Brunei's Culinary Delights: A Food Lover's Guide

Bruneian cuisine is heavily influenced by the country's indigenous culture, neighbouring countries, and its tropical climate. The country's lengthy fishing history and fertile soil also play a part in shaping the types of food Bruneians eat. Brunei's dishes are often spicy and commonly eaten with rice or noodles. As the predominant religion in the country is Islam, the food is halal, and pork and alcohol are avoided.

Brunei's national dish, ambuyat, is a flavourless, sticky ball of sago starch

Ambuyat is consumed with a two-pronged bamboo utensil called a chandas or candas. The starch is rolled around the prongs and then dipped into a sauce. There are many varieties of sauces, including a spicy and sour gravy, and a dip called cacah, which is usually sour and spicy.

Ambuyat is often served with many side dishes, including a main dish, and it is common to see a number of eating utensils placed near the food. This reflects the Bruneian culture of sharing and the art of communicating through food. It is also indicative of the custom of eating in groups.

Preparing ambuyat involves combining tapioca, sago or potato starch with cool water. Hot water is then slowly poured into the mixture, and it is whisked until it becomes firm and sticky. A popular sauce to accompany ambuyat is tempoyak, made from fermented durian. The flavour of tempoyak can be altered by allowing the fruit to ferment for different lengths of time and by adding salt.

Although ambuyat is Brunei's national dish, few people outside the country will have tried it. It is said to have the appearance and texture of glue! However, it is an important part of Brunei's culinary culture and is worth trying when visiting the country.

Nasi katok, or 'knock rice', is a cheap dish of rice, fried chicken and sambal

Nasi Katok, or knock rice, is a cheap and popular dish in Brunei. It consists of rice, fried chicken, and sambal, a spicy relish or dip made from ground chilli peppers and other ingredients such as shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallots, and lime juice. The dish is often served wrapped in greaseproof or waxed brown paper, or in a box.

The name 'Nasi Katok' comes from the practice of knocking on the vendor's door or window to place an order. This dates back to the 1980s when a Chinese family in the Low San Flat, Mabohai area of Brunei, started selling Nasi Pusu, a dish with anchovy-sambal rice. Customers would knock on their door to buy food, and over time, the name 'Nasi Katok' became associated with this simple, affordable meal.

Nasi Katok is considered one of Brunei's quintessential culinary offerings and is available everywhere from roadside stalls to high-end restaurants. The basic dish remains consistent, but vendors offer a range of variations in the preparation and ingredients, such as coating the chicken in flour for extra crispiness or marinating it with turmeric for colour and flavour.

The affordability of Nasi Katok is notable, with the dish costing as little as BND$1.00 to BND$1.50. This price point has made it a beloved staple in Brunei, and the dish is now considered Brunei's version of fast food, with vendors selling it around the clock.

Beef is expensive in Brunei, but beef rendang is a popular dish

Beef is expensive in Brunei, but that hasn't stopped beef rendang from becoming a popular dish. This is a spicy, slow-cooked dish of beef braised in an aromatic broth of coconut milk and spices. It is a typical dish in Brunei, as well as in Malaysia and Indonesia, where it originated.

Beef rendang is a time-consuming dish to prepare. It involves pounding and grinding ingredients, as well as slow cooking. The beef is cooked in coconut milk and spices until the liquid evaporates, and the meat becomes tender and caramelises. The cooking process changes from boiling to frying as the liquid evaporates and the coconut milk turns to coconut oil.

Beef rendang is often served with steamed rice, ketupat (a compressed rice cake), or lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes). It is also accompanied by vegetable side dishes such as boiled cassava leaf, young jackfruit gulai, cabbage gulai, and sambal (a chilli pepper relish).

The dish is also served on ceremonial occasions to honour guests and during festive seasons. It is considered a requisite dish for special occasions in traditional Minang ceremonies, from birth ceremonies to circumcision, marriage, Qur'an recitals, and religious festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Beef rendang is a flavourful and aromatic dish, with a unique taste thanks to its generous use of numerous spices. It is a dish that is well worth the time and effort to prepare and is a favourite in Brunei.

Fish and rice are staple foods

Fish is often served grilled and covered in Brunei's famous orange sauce. Another popular dish is ikan goreng, or fried fish, which is served alongside the national dish, ambuyat. Nasi lemak, a popular dish in Brunei, also features fish cooked in coconut milk and paired with fried chicken, sambal, and peanuts.

Rice is a staple in Brunei, as in other East Asian countries. Wajid, a delicacy in Brunei, is made with glutinous sticky rice and daun nyirik (phyrinium leaves). The rice is cooked with coconut milk and sugar, which are cooked to a dark caramel consistency, giving it a dark brown colour. Nasi katok, considered Brunei's unofficial fast food, is another rice-based dish. It consists of plain rice, fried chicken, and sambal, a spicy relish made from ground chilli peppers, shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallots, scallions, palm sugar, lime juice, vinegar, and anchovies.

In rural areas, game animals such as wild birds and deer are hunted for food

Brunei's cuisine is heavily influenced by its neighbouring countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Japan. The country's food is also largely dictated by the predominance of the Islamic religion, meaning that the food is halal and pork is avoided. Alcohol is also banned in Brunei.

In rural areas of Brunei, game animals such as wild birds and deer are hunted for food. Wild birds that are hunted include the rhinoceros hornbill, crested fireback, grey-headed fishing eagle, and the white-breasted waterhen. Sambar deer and barking deer are also hunted.

The wildlife in Brunei is incredibly diverse, with 121 species of mammals, 622 species of birds, 182 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 500 species of marine fish and invertebrates. The Ulu Temburong National Park is one of the best places to see Brunei's wildlife, where you may see hornbills, proboscis monkeys, and horned frogs.

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