Malaysian Vegetarian Pregnancy Recipes: 7 Dishes to Try at Home - November 2024

Bak Choy, okra, long beans, eggplant, and diverse curry leaves. The list is long for the vegetables available in our local markets. And they are also good options to grow at home! Whether you are a vegetarian or not, vegetables are undoubtedly a rich source of nutrients. With such a wide variety of veggies, you can cook plenty of delicious produce for your breakfast, lunch, or dinner platter. The flavourful dishes are popular choices for many of us. And when you are pregnant, this is not just a choice—they are essential. Therefore, today, we will be sharing some vegetarian pregnancy recipes from our homeland, Malaysia. But before we move forward with the details of the recipes, let's have a look at some of the vegetables found in Malaysia and their proven benefits, shall we? Beneficial Local Vegetarian Pregnancy Recipes Just For You Nothing can be better than freshly grown vegetables found in local markets. Our Malaysian markets include lots of tropical veggies. If you cook vegetarian pregnancy recipes, you must ensure to add these vegetables to your meals. Without further ado, let's get right to them. Bak Choy or Xiu Pak Choy: Enriched with vitamin C, and vitamin A, it helps to bring a natural glow to your skin. Also, it smoothens the bowel movement preventing the risks of constipation. Broccoli: Another vegetarian source of nutrients is broccoli. Talking about the benefits, broccoli is enriched with high fibre, folic acid, and multiple vitamins. Moreover, it works as a good antioxidant. Kailan or Kale: Ask any Malaysian and it is unlikely for them to be unfamiliar with the ever delicious and healthy kailan. On the off chance you haven't tried it before though, do so now. It is filled with calcium, vitamins, and all the essential nutrients you may need during your pregnancy days. Lettuce: It is a good source of chlorophyll and vitamin K. It also provides the benefits of multiple vitamins, folic acid, manganese, and chromium. People who are fond of leafy greens tend to opt for lettuce leaves in their soup, salad, and so on. Cabbage: It is found in different colours and variants—red, green, Chinese. You can find lots of vitamins and minerals in it. Cabbage is a powerful antioxidant and is a cancer-fighting vegetable. Cabbage also helps in detoxification, giving you a refreshing feeling once consumed. Healthy Platter of Popiah Popiah, the very name of the dish is enough to attract any Malaysian. When you are in your pregnancy days, you may have some popiah to keep you both full and healthy. Here's an easy recipe to prepare a delicious platter of this delicacy. Filled with tropical veggies, it is a healthy yet mouth-watering treat at once. Find the recipe below. 1 cup bean curd4 tbsp bamboo shoots (finely chopped)1 cup cabbage (finely chopped)3 tbsp yam beans3 tbsp green beans1 carrot (finely chopped)3 tbsp shallot (sliced)2 cloves garlic (minced)15 popiah wrappers (available online)fresh lettuce leaves (washed and dried)4 tbsp cooking oil1 tbsp soy sauce (light)2 tbsp green chilli saucesalt and black pepper (as per taste)1 tsp sugar Fry the curd beans first. Then, in another pan, fry other beans and vegetables. Once they are cooked, add the fried curd beans to them. Season with salt and black pepper. Add sauces and mix all of the ingredients well. Cook until the vegetables soften and fragrance comes out. Now, spread lettuce within the wrappers and pour the vegetable fillings into them. Take 2 or 3 tsp fillings for each wrapper. Roll up neatly. Arrange popiah in a tray and serve with preferred sauce or as is. Healthy and Simple Vegetable Curry Lots of vegetables in one bowl! You can have it with your favourite nasi lemak. Or if you want to reduce cooking efforts, you may dunk a pair of bread slices into this curry too. The simplest dinner for your pregnancy days while still being healthy! 1 tbsp red chilli paste1 tbsp ginger garlic paste1 tsp cumin powder1 tsp coriander powder1 tsp turmeric powder1 red capsicum (chopped)1 onion (chopped)200 g okra / ladies fingers1/2 cup eggplant (chopped)1 tomato (chopped)1/4 cup cabbage (chopped)100 g mushrooms (pregnancy-friendly, chopped)1 stalk lemon grass (only white parts, chopped)6-7 cups vegetable stock2 tbsp light coconut milk salt (as per taste)2 pandan leaves (tied in knots)5-6 curry leaves2 tbsp lime juice3 tbsp olive oil Add ginger garlic paste to oil and cook the vegetables with it. Fry the mushroom separately. Once the vegetables are sautéed well, add chilli paste, salt, and spices to it and cook for 5-10 minutes. Next, add fried mushrooms, vegetable stock, pandan leaves and curry leaves. Stir well and add some more salt if required. Bring it to a boil. Add coconut milk and lemon juice to it. Cook until you get the desired thickness. Serve after removing the pandan leaves. Nasi Campur Rice comes at the top of our favourite's list. If you want to add variations, nasi campur (mixed rice) can be a wise choice in pregnancy. As it includes lots of vegetables and healthy nutrients, it is ideal for a pregnancy lunch. Regardless of which trimester you are in, you can have it any time. Make sure the vegetables and rice are well-cooked to avoid any risk of food poisoning or digestion issue. For coconut rice300 g rice (long-grain)100 g creamed coconut (chopped roughly)water (for boiling)For coconut marinated tofu2 inch ginger (grated)2 cloves garlic (minced )40 g creamed coconut (chopped)100 g tofu puffs1 tbsp soy sauce (light)1 tsp turmericsalt (as per taste)2 tbsp oil2 tbsp lime juiceFor sambal1 tomato (chopped)2 tbsp spring onions (chopped)1/2 cup roasted peanuts (crushed)1 inch ginger (grated )2 cloves garlic (minced)lime wedges1 tsp light soy sauce To prepare coconut rice, boil, rice, creamed coconut and cook until the rice softens. Keep it aside.Add nearly 25 g creamed coconut to boiling water and prepare coconut paste. Add it to tofu pieces. Add other ingredients for coconut tofu accordingly. Mix well. Fry the marinated tofu on a medium heat until they turn golden brown. Mix tomato, spring onions, peanuts, and other ingredients for sambal together. Saute them lightly on a low flame.Place the coconut rice in the middle of the platter. Surround it with sambal and coconut tofu, before serving. Mee Goreng with Vegetable Salad If we hop around the streets of Malaysia. mee goreng comes to us as one of the most popular foods. You can find every street food stall next to you serving this delicious delicacy. Here, we share a vegetarian version of it. With lots of veggies, this easy-to-prepare recipe can be a perfect dish for your pregnancy lunch. 300 g yellow noodles (boiled)50 g bean curd2 cloves garlic (minced )2 inches ginger (minced )1/2 cup bean sprouts4 tbsp cooking oil1 potato (boiled and smashed)1 tbsp soy sauce (light)1 tbsp green chilli sauce2 tbsp tomato sauce5-6 lettuce leaves (fresh, blanched)salt and black pepper (as per taste)2 tbsp lime juiceFor salad1/4 cup cabbage (chopped)1 carrot (chopped)1 tbsp green onion (finely chopped)1 tbsp lemon juice1 tomato (chopped)1/4 cup coriander leaves (chopped)salt and black pepper (as per taste)oregano herbs ((optional)) Fry the bean curd and keep them aside. Pour garlic, ginger, and potato into the pan and sauté well. Add boiled lettuce leaves to it with salt as per taste. Once they are cooked, pour noodles into pan and mix it with the vegetables. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the fried bean curd and mix the sauces. Stir all of the ingredients well. Sauté all of the vegetables for salad. Season with salt, black pepper, and lemon juice. If oregano is there, you may add some in. Drizzle lemon juice over cooked noodles. Serve the noodles with sautéed vegetables. Banana Leaf Rice and Curry Different restaurants in Malaysia prepare it with different variations. Regardless of the variants, a banana leaf meal is a popular delicacy among locals and tourists. We share a vegetarian recipe for the meal, including a main curry with rice and two other vegetable side dishes. Do give it a try as your lunch soon! 350 g boiled rice100 g tofu1 tomato (chopped)1 onion (chopped)1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste1 tsp cumin powder1 tsp coriander powder7-8 curry leaves1 star anisesalt and black pepper (as per taste)3 tbsp oil1 cup vegetable stockFor vegetable side dishes1 cup potato (boiled and cubed)1 cup cabbage (chopped and boiled)2 tsp cumin seeds2 onions (chopped)2 tsp mustard seedsoil (for frying)2 tsp turmeric powder1 green chilli (chopped)salt (a pinch)lemon wedges (for garnishing) Sauté tomato and onion with ginger garlic paste and add tofu to it. Fry until they become golden brown.Add spices and curry leaves to it and cook well. Mix a little water if the tofu seems too dry.Sprinkle salt and black pepper according to your taste.Add one cup of vegetable stock to it and wait to get desired thickness.To prepare the side dishes:Fry potato with onion, cumin seeds, salt, and turmeric powder.Fry cabbage with onion, mustard seeds, salt and a pinch of turmeric powder. Add green chilli to it.Serve the platter with rice, main curry and two other side vegetable dishes and lime wedges. Bubur Sumsum As pregnant mums, you likely have your frequent cravings for sweet dishes, right? What to do then when the cravings hit? Don't worry, there are ways around this. When the craving hits next, you may try out this recipe for bubur sumsum! Bubur sumsum is a popular dish that you can easily cook with minimal ingredients. 7-8 pieces bubur or biji salak (sweet potato dumplings, cooked beforehand)2 and 1/2 cup light coconut milk1/2 cup rice flour1/2 tsp salt1/2 cup sugar1 cup water ((for sugar syrup))3 pandan leaves (knotted) You can bake the sweet potatoes and smash them, adding sweetener to prepare the bubur. Cook it beforehand and keep it in freezer.Combine rice flour, coconut milk, and salt in a bowl. Mix well leaving no lump in it.Pour it into a pan and add pandan leaves to it.Cook for 15-20 minutes. Add bubur to it and cook for 2-3 minutes on a low flame.Boil sugar and water in a saucepan to prepare the sugar syrup. Pour it slowly into the bubur dish. *Note: You may consider reducing or omitting the sugar syrup altogether, if you prefer. Vegan Pineapple Curry Another easy-to-prepare, dairy-free recipe is here! The sweet-savoury flavour and the beautiful golden texture makes it more appealing to us. You can prepare it with simple variations, or by adding in many other ingredients - the choice is yours. No matter what you decide to add in, it is among the best pregnancy days treat. 2 cloves garlic1 onion (chopped)1 inch ginger1 inch turmeric (peeled, whole)2 red chilliessalt1 cup pine apple (chopped)1 cup light coconut milk1/2 cup cabbage (chopped)50 g tofu (cut into small pieces, fried)1/2 cup capsicum (cut into small pieces) Blend garlic, onion, ginger, turmeric, red chili, and, salt in a blender into a smooth mixture.Pour the blend into a pan and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes.Add coconut milk and all of the vegetables. Stir well and mix them.Add fried tofu to the curry and cook well for 5-10 minutes.Serve with nasi lemak or plain rice. The Takeaway Do give these yummy and healthy vegetarian recipes a try at home. Don't forget to share how you find them after as we are eager to know how you liked the recipes. If you're in the mood for some meat, do check out this list of chicken recipes here. For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

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