If it’s the latter, Mother’s Sweet Porridge in Bandar Sunway, Selangor is definitely a spot you should visit.
Here, you will find a variety of delicious soupy desserts including green bean, black glutinous rice, wheat, urad dhal, and bubur cha-cha.
Every Friday, one can also look forward to payasam, the Indian sweet treat.
During FMT Lifestyle’s visit on a Wednesday afternoon, there was a steady stream of customers flocking to the stall. While most packed their porridge to go, some were seen enjoying it at a table beside the stall.
Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, proprietor Suguna Velumurugan shared that the business was started by her mother, Subthra Devi Saminathan, about 24 years ago.
“When my mother was thinking about a suitable food business, she wanted something uncommon and decided to go with porridges,” Suguna, 46, said.
Her mother initially sold green bean porridge and black glutinous rice before eventually adding more varieties. These were made using treasured recipes inherited from Suguna’s grandmother, Samyamma Periyamuthu, although Subthra would later add her own twist to them.
Suguna began helping her mother at the stall five years after it opened. Today, she runs it on her own: “My mother is 72, and I would like her to rest, especially as she cooks all the porridges,” Suguna explained.
Her younger brother Ganasegaran helps their mother with the cooking. Last year, he started his own stall in Bangsar called Porridge Paradise.
For this family, using good-quality ingredients is a priority; Suguna believes it’s what makes their porridges so delicious.
Suguna shared that she has fond memories of enjoying her mother’s porridge when she was younger. And happily, this sentiment is shared by her customers: “They say it reminds them of their grandmothers or mothers, and makes them miss their cooking.”
Sweet treats galore
The green bean and black glutinous rice porridges are delightfully thick and fragrant. Rich with coconut milk and a generous helping of sago pearls, each spoonful simply begs to be savoured slowly.
The best part is, these porridges are perfect as a light meal for dinner, so why not pack yours to go?
The wheat porridge is another scrumptious option. It’s luscious and creamy, yet it doesn’t sit too heavily in the stomach and has just the right level of sweetness.
For something healthier, go for the urad dhal: it is believed that regular consumption of this lentil can improve overall gut health and reduce the risk of heart diseases.
This porridge, too, has a beautiful creamy texture and a mild nutty flavour without being too sweet. According to Suguna, this is a favourite among their customers and typically sells out by 4pm.
The bubur cha cha is this writer’s personal favourite. Thick and fragrant, it comes with a generous amount of soft sweet potatoes – the perfect sweet treat for a pick-me-up in the middle of a sluggish afternoon.
Overall, the experience of visiting this stall can be summed up in three words: simple, sweet, and satisfying.
Mother’s Sweet Porridge provides customers with a chance to reminisce about the good old days, especially of long, lazy afternoons in their mother’s or grandmother’s kitchen.
Mother’s Sweet Porridge
Jalan PJS 7/18 (in front of Shell),
Bandar Sunway, Selangor
Business hours: 2pm-7pm (daily)
Contact: 012-271 0039*
*It is best to call to check if the stall is open before visiting.
Follow Mother’s Sweet Porridge and Porridge Paradise on TikTok.