LWho does not love breakfast for dinner now and then? And who doesn't love a simple dinner in the midst of a heavy-cooking season? Kaya toast with half-boiled eggs meets both these marks. This Malaysian coffeeshop classic introduced our family to a new flavor — pandan — although my children say the taste is reminiscent of boba pearls. The sweet jam is delicious on its own on toast, but even better when partnered with a slab of salted butter and dunked into a bowl with half-boiled eggs and soy sauce (or tamari).
The kaya recipe breaks a OWW rule in that not all of the ingredients required are readily available at local supermarkets. I was intrigued enough that I ordered this pandan extract from Amazon. It was less than $5 and arrived the next day. But, per the reviews, it is very green. Thus while our kaya was delicious, it was the color of Play-Doh. That being said, you can omit the kaya altogether, which is occasionally done, and referred to as Hainanese kaya.
Quick Coconut-Pandan Jam (Kaya)
100ml canned coconut cream, about ½ a can [NOTE 1]
2 large eggs
½ teaspoon pandan essence [NOTE 2]
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons coconut or palm sugar
For Kaya Toast
8 pieces bread of your choice, toasted
2 tablespoons salted butter
Separate the egg yolks, leaving as little trace of egg whites as possible. In a medium, heat-resistant mixing bowl, beat the yolks until smooth with a fork or whisk.
Place coconut cream, sugars, and pandan extract in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat and just cook until the sugar is just melted. Do not allow to boil.
Remove the melted sugars from the heat. With one hand whisk the egg yolks while using the other to slowly drizzle in the melted sugars a teaspoon or so at a time, to temper the yolks. Continue doing this until about a third of the sugar mixture is poured into the yolks, then pour the egg mixture back to the saucepan.
Return the mixture to medium-low heat, and continue to stir occasionally, ensuring to scrape the mixture from the bottom and sides of the pan. The mixture started to thicken at around the 5-minute mark. When it is the consistency of pudding, remove the saucepan from the heat. If the texture of the kaya is not as smooth, you can use a blender or an immersion blender to smooth out the mixture
Once the kaya has cooled down completely, transfer to a glass jar and secure the lid. Put in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Serve on the toast of your choice with a generous slab of salted butter. Even better, dip this sandwich into the half-boiled eggs below.
NOTE 1: Many markets sell canned coconut cream. If you cannot find it, you can substitute any full-fat coconut milk. Do not mix or shake the can, rather remove the cream from the top.
NOTE 2: I purchased this from Amazon. However, if you do not want to buy some, simply prepare without it!
Half-Boiled Eggs
4 eggs
4 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
Pepper to taste
Remove eggs from fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking, to bring to room temperature.
Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan with a lid. Turn off stove and remove saucepan from heat.
Gently lower eggs into the hot water. Cover saucepan with lid and allow eggs to sit in the hot water for 7 minutes (white shell) or 8 minutes (brown shell).
Carefully crack an egg into a small bowl, scraping out any whites clinging to the shell. The whites should be opaque, but a mix of solidified and runny, and the he yolks will be runny. Depending on your altitude and pan and egg size, you may nee to adjust timing.
Pour a tablespoon of soy sauce over each egg and sprinkle with black pepper.
FUN FACTS:
The English word ketchup is believed to have been derived from the Hokkien word "ke-tsiap," which refers to a dish of fermented sauce.
Sarawak Chamber is the largest known cave chamber in the world by area, at 1,770,220 square feet. It is large enough that you could park more than forty 747 airplanes inside without their wings touching.
Malaysia follows a rotating monarchy system; nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns being the king for a term of five years each.
Commentaires