Look up pegaga, also known as pennywort, gotu kola or brahmi, and you’ll find that it is one powerful herb.
From boosting brain function to keeping your skin rejuvenated, this herb should be classified as a superfood.
Simply tossed with toasted coconuts and a blend of chillies and belacan (shrimp paste) makes for one delicious Malaysian salad we call Kerabu Pegaga.
Being rich in amino and fatty acids, beta carotene and phytonutrients, pegaga improves circulation and stimulates cell growth. This in turn aids in collagen production, thus keeping your skin looking rejuvenated and your hair and nails strong. Impressive indeed!
Besides being a beauty booster, pegaga has been shown to improve memory. A 2012 study found that its extract had a positive effect on protecting brain cells from toxicity.
On top of all the amazing benefits listed thus far, pegaga also aids with digestion, helps remove toxins from your body and is an antioxidant!
Here’s a simple traditional Malaysian recipe for Kerabu Pegaga, a salad made with toasted coconuts and a chilli blend.
Ingredients:
- 250g fresh pegaga, thick part of stems removed
- 100g big onion, sliced
- 100g young coconut, shredded
- 30g belacan (shrimp paste)
- 65g red chilli (about 5 chillies)
- 10g bird’s eye chilli (8 to 9 chillies)
- 2 tbsp kasturi lime juice
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 50g dry anchovies, optional
Method:
- Prepare your fresh pegaga by washing the herbs and removing some of the stems.
- On a dry pan, toast the grated young coconut until it is light yellow in colour to keep the rich (lemak) flavour. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Blend the belacan, big red chillies and bird’s eye chilli, lime juice and salt. Set aside.
- If you’re adding dry anchovies, simply wash then toast on a pan until they are dry.
- In a big bowl, toss together the toasted coconut, pegaga, sliced onions, anchovies (optional) and belacan mixture.
- Add a bit more salt and/or lime juice to suit your preference and taste, and serve.
This article appeared in butterkicap.com.
Butterkicap is a food and culture platform and community that enables anyone to experience Malaysia through stories of her people, food and places.