Ambuyat
Ambuyat is Brunei's national dish, a starchy delicacy made from sago palm. It has a neutral flavor and a sticky, glue-like texture, designed to be eaten with various flavorful side dishes and dipping sauces. It is traditionally consumed with a two-pronged bamboo utensil called a 'chandas'.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 cup Sago starch(Can substitute with tapioca or potato starch)
- 2 cups Boiling water(Approximately, more may be needed)
- 1 tbsp Dried shrimp(For dipping sauce)
- 1 tsp Shrimp paste (Belacan)(For dipping sauce)
- 1 Thai chili pepper(Minced, for dipping sauce; adjust to taste)
- 2 tbsp Durian (Tempoyak)(Optional, for dipping sauce)
- 1 tbsp Lime juice(For dipping sauce)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Sugar
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Ambuyat: In a large mixing bowl, combine sago starch with about 1 cup of cool water and mix until smooth. Gradually add the boiling water, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon or fork until the mixture becomes translucent and sticky, resembling glue. Add more boiling water if needed to reach a thick, pudding-like consistency.
💡 Tip: Ensure the water is boiling hot, as warm or cold water will not properly gelatinize the starch. - 2
Prepare the Dipping Sauce (Cacah): In a mortar and pestle (or a small bowl), mince the dried shrimp and Thai chili pepper. Add the shrimp paste and mix well. If using, add the tempoyak (fermented durian).
- 3
Season the dipping sauce with lime juice, salt, and sugar to taste. Add a little hot water to achieve the desired consistency. The sauce should be a balance of spicy, sour, salty, and slightly sweet.
💡 Tip: Adjust seasonings according to personal preference. - 4
Serve the Ambuyat hot with the prepared dipping sauce. Traditionally, it's eaten with a 'chandas' (a two-pronged bamboo stick) or chopsticks, by twirling a portion of Ambuyat and dipping it into the sauce.
💡 Tip: Ambuyat is meant to be swallowed, not chewed.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ambuyat's neutral flavor makes it a perfect vehicle for a variety of sauces and side dishes.
- ✓Common side dishes include grilled fish, prawns, beef, and various vegetable stir-fries.
- ✓The texture can be adjusted by adding more or less boiling water.
🔄 Variations
- Use potato starch or tapioca starch as a substitute for sago starch.
- Create different dipping sauces based on local ingredients and preferences.