Ketupat Sotong and other Kelantan Delights!

The Ketupat Sotong is perplexing and a bit confusing to anyone who has never tried this before. Is it a dessert or is it an appetizer? It's a mixture of both, I think. It is actually squids stuffed with glutinuous rice and cooked in a saltish gula Melaka gravy. It's a blend of sweet and savoury flavours, using the most unlikely coupling of squids and glutinuous rice. Besides the flavours, the textures are also contrasting. There's the chewy squids, the spongy rice and that caramel-like gravy. It's an acquired taste, this dish … you either love it or put your spoon down after one bite. When this dish was served, I was a bit sceptical about it and I hesitatingly took one timid bite. I chewed on the squid and savoured that amazing sauce and I was hooked. The tastes grow on you, believe me… and I continued to slurp up all the sauce — there's something really addictive about the fishy marine squid, glutinuous rice and gula Melaka… a diabolical trio, if ever there's one!

Kelantan Delights at Wisma Consplant 1 in Subang Jaya serves this at RM9.50 a shot. My favourite snack at this place is their Keropok Lekor, the black pepper version. The keropok is really addictive as it's served freshly fried… chewy inside and crispy on the outside!

Nasi Kerabu (RM19) and Nasi Dagang (RM20) are not-to-be-missed items in Kelantan Delights. For the Nasi Kerabu, you get to choose the "mains", ie chicken or beef. The long-grained tinted blue rice platter comes with a heap of ulam, fish crackers, salted egg and sambal belacan with your choice of chicken or beef.

What is a Kelantanese meal without the iconic Nasi Dagang? A mixture of white rice and brown glutinuous rice, you get a firmer and more fragrant bite. It goes very well with Gulai Ikan Tongkol but you can also opt for other curries like gulai kawah or beef rendang. Kelantanese love their rice and there are several other rice dishes in the menu at Kelantan Delights.

Go for their Nasi Tumpang (RM18)… served wrapped in a long conical shape using banana leaves, the rice inside is interspersed with layers of sambal, curry and meat floss. A generous portion of fried chicken is also included in this platter. Not to be missed is their Laksam (RM14) — thick rice noodles served in a rich creamy soup made from coconut milk and mashed fish.

Kelantan Delights also serve a range of delicious a la carte dishes like Ikan Siakap Kadok (RM49), Belud Goreng Chilli Kering (RM24), Puyoh Goreng and Tomyum Kelapa Muda.

Leave some stomach space for their desserts. Savour some of the well-known Kelantanese desserts here like Lompat Tikam (RM6), Lopes (RM7), Pulut Durian (RM9.50) or go for their Royal Plate (RM14.50) where you can get Akok, Tahi Itik, Jala Mas and Apam all on one plate! This mixed platter is perfect for sharing.

Kelantan Delights serves one of the best Buka Puasa buffets I've tasted. With Ramadhan coming up, do check out their Iftar spread. From the 1st till 7th day of Ramadhan, their Buka Puasa meal is priced at a special rate of RM38 only per person, subject to purchase of their Early Bird vouchers from their Subang Jaya restaurant. Do call them now to book the vouchers. Normal price of the Buka Puasa buffet is at RM68 per person.

Kelantan Delights
Ground Floor, Wisma Consplant 1
No.2 Jalan SS16/4
Subang Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-5611-7845

This post is written by PureGlutton whose passion for food is tantamount to gluttony. Many would ask "is that passion or is that pure gluttony?" Find out on http://pureglutton.com