Think You Know Your Ketupat? Here Are 6 Kinds You'll Find All Over Malaysia
Some of these variations are only found in certain states.
By Khadijah Amir — 20 Apr 2023, 10:54 AM
Ketupat, the beloved dish present on every table during Hari Raya. A small packet of rice that goes with almost everything you can think of, from rendang to peanut sauce.
Did you know that there is more than just one variety of ketupat? Here are six types that you can find around the country:
1. Ketupat Palas
One of the more common types of ketupat you would find in households during Hari Raya is the ketupat palas, also known as ketupat pulut. This type is identifiable by its triangular shape.
Ketupat palas uses glutinous sticky rice instead of regular rice and comes in a variety of flavours, namely pulut hitam (black glutinous rice), peanuts, corn, and serunding (beef or chicken floss).
The glutinous rice is wrapped in daun palas, or fan palm leaves, hence the name.
Ketupat palas also has genders: the Jantan or male has more filling, whereas the Betina or female has less and the wrapping isn't as neat as the Jantan.
2. Ketupat Sotong Kelantan
Only found in the state of Kelantan, this ketupat variation differs from the others as it is not wrapped in any kind of leaves. Instead, it's stuffed in squid.
Similar to ketupat palas, ketupat sotong uses glutinous rice. The rice is stuffed in hollowed squid and is cooked in gravy made with coconut milk.
The Kelantanese style of the dish uses palm sugar to give that caramel-like colour, making this unique dish a perfect balance between sweet and savoury, yet equally delicious.
3. Burasak
Also known as ketupat Borneo, Burasak is a rare kind of ketupat commonly found in Sabah, Sarawak, and in some parts of Johor.
Burasak is well-known among the Bugis tribe in Borneo, and is made by steaming banana leaf packages filled with fragrant rice and coconut milk between two to 10 hours.
The dish is usually eaten with likku (galangal chicken), asam pedas (sour and spicy stew), or fish flakes.
4. Ketupat Nasi
The most common and iconic type of ketupat you'll find everywhere is ketupat nasi, or rice ketupat.
Ketupat nasi is also known as nasi impit, literally meaning 'packed rice', and is eaten with a variety of condiments like rendang, peanut sauce, serunding, and in soups like soto. It is also a popular addition to satay.
White rice is filled in palm leaves woven into a diamond-shaped cocoon, which are steamed until the rice forms a solid, compact block.
The ketupat is then cut up into cubes and served.
5. Ketupat Sotong Terengganu
This ketupat differs from the Kelantanese variation as it uses regular sugar instead of palm sugar, hence the creamy white gravy instead of a caramel-coloured one.
It is also filled with glutinous rice and eaten by slices.
This dish is particularly popular in Terengganu.
6. Ketupat Bawang
Though similar to the famous ketupat nasi, ketupat bawang is different as the palm leaves are woven into a pocket shaped like an onion.
Ketupat bawang also uses regular white rice, but instead of being steamed, the ketupat is boiled until the rice becomes fluffy.
It is also served by being cut into cubes and eaten with other popular Hari Raya dishes.
