Umai (food) facts for kids
A bowl of Umai ready to be eaten.
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| Type | Dish |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Malaysia |
| Region or state | Sarawak |
| Created by | Melanau |
| Main ingredients | Fish: (Either Scaly hairfin anchovy, Mackerel or Black pomfret) thinly sliced onions, chillies, salt and lime juice |
Umai is a special and tasty traditional dish from Sarawak, Malaysia. It's a favorite of the Melanau people, especially fishermen. Think of it like a fresh salad, but with fish! Umai is made with thin slices of raw fish. These are mixed with yummy ingredients like onions, spicy chillies, a little vinegar, salt, and fresh lime juice. It's a very unique and refreshing meal.
What is Umai?
Umai is a very old and important dish for the Melanau people, who live in Sarawak, Malaysia. It's often eaten by fishermen because it's quick and easy to prepare, especially when they are out at sea. The dish does not need cooking with heat. Instead, the lime juice "cooks" the fish, making it firm and safe to eat. This process is called "denaturing" the protein.
How Umai is Made
Making Umai is quite simple but needs fresh ingredients.
- First, very fresh fish is sliced into thin pieces. Common fish used include anchovy, mackerel, or black pomfret.
- Next, these fish slices are mixed with finely cut onions and chillies.
- Then, salt and plenty of fresh lime juice are added. The lime juice is the key ingredient. It changes the texture of the fish, making it firm and opaque, almost like it has been cooked with heat.
- Sometimes, other ingredients like ginger or a bit of sugar are added for extra flavor.
This dish is usually eaten with plain rice. It's known for its fresh, tangy, and slightly spicy taste.
Umai in the Record Books
In 2012, Umai made history! During a special event called the 'Masihkah Kau Ingat' carnival in Dalat, people prepared a super long Umai. This amazing dish measured 170.3 meters, which is longer than a football field! It was officially recognized as the "longest Umai" ever made by The Malaysia Book of Records. This showed how important Umai is to the culture and traditions of the Melanau people.
