)
  • Light soy sauce (3 tbsp)
  • Lime juice (¾ tsp)
  • Coconut milk (6 tbsp)

Instructions: 

  1. Blend shallots, garlic, lemongrass, meat curry powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, and cumin powder in food processor until fine. 
  2. Combine processed mix with soft brown sugar, salt, pepper, black pepper, light soy sauce, lime juice, and coconut milk. 
  3. Add mutton slices to the resultant marinade. Mix well and leave to marinate for a few hours. 
  4. Skewer marinated mutton slices with bamboo skewers. 
  5. Grill until lightly browned. Baste constantly with cooking oil.
  6. Serve. 

Prepare the Perfect Hari Raya Dishes with the Best Cooking Appliances in Singapore.

At Kenwood Singapore, we commit ourselves to make food preparation, cooking, and baking both easy and convenient. Our wide range of kitchen appliances is designed to speed up kitchen prep time while lending a superb level of functionality to make gastronomical masterpieces achievable at home. 

Shop Kenwood online today or visit us at any of our physical stores in Singapore.