Ayam Masak Jintan

Q: Is there any confinement food for mothers after childbirth at Columbia Asia hospital?
A: Yes, there is a confinement menu at Columbia Asia Hospital-Puchong. In this menu, ingredients include ginger and cumin that are traditionally believed to be good for the mother’s post-natal wellbeing.

Q: What will be the dish that you can recommend for lactating mothers?
A: I would like to recommend chicken with fennel seeds (ayam masak jintan). This dish is suitable for all mothers, regardless of their ethnic customs.

Q: Can you suggest how to lessen the fat content in traditional confinement dishes?
A: First, use ayam kampong (free-range chicken) and remove all the skin. Use only the lean chicken parts like the breast. This will reduce the total fat content in the dish. Cooking utensils also matter. Use a non-stick pan which require very little cooking oil, yet is able to retain the moisture in the chicken meat.

Q: Snakehead fish (ikan haruan) is a type of fish with a strong fishy smell. How can we reduce this smell?
A: We can wash the fish in clean water with added salt, dried tamarind pieces (assam keping) and banana leaf. After that, soak the fish in plain yogurt for 20 minutes. Lastly, wash away all the yogurt from the fish.