(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) 2017-6-13"/> June 13, 2017 Our Ramadan special series today will focus on Malaysia - the country known for its tropical beaches and rainforests
many of its dishes are similar to indonesian food. facts aside, it is simply a perfect destination for foodies. the country's cuisine gets a flavour-lift particularly during the holy month with its makeshift bazaars. monaliza binti mohd shobian and kemal rizadi arbi who have been living in oman for the past four and half years give us a sneak peek into the flavour-blasting cuisine of the country. ramadan for a malaysian is a time to introspect, pray and partake in the wide variety of treats on offer at the bazaars that pop up around this time, said monaliza. 'we are allowed to go home early from work to prepare for iftar. besides this my favourite ritual is to visit these traditional bazaars. one gets to see a lot of authentic food items here.' most of the main course dishes are had after the maghrib prayer. 'we have rice and side dishes comprising meat, vegetables or eggs. some of the common main course dishes are mei goreng (spicy fried noodles), roti prata (fried flatbread) and chicken or meat murtabak (stuffed panfried bread).' beverages are an important refreshing element of the unique malaysian cuisine, said monaliza. 'we have a variety of drinks such as air bandung (rose syrup milk drink) and coconut water. they are an integral part of our meal as it is important to stay hydrated, especially during ramadan.' iftar meals are incomplete without the desserts. some of the sweet treats are unbelievably vibrant and dainty such as the seri muka (layer cake made of glutinous rice, coconut milk and sugar). food for suhoor includes fried noodles, rice and curries, said monaliza. 'for suhoor, i wake up at 3am. we usually have fried noodles, rice and curries. baked beans, french toast and scrambled eggs are also an option.' spending time with friends and family is a ritual of the holy month, said monaliza. 'in malaysia if you don't feel like cooking early in the morning, you can go to the nearest mosque for suhoor. besides sharing iftar meals it is important to spend time with family. my children are studying abroad at present and i really miss them.' monaliza shares with us some of her favourite ramadan recipes.