Following the live announcement made on May 10th by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the conditional movement control order (CMCO) will be extended to June 9. That is to say, it’s still best to avoid mass movements or gatherings if possible. Even our health DG, Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, advises to avoid having visitors during Hari Raya celebrations. Therefore, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is obviously expected to be less exciting this time around as compared to previous years. However, looking on the bright side, some of us can find solace in the fact that we are still able to celebrate this occasion with our immediate family members.
Even with the Movement Control Order (MCO) in place leaving us with limited food options, one of the most common complaints from the MCO is that people have been overeating, oversnacking, and generally just eating at all hours of the day (what even is the distinction between snacks and meals anymore?). Despite the fact that most eateries are now only open until 8:00p.m. at the latest (that is, if they’re operating at all), people have found plenty of ways to keep their mouths busy. What with the MCO being extended until May 12th, Echo Eats is here to add fuel to the fire with our own five recommendations on recipes to try during this MCO to keep your tummy happy (and also to convince yourself that you were actually somewhat productive during this period).
The introduction of Family Mart to Malaysia on the 11th of November 2016 shook up the very foundations of our country. Never before had such a convenience store existed in Malaysia (*cough* broken slurpee machines *cough*). Warm bowls of oden, towering cones of matcha soft serve, prepackaged fresh cakes and pastries, unique brands of fruit tea, and calm seating spaces to boot! Say what you like about Japan, they sure know their stuff when it comes to convenience stores.
Image credits go to the official websites of Domino’s and Pizza Hut
Pizza – this classic food item that we all know and love goes all the way back to 18th century Naples, Italy. Having travelled far from home, the recipe reached the United States through Italian immigrants who celebrated their culture and traditions in both little and big ways. Today, pizza is enjoyed by people from all around the world and has become a staple for parties and social gatherings.
What also makes it a favourite among communities is its simple recipe and the ability to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters with its various options for toppings. While the ultimate debate on what should and should not make its way on to a pizza is a never-ending quarrel, the existing recipes have not failed in pleasing a wide range of individual taste. Big names such as Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut capitalized on the popularity of pizza and turned themselves into multi-billion-dollar franchises, with both chains now having thousands of locations globally.
These two chains are quite possibly the first ones we look for when we think of ordering pizza, so in this month’s article, Domino’s and Pizza Hut go head-to-head in a comparison review of a selection of shared pizza flavours (some similar, some identical).
Note: All pizzas compared here are of regular size and the crusts were also regular. Pictures may vary slightly from the actual pizzas.
Pictured above is Pizza Hut’s version of Aloha Chicken, containing chicken rolls, chicken salami, pineapple slices, and mozzarella cheese.
Verdict: This pick costs a dine-in price of RM 32.30, which is reasonable enough for a pizza of this size. The combination of chicken rolls and salami works really well with the pineapple slices and tangy mozzarella cheese. The texture of the crust was simply on-point and the flavours came together in a delicious blend.
Price: 4/5
Taste: 4/5
Overall: 8/10
Next is Domino’s interpretation, with pineapple slices, chicken shreds, and mozzarella cheese.
Verdict: Dominos’ Aloha Chicken Pizza was RM 25.90 (dine-in), giving it an edge over its competitor in terms of price. However, due to it containing only roasted chicken, it doesn’t have the flavour packed punch that the Pizza Hut counterpart does. Still, everything else about it is simply yum!
Price: 4.2/5
Taste: 3.8/5
Overall: 8/10
Both pizzas were equally matched at the end, but I would declare Pizza Hut as the winner of this round as their version, despite its higher price, offered more satisfaction in terms of taste.
Pictured above from the dine-in menu is the Pizza Hut version. Hailing from the aptly-named Supreme Series, it contains beef pepperoni, ground beef, chicken rolls and shredded chicken on tomato pizza sauce in addition to mozzarella cheese.
Verdict: This one comes with a dine-in price of RM 34.90. The tasty combination of chicken and beef mixes well with the sauce and becomes a juicy and flavourful bite.
Price: 3.8/5
Taste: 4.4/5
Overall: 8.2/10
Next is Domino’s version of the same name, containing beef pepperoni and sausages, ground beef, chicken potpourri sausages, and ripe olives. It was under the Classics series.
Verdict: It comes with a price of RM 29.90 (from the official website) and unlike its Pizza Hut counterpart, contained olives for that smooth boost of antioxidants – served as a splendid addition to the meat bits.
Price: 4/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Overall: 8.5/10
So the Domino’s version takes this round, with the edge over its competitor in both price, taste and even health benefits.
Round 2 results: Pizza Hut 1, Domino’s 1
Round 3: Super Supreme (Pizza Hut) vs Extravaganza (Domino’s Pizza)
Pictured above is the Super Supreme, also from Pizza Hut’s Supreme Series.
Verdict: Unlike other Supreme Series pizzas, this comes in a slightly cheaper price, at RM 34.20. It contains ground beef, beef pepperoni, beef cabanossi, chicken roll strips, capsicum, onions, mushrooms, pineapples, olives, mozzarella cheese and tomato pizza sauce. With all that goodness thrown in, it really did live up to its name. The explosion of flavours is a real kick for the taste buds!
Price: 3.8/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Overall: 8.3/10
Next is the Extravaganza, also boasting a large collection of flavours.
Verdict: On the official website, this can be purchased for RM 29.90 and it contains beef pepperoni and sausages, ground beef, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and olives. The result was another delightful sensation, to the pallets this time mainly from the beef bits as it was rich and juicy.
Price: 4/5
Taste: 4.2/5
Overall: 8.2/10
Pizza Hut’s Super Supreme takes it for the third and final round.
Round 3 results: Pizza Hut 2, Domino’s 1
Overall Verdict:
If you’re looking for the better taste and don’t mind the higher prices, then Pizza Hut would be the place to go to. On the other hand, if prices are of your concern then it would be Domino’s. Despite the former winning this comparison test, I’d recommend trying out both outlets as that would be a reason for you to try out each of their pizzas, which all stand out in their own right and light.
On a tight budget but want to live life vicariously the Malaysian way? Fret not, because in conjunction with the month of Ramadan, we’ve devised a game plan for you to enjoy a food galore with friends and family, all within a budget of RM40!
Welcome to our monthly Echo Eats, a series where we explore the endless possibilities of food around campus! Don’t we all love a plate of good banana leaf rice? Being proud Asians, we always venerate rice over bread or pasta – so this month, we’re finding the best of this heavy dosage meal around Sunway City!
Sunway has solidified its position as the undisputed bubble tea capital of Malaysia, with a plethora of options to choose from within close proximity of the campus to which the probing question – “Where do I get my boba cravings fixed?” will often come to mind.
Fret not, in this month’s edition of Echo Eats, we shall delve deeper into the world of boba by trying out five different takes on the humble pearl milk tea at different price points (so you don’t have to), which will hopefully help ease your pre-boba jitters and make your experience a hassle-free one.
Echo Eats started with the intention of helping you, our dear reader, answer the impossible question of “…So where do we eat?”, in a way that saves your time, money and energy. But what if eating out simply doesn’t cut it anymore?
As students, we seek optimisation. We want good grades and extracurriculars, we want to be in tip-top shape, we want vibrant social lives and hobbies – but never at the expense of our wallets, and god forbid it creeps into our Netflix time.
The centrepiece of all that may just be something as simple as making your own food. First of all, you know and decide all the ingredients going into it – so no more mysterious black flakes of… something coating your mee goreng. You also save money by skipping the preparation costs and taxes, as well as the option of cheap ingredients. Also, there are healthy recipes that take less time to put together than a Samyang. Above all, healthy food gives you an invaluable boost of energy to do all the hustling you need to do.
Optimisation aside, health is precious and ephemeral, and you deserve all the best things in your body anyway. Lastly, for those out there who struggle with mental illness, for whom daily tasks can seem insurmountable – I feel you, and I hope that these recipes might help you as much as they helped me.
Disclaimer: Portion sizes vary based on your individual needs – double or triple up as needed.
Every time I mention that oatmeal is my favorite food, I end up having to endure jibes along the lines of “you a grandma?” with a self-deprecating chuckle. Well, not today – today I’m defending my thesis: “Oatmeal isn’t Lame – You Just Lack Imagination.”
I wouldn’t make such a bold claim without evidence. We’re going to evaluate it through 4 objective measures: Cost, Time, Health and Versatility. But before that, here’s a general template of an oatmeal recipe. Note that this is like, the baby Johnson’s of shampoos, the Myvi of cars, the margherita of pizzas – okay, point is, oatmeal has far evolved beyond this; but more on that later.
Ingredients:
¼ cup oats
½ cup plant or dairy milk
Tiniest pinch of salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp yogurt*
Any fruit
*omit if vegan, but highly recommended for the protein, which keeps you satiated longer. Use greek yogurt for more protein.
Alternatively, assemble all the ingredients into a jar, refrigerate overnight and enjoy what is known as overnight oats (which would be a pegasus if regular, cooked oatmeal was a horse).
To calculate the cost of a single serving size, I divided the price of a whole ingredient by the weight or amount needed in a single portion. You can click on the links provided to check the price of the overall product, and you can find out how I calculated recipe costs here.
*If you’re in a real pinch, use soy milk for 30 cents.
Time: 5/5
It takes three steps; one if you’re soaking them overnight. Your cat could do it in less than 5 minutes. Next!
Health: 5/5
Oatmeal is incredibly nutrient dense. They’re rich in important micronutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, such as manganese, avenanthramides, B5, etc. One of the best things about oatmeal is that they contain a fibre known as beta-glucan, which lowers cholesterol, reduces blood sugar, and keeps you feeling full. This, coupled with the nutritional benefits of fruit and yogurt, makes for a very wholesome meal.
This is the part I’ve been waiting for. Oatmeal is like the future, brimming with endless possibilities. Add a tablespoon of cocoa powder into your overnight oats – the final product will be as gooey and rich as chocolate cake. Boost its flavour and nutritional profile by adding healthy fats in the form of peanut butter, roasted nuts, or chia seeds. Cook it in tea or coffee for your caffeine fix.
Want to pretend you know what autumn feels like? Make carrot cake or pumpkin pie oats. Craving more local flavours? Make banana or mango lassi overnight oats with virtually the same ingredients as the basic oatmeal. Sick of the sweet? Try savory oatmeal. Experiment, improvise, try gourmet flavours – the world is your oatmeal, man.
#2 Abridged Hummus
Remember to serve in a rustic brown bowl for extra hipster points.source
I know hummus on its own is not exactly a meal, but it’s definitely useful to have in your fridge at any given moment, especially when you’re hungry but too exhausted to move an inch. Plus, with this recipe in your arsenal, you’ll be everyone’s favorite person to have at a potluck.
Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas
2-3 cloves of garlic
1-2 tbsp(s) lime juice*
1 tbsp peanut butter**
1 tbsp olive oil
Generous sprinkling of spices (e.g. cumin, turmeric, paprika, chilli powder etc OR garam masala)***
Water as needed
Salt and pepper
* Traditionally lemon juice, but lime is cheaper and works well.
** Traditionally tahini (sesame paste), but peanut butter is cheaper, more accessible, and endorsed by Nigella Lawson. Bite me, purists. (Alternatively, omit altogether – still tastes good).
*** While I recommend the use of these listed spices, I realize not everyone wants to have a spice rack – feel free to experiment with any spices you have on hand, or just buy garam masala, which is a mix of many Indian spices.
Okay, this is slightly over RM5, but this makes 1.5 cups of hummus, which means several servings over several days. Also, I chose a cheaper olive oil for this cost breakdown, but if you love your mother please invest in a higher-end olive oil.
Time: 4/5
Slight prep work in the draining of chickpeas, deskinning of garlic and squeezing of limes, but other than that you pretty much just chuck all the ingredients in the food processor.
Health: 5/5
Chickpeas, cute and tiny as they are, are actually chock full of fiber and protein which will satisfy you, aid your digestion, and regulate your blood sugar levels. They’re also packed with micronutrients such as manganese and potassium, which promotes heart health.
If you’re Asian, your relatives have probably already preached to you about garlic’s medicinal properties. Furthermore, lime juice will keep you scurvy-free, olive oil has omega-3s which lowers bad cholesterol, peanut butter and tahini are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and even spices have health benefits!
Versatility: 5/5
Hummus and oatmeal have something in common: first impressions will mislead you into thinking they’re boring, beige slop, when they’re actually canvases for creativity. Look, they don’t even have to be beige: check out roasted red pepper or beetroot hummus for a vibrant red dip with a sweet, smoky flavour. Or heck, show up to a party with this fantastic spread:
Hummus doesn’t even have to stop at chickpeas: use lentils (dhal) or beans to shake things up. If you ever get bored of one version, just google ‘hummus variations’ and let the smart people of the Internet tell you what’s next on the menu.
Also known as the floppy triangular sandwich, quesadillas are more of a concept than a recipe. There’s no set recipe to follow; it just has to fulfill one requirement, i.e. you fold a filled tortilla in half over a stovetop – that’s it. A very useful tip from Serious Eats on how to choose fillings: keep them “bright, fresh, hot, or crunchy” to contrast with the soft cheese. My staple is their Spinach and Black Bean – with several adaptations, of course.
Ingredients
1 flour tortilla
1/2 cup (15g) spinach*
25g cheddar
1 tbsp olive oil
85g black beans
Salt
* look for ‘bayam’ – don’t buy the bagged stuff from Australia if you’re on a budget.
Fun fact: This cost breakdown is why I almost had a nervous breakdown when I saw quesadillas being sold for RM30 at Chilli’s.
Time: 4/5
Once again, slight prep work with the spinach and beans, but it can be done in under 5 minutes.
Health: 4/5
Assuming you’re in college, I don’t think I need to tell you how healthy spinach is. Just check out Popeye. Plus, the vitamins and minerals in black beans can help build healthy bones, manage blood pressure and blood sugar and even ward off cancer.
As for the cheese . . . well, calcium! And it’s good for mental health.
Versatility: 5/5
Like I said before, quesadillas are a concept. This page alone lists 60+ different fillings you can try. Lots of people add chicken or beef; you can even spread on some of that sweet, sweet hummus you made. You can have it with salsa or guacamole. You can play with dessert fillings, such as peanut butter and banana. Basically – move over, boulevard Hot & Roll.
Or . . . eggs any way, really – they’re like a meal in a capsule. Kopitiam culture has obviously figured this out a long time ago with soft-boiled eggs and toast, but I like this spin on eggs better because a) you get to quickly chuck in some vegetables for a more balanced meal and b) you can’t mess up scrambling because messing it up is the technique.
Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 tsp olive oil
1 cup spinach
Sprinkle of parmesan
Red pepper flakes, turmeric, thyme or any spices you fancy
* If you can afford it, consider buying cage-free.
** Or simply use the cheddar from the previous recipe.
Time: 5/5
If you have time to eat, you have time to make this.
Health: 5/5
All of us already know about the high protein content in eggs, but they also contain important nutrients such as choline, and antioxidants such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Also, grab the omega-3 fortified ones for your heart and brain health. The addition of spinach makes this recipe a nutritional roundhouse kick.
Versatility: 4/5
Eggs by themselves are cosmic in their innumerable possibilities, but scrambled eggs are pretty straightforward. Still, you can definitely tweak small things here and there to make large leaps in flavour.
Imagine: the sizzling aroma of garlic butter instead of olive oil, the bittersweet char of browned garlic and onion, the umami smokiness of sauteed mushrooms served on the side, a refreshing sprinkle of chives or dill… I really need to stop writing these articles at 12am.
Didn’t think I’d leave you without desert, did you?
These playful looking orbs go by a few other names (e.g., bliss balls, energy bites, protein balls) but I like calling them energy balls because they conjure up a cool little mental image:
Anyway, I was mindblown by these because they tasted uncannily similar to brownies, without the effort or the 999 sticks of butter. These are really fun to eat, to roll, and to throw at people. Convenient for when you’re on-the-go too, you busy adult you.
Although it fares under RM5, dates and almonds can be considered somewhat pricey, so this doesn’t get a full score.
Time: 3/5
While the processing of the ingredients is pretty straightforward, rolling them into balls and freezing them does take a bit of time – although, you won’t even mind doing the former because it’s squishy and fun, like playdough.
Health: 5/5
For something that tastes like treacle or candy, dates are great for health: they’re full of antioxidants such as flavonoids that can prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer and even Alzheimer’s. Speaking of flavonoids, cocoa powder is also jam-packed with them. Almonds are also high in antioxidants, and are among the best sources of vitamin E.
Versatility: 5/5
From light and fruity lemon to M&M-coated indulgences, there are many different toppings and ingredients you can swap in. Exhibit A:
In this iteration of Echo Eats, we went on a manhunt to find out where we can find the best rendition in town of this dish that has become synonymous with the Malaysian food scene – a plate of steamy chicken rice.
This month on Echo Eats, we decided to do something a little different and a little pricier – we tried out three different takes on the shaved ice dessert! Korean and Japanese versions of shaved ice are growing ever the more popular among students due to the trendy vibe of the restaurants and the staggering size of the deserts, so we thought we’d go see what all the fuss is about and how it compares to our own Malaysian ABC.
