Malaysian · soup
Asam Laksa (Penang Tamarind Fish Laksa)
Asam Laksa (Penang Tamarind Fish Laksa) reads fruity 5.4, citrus 5.2 and sweetness 5.1 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Malaysian soup, about 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.1 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 7.0 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 6.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.3 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 2.8 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.9 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Fruity 5.4 · Citrus 5.2 · Sweetness 5.1 · Umami 5.0 · Sourness 4.8 · Marine & Briny 4.0 · Heat 4.0 · Herbaceous 3.9 · Salinity 3.7 · Funk & Ferment 3.4 · Allium 2.8 · Richness 2.7 · Floral 2.4 · Warm Spice 2.2 · Earthy 1.2 · Bitterness 1.0
What's in it (14)
- 1.5 lbs mackerel
- 3 tbsp tamarind paste
- 3 stalks lemongrass
- 2-inch piece galangal
- 6 dried chilies
- 1 tsp shrimp paste
- 2 torch ginger buds
- 4 kaffir lime leaves
- 12 oz thick rice noodles
- 1 cucumber, julienned
- 1 cup pineapple, diced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup mint leaves
- 2 tbsp petis udang
Time & effort: about 50 min (25 min active) · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 130 kcal, 8.2 g protein, 2.2 g fat, 18.7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (2 steps)
- Boil mackerel until cooked, flake the flesh, and simmer in the tamarind-spiced fish broth with lemongrass, torch ginger, and galangal.
- Serve over thick noodles with julienned cucumber, pineapple, onion, and mint, garnished with a dollop of petis udang.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Ikan Bakar (Malaysian Grilled Fish) — Malaysian
- Canh Chua Ca - Hot Sour Fish Soup W/ Pineapple — Thai
- Shrimp Saganaki with Feta and Tomatoes — Greek
- Blackened Mahi Tacos with Mango Salsa — Mexican
- Asian Nachos With Pecorino, Cheddar & Shrimp — Fusion
Keep reading: what fruity, citrus, sweetness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.