Where women don’t know how to cook, it’s difficult to get married

When Lee Su Pei met a charming man named Jerry Kong in her hometown of Penang, Malaysia, her cooking skills were at `peak`.

The cuisine in this place is also very famous in the world, known as Nyonya (Peranakan cuisine).

Not only Su Pei, women in Penang always have to be good cooks, otherwise it will be very difficult to become a good daughter-in-law or head of family.

Under the close supervision of her grandmother-in-law and mother-in-law, Su Pei underwent rigorous training.

`My grandmother and mother-in-law’s techniques were very secretive. I thought I was like working for the CIA, because I had to be secretive and keep everything secret,` she recalls with a smile on her face.

Not only Su Pei but all Nyonya women have had to go through these difficult training sessions from their mothers-in-law, to preserve their famous culinary traditions.

The use of a blender is strictly prohibited in cooking, as it is said to `compromise taste`.

In the 16th century, immigrants from China married Malaysians, and created the Peranakan mixed race.

Every recipe and technique must always be perfect.

In addition to the use of spices, cooking techniques requiring high precision are also one of the factors that make Nyonya cuisine famous among the Peranakan community.

For example, for a simple dish like Ulam nasi (rice mixed with herbs), you have to mix the exact ratio of 18 herbs and spices by eye, beat with a pestle and mix by hand.

Peranakan men are called Baba (uncle), women are called Nyonya (aunt).

Today, however, the temptation of modern cooking equipment and young Nyonya women’s unwillingness to learn old cooking techniques are fears of eroding Nyonya cuisine.

`The most important thing is not to get discouraged in the kitchen. If I have children, I hope they will continue this tradition. I want them to understand cultural values, respect their elders and cherish each

See more Peranakan – Singapore’s special culture

Mr. Minh