17/05/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | MAY 17, 2025

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Nyonya popiah A T first glance, Nyonya popiah may resemble the typical spring rolls sold at street stalls or night o Complex flavours of Peranakan heritage

Nyonya popiah is often served at birthday celebrations or weddings.

markets. But with its crispier skin, richer filling, and signature sambal and sweet sauce, this Peranakan delicacy tells a deeper story rooted in cultural heritage. However, Jennifer Lee Choo Neo, a Cultural and Social Committee member of Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor said the delicate wrapper and rich filling reflect generations of heritage from

the Chinese Peranakan, or Baba, community. “Nyonya popiah is more complex to prepare, with a wrapper made from wheat flour, tapioca flour, eggs, warm water and salt. The batter is rested for 30 to 60 minutes for a softer, more flavourful texture – unlike regular spring roll wrappers, which use only flour and

water. To create the wrapper, the batter is gently spread in a thin layer over a flat pan,” she said during a Peranakan Chinese cooking demonstration for media practitioners held in conjunction with the recent Nyonya Heritage @ The Saujana Hotel programme. Lee, 58, said the filling is made from fresh ingredients such as jicama ( sengkuang ), cucumber, bean sprouts, omelette, fried tofu and prawns, combined with sauteed fermented soybean paste ( taucu ) and garlic, resulting in a complex blend of sweet, spicy and aromatic flavours. As for the sambal , she explained

that it uses either fresh or dried chillies, garlic, toasted wheat flour and palm sugar ( gula Melaka ), while the sweet sauce is made from a mixture of palm sugar, flour and a bit of soy sauce.

heritage cuisine and modern hospitality. The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager Jasmine Ong Li said other featured dishes include buah keluak , lobak masak lemak (braised radish in coconut gravy), nasi kemuli , pai tee , stuffed cencaru (fish), ee pioh soup, pajeri eggplant, Nyonya sambal belacan , fried tamarind prawns and various traditional kuih . She said each dish was carefully curated to ensure authenticity in terms of cooking techniques, secret ingredients and traditional preparation methods inherited by the Baba community. – Bernama

Lee prepares Nyonya popiah during a cooking demonstration. – PICS FROM BERNAMA “Although slightly tedious to prepare, this delicacy is often a special choice for various events, including birthday celebrations or weddings,” said Lee, who is a third-generation Baba descendant. Nyonya popiah is one of 15 traditional Peranakan Chinese dishes featured in the Baba Nyonya Heritage initiative at The Saujana Hotel Kuala Lumpur throughout this month, symbolising a fusion of Lotus’s Malaysia marks anniversary with exclusive deals, good cause

LOTUS’S Malaysia is celebrating its third anniversary with a month-long Kongsi Ceria campaign until June 4, 2025, promising unbeatable deals, exciting member-only rewards and a powerful initiative to support children with developmental and learning complexities. Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 50% on over 840 items across Lotus’s stores nationwide and online platforms, including Lotus’s Shop Online, Shopee, Lazada, Foodpanda and Grab. “Our third anniversary means a lot to us, and we want to celebrate it with our customers who have been with us every step of the way. We want to take this time to show our appreciation and gratitude with the many crazy deals, exciting contests and rewards offline and online,” commented Lotus’s Malaysia corporate services executive director Azliza Azmel. Rewards for My Lotus’s members For existing and newly registered My Lotus’s members, the campaign brings even more perks: 0 Kongsi Ceria Beli & Menang Contest Spend RM80 in a single receipt and stand a chance to win from RM120,000 worth of prizes, including Yamaha motorbikes, Samsung smartphones, smart home sets and Lotus’s e-vouchers. 0 RM6 voucher giveaway Spend RM80 and receive a RM6 voucher (redeemable on a minimum RM90 purchase from May 22 to June 4). 0 Triple Points Bonanza Earn 3x My Lotus’s points from May 26 to 29, 2025.

Enjoy up to 50% discount on over 840 items during Lotus’s month-long campaign.

The Kongsi Ceria Beli & Derma initiative supports children with developmental challenges through customer purchases.

Giving back with Dana Kongsi Ceria In the spirit of #KitakanJiran, Lotus’s is also launching Dana Kongsi Ceria as part of its anniversary campaign. Through this initiative, Lotus’s pledges to donate 0.5% of Own Brand sales to support 700 children with developmental delays and complex disabilities. Lotus’s Own Brand ranges, including Value, Aliv, Cute & Care, NaxNax and OralPro, will power this pledge. The funds raised will go to rehabilitation centres and special education schools, such as Tender Touch Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre and GAPS Malaysia, helping children access critical therapy and care services. Earlier this week, Lotus’s kicked off the campaign with an intimate launch event at its head office, hosting 15 children from Tender Touch and GAPS Malaysia, along with their parents and caregivers, for a heartfelt celebration alongside media friends.

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surprises Besides discounts, customers can enjoy: 0 Buy 1 Free 1 offers 0 Exclusive weekday “Crazy Deals” (Monday to Thursday) 0 Big savings on categories like Lotus’s Own Brand items, health & beauty, cookware, chilled & frozen foods, baby products, kitchenware, beverages and more. Festive fun in-store, in-mall 23 Lotus’s hypermarkets will host interactive events and contests at their Ceria-Yah event spaces, with support from 20 popular brands, including Milo, Maggi, Nescafe, KitKat, Skintific, Kleenex and P&G. At the same time, seven Lotus’s Malls will feature roadshows and fun activities by brands such as Mamee, Lactogrow, Milo, Kyo and Omega, giving shoppers more ways to engage and enjoy.

Lotus’s executive committee members, Azliza (third from right), Tender Touch Pediatric Rehabilitation Centre occupational therapist Yasmin Yusri (second from right) and GAPS Malaysia founder Rafidah@Rafizah Ahmad (first from right) at the launch of Kongsi Ceria at Lotus’s head office.