It’s jam time, again. Jam and bread. Possibly my two favorite things. Or at least very, very near the top. Jam and Bread. Not only to be eaten as a side to some tea, but also a very popular breakfast choice throughout the world, each nation touting its own variation. Today, I offer another: Malaysian Kaya and Roti …or Malaysian flat bread with coconut-egg jam. Let’s go.
Here’s a mini-story for you: There’s a restaurant in Chicago called Flat Top Grill, and it’s a stir fry restaurant. Only stir fry. It’s quite sad that I count this among my favorites because IT’S STIR FRY. Not exciting, not special. But here’s the thing-I CANNOT MAKE STIR FRY!!.
It just doesn’t happen… AC is with me, and we even took a stir fry cooking class. While the class was a success, neither of us has been able to duplicate the process with much success at home. As such, we have to resort to going out for what is possibly every non-cook’s go-to meal. Such is life. Can’t be good at everything.
Anyway, Flat Top Grill, besides having amazing stir fry, has amazing Roti. It’s crispy, buttery and addictive. Here’s my chance to give it my best shot at duplication.
As for the jam, it’s egg based, which is weird for a jam. Intrigued, I got to work.
Again, thanks Rasa Malaysia for the kaya recipe, which I’ve altered slightly
Malaysian kaya and roti is a version of caramel jam and fresh, homemade roti in this country's version of bread and jam.
By: Chrissy
Ingredients
For the kaya:
5 eggs
½ cup coconut cream
¾ cup coconut milk
3 pandan leaves, tied into a knot
1 1/2 tablespoons corn starch + 1 1/2 tablespoons water
For the Caramel:
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water
For the Roti:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup water
1 egg
1 TB coconut oil or ghee
½ teaspoon salt
Oil, for brushing
Directions
Step 1First make the kaya: Crack the eggs into a big bowl, followed by the coconut cream and coconut milk. Whisk well, or using an electronic hand mixer, whisk the mixture well. Filter the mixture with a strainer. The straining is important
Step 2 this is lumpier than you’d think.
Step 3Transfer the egg mixture into a sauce pan or double boiler. Add the pandan leaves into the egg mixture and turn on the heat to medium low. Using a heatproof spatula, keep stirring the mixture until they are cooked, about 20 minutes. This is important- you don’t want to scramble the eggs.
Step 4To thicken the kaya, add the corn starch mixture, stir to combine well with the kaya. Please take note that lumps will form in the jam.
Step 5In the meantime, make the caramel. The original recipe called for a dry caramel, but after the disaster I had last time, I made a wet one.
Step 6Heat up the sugar and water in a sauce pan until the sugar melts into caramel. After the sugar has dissolved in the water, STOP STIRRING and let the caramel do its thing. When the color becomes golden brown, add the caramel into the kaya, stir to combine well and slowly, again, to avoid scrambling the eggs.. The color of the kaya should be golden brown. Turn off the heat.
Step 7Let the kaya jam cool down, discard the pandan leaves and transfer the kaya to a blender. Blend until it reaches a silky smooth consistency and without lumps. Transfer the kaya to a jam bottle. This keeps for a week.
Step 8Make the roti: In a bowl, combine water, egg, oil, and salt. Mix well. Set aside.
Step 9Sift the flour into a large bowl, and form a crater in the sifted flour. Pour the water/egg mixture into the flour, and mix well. Knead this until the bowl is clean and you have a nice ball of dough. Coat the dough ball with oil and plastic wrap. Let it sit for an hour.
Step 10Next, knead your dough a bit more, and form it into several balls (about double the size of a golf ball). Coat them with vegetable oil.
Step 11Roll each ball flat with a rolling pin, into a flat circle.
Step 12Heat a cast iron skillet or pancake griddle. Brushing each side with a little more oil, place the roti in the pan and cook about 2 minutes and then give it a flip. Cook the other side until golden brown. It’s shocking how little time this actually takes.
Step 13Slather the kaya on the roti. Eat and Enjoy!
Thank you, Saturday. It’s been a long week, full of “new parent” things. Now, before you people-parents get all angry, I’m not trying to minimize what you do, but I’ve learned this week that being a pet parent can be a whole lotta stressful, too. […]
