Lamb massaman curry with jasmine rice

The Peranakans of Southeast Asia — especially from Malaysia and Singapore — are a unique community thanks to their confluence of cultures, and most importantly, cuisines. The result of the intermarriage of Chinese merchants and local Malay women centuries ago, Peranakan men are known as babas, while the women are referred to as nonyas. Legendary for their prowess in the kitchen, it is these nonyas who are responsible for the complex, highly flavoured dishes that see influences from Chinese, Malay, Thai and even Indian cookery styles and ingredients.