My family somehow has this weird fascination for Popiahs. The urge to make and eat your own popiahs is like the monsoon to come, large and predictable. There would usually be the natural “hints” along the way from either Dad, or Mum, and even me that the pang for a wrapped goodie was imminent. And when the time comes, we usually go all the way out and prepare too much. Still, nothing beats wrapping your own recipe in a wonderful floured skin and biting away like the tortilla wraps from Mexico.
Return of the Popiah – The First Wrap
Somehow the tradition of wrapping things up just stuck with me. Given anything that’s wrappable (I don’t even think there’s such a word), I would wrap it. I have tried…
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Curried Biryani and Mutton wrapped in Papadums
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White rice wrapped in Sunny Side Ups.
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Anything that’s on for dinner wrapped in leaves of Wong Bok.
Naturally, the popiah would be the pinnacle of all wraps with the fusion of different flavours and textures all together.
Stuffing galore! I didn’t even think the popiah skin could hold them all in.
For a good popiah, it does not need to be the standard version of turnip, carrots and egg. I believe that its best to be creative and assert what you feel would go best with each other all together.
Me? I used the following stuffings…
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Omellete
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Spring Onions
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Fish Cake
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Prawns
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Fried Sambal Belachan
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Fried Shallots
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Ground Peanuts
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Lap Chiong (Preserved Chinese Sausage)
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Beansprouts
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Kecap Manis ( Dark Sweet Sauce )
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Lettuce
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The traditional Turnip
- Smear the center of the popiah skins with kecap manis and sambal belachan
- Place two pieces of lettuce onto the sauce. Ensure that the lettuce is dry.
3.
- Add the turnip (drained of juices) onto the lettuce.
- Garnish with the remaining ingredients.
- Top the stuffing off with the peanuts (but if you have fried pork lard that would be fantastic!)
Wrapping the popiah
- Fold 1 side of the skin towards the ingredients. Take another fold inwards.
- At each end of the sides of the ingredients, fold the skin in.
- Continuously roll the popiah towards the remaining skin.
- You are done!
Or if you are lazy enough, just wrap it out and eat it like a tortilla wrap. Still delicious!
