Easiest Steps To Make Malaysian Laksa Soup
Craving something soul-warming and flavour-packed? 🍜 Malaysian Laksa Soup could be just what you need. This spicy, aromatic noodle soup blends creamy coconut milk, bold spices, and fresh ingredients into the ultimate comfort food. Rooted in Peranakan cuisine—a fusion of Chinese and Malay influences—Laksa has won hearts across Southeast Asia and beyond.
The good news, you don’t need to fly to Malaysia or find a far-off restaurant to enjoy authentic Malaysian Laksa Soup. It’s surprisingly easy to make at home! Whether using store-bought paste with fresh aromatics or making the broth from scratch, this adaptable dish can be customised with chicken, shrimp, tofu, or veggies—all while delivering that signature, crave-worthy flavour.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making an authentic Malaysian Laksa that rivals those found in the bustling street markets of Kuala Lumpur and how we can make your cooking experience even easier with LaksaMate’s Laksa Paste!
Gathering Laksa Ingredients
Fresh Aromatics That Enhance Your Laksa Soup Flavour
While your laksa paste provides a solid flavour foundation, fresh aromatics will brighten and elevate your broth significantly. You’ll want to gather:
Fresh ginger: Adds warmth and subtle spiciness
Garlic cloves: Provides essential pungency
Lemongrass stalks: Contributes citrusy notes and fragrance
Fresh chilies: Adjusts the heat level to your preference
These fresh ingredients work together to create layers of flavour that complement the concentrated paste. When preparing these aromatics, remember to finely chop or mince them to release their essential oils into your broth.
Protein Options: Chicken, Shrimp, Tofu, and Beyond
Laksa is wonderfully versatile when it comes to protein choices:
Chicken: Bone-in chicken thighs are recommended for maximum flavor. Roasting them beforehand enhances both texture and taste.
Shrimp: For best results, sear your shrimp separately to prevent overcooking, then add them as a topping.
Tofu: Fried tofu puffs (known as tau pok) absorb the flavorful broth beautifully.
Other options: Fish cakes and cockles are traditional additions that provide authentic character.
You can mix and match these proteins according to your preference, or choose just one for a simpler preparation.
Noodle Choices: Vermicelli, Wheat, or Egg Noodles
The noodle component of laksa is equally important to its identity:
Rice vermicelli: These delicate white noodles have a light texture.
Yellow egg noodles: Offer a satisfying chewiness and contrast.
Wheat noodles: Provide a heartier alternative.
Traditionally, laksa features both rice and egg noodles together, creating an interesting textural contrast. Prepare your noodles according to package instructions, being careful not to overcook them as they’ll continue to soften slightly when combined with the hot broth.
Other essential ingredients to complete your shopping list include:
Coconut milk (for creaminess and to balance the spices)
Fish sauce (for umami depth)
Brown sugar (to round out flavours)
Soy puffs
Bean sprouts
Fresh cilantro
Fried shallots
Lime wedges (for serving)
With all your ingredients gathered and prepared, you’re now ready to move on to the next exciting step: creating the perfect laksa broth, where these individual components will harmonize into a symphony of flavors.
Selecting the Best Store-Bought Malaysian Laksa Soup Paste
The foundation of any good Malaysian Laksa Soup is its aromatic base, known as rempah. While traditional laksa requires a complex blend of spices and aromatics ground together, store-bought laksa paste offers a convenient shortcut without sacrificing authentic flavour.
LaksaMate laksa paste is highly recommended as it captures the essential elements of a good rempah—containing chilies, onions, garlic, lemongrass, galangal, dried shrimp, and various spices. When selecting your paste, look for one that lists these traditional ingredients to ensure your laksa will have that characteristic depth of flavour.
