Penang: Apam Balik

Everyone, please meet Malaysian traditional pancake, Apam Balik- literally means turnover pancake.

(source)

I was thrilled when I saw this during our last visit to Penang. This was my childhood favorite! I could easily had it every week in the pasar malam (night market) near my house. But it is getting so hard to find it these days, especially in KL. The Malaysian Department of National Heritage has listed this as one of the heritage food.

Why is it so nice? It is akin to crumpets, crispy at the edge of the pancake though. My kids first learnt to eat this could only enjoy the circumference of the pancake, because of its crispiness. I reckon it is all kids' favourite part. It was my favourite part! After finished the crispiness, I would look forward to the inner part of the pancake as there are ground peanuts with sugar and some sweet corns as filling inside. The best way to consume this is eat it while it is hot, enjoying both soft and crispiness of the pancake. As a kid, I loved to see the making, usually the seller can make 8 or 10 pancakes in a minute or two single-handedly, and another 30 second of waiting by covering the mini wok, just to make sure the inner part of the pancake is thoroughly cooked. Then, fold the pancake into half at the end of the process. The speed of the making is a remarkable form of art- like the art of teh-tarik(the art of pulled tea). 

This particular seller still use charcoal to make the pancake. And she is fast too! 

It was a surprise found along Jalan Air Hitam when we headed to Penang Hill. It is just outside Keat Seng Kopitiam (local coffee shop), at the junction of Jalan Air Putih. I snapped a few shots while waited for my order excitingly. Once I got the Apam Balik, I ate it happily. So much so I forgotten to snap the end product.  

(source: google map)

If you are driving, once you turn into Jalan Air Putih from Jalan Air Hitam, please do start looking for parking lots.

An ordinary scene of an ordinary day in a ordinary kopitiam of the neighbourhood of Air Hitam- Milo, local kopi (coffee) and teh (tea in Malay); Not everyday scene of her siting next to me sipping and indulging a good morning.