Ambuyat

Ambuyat is Bruneian Traditional dish which is made from sago. It is commonly consumed in the afternoon with other side dishes. Sago is extracted from rumbia tree after serveral processes. Sago powdered is mixed with room temperature water which allows it to dissolved then mixed with hot water which changes its texture.

Mix sago powder with 1 cup of water by add the water step by step. Mixing well to make sure all sago powder dissolved. Then add hot water(some say don't add the boiling water). So I am guessing the hot water should be about 95-97 C (few seconds after it boils). Add the hot water in slowly and stir at the same time. After a while, stop stiring but keep adding hot water until it stops moving (from the stirring). Then you mix it up so that everything is even. There you go, you have Ambuyat ready.

You will need a special joined wooden sticks called Candas to twirl around the Ambuyat. The you dip it in special sauce and swallow it (no need to chew). The sauces may made from anchovies, pasted (Belacan) and chilly mixed together. There are many other sauces available and Ambuyat goes well with "ikan bakar", pais, local vegetables like umbut, Lamiding, Pucuk ubi, etc.

One day, my manager (he's Portuguese Australian) asked me what is Bruneian cuisine or traditional dish. Straight away I answered Ambuyat. I explained to him what it is like and how to eat it. He asked if he can find it in Australia. Obviously, he has to come to Brunei to try it.

I heard one story, this Bruneian students going overseas (Im not sure how true is this story) and bring sago powder along with him/her. Anything that is white powder is obviously suspicious. So the customs asked him/her to prove that it is Ambuyat, Brunei traditional dish. Then he/she actually shown how to make it to them. Very embarrassing. Why don't they just taste the damn thing. They can tell it taste like starch. Funny story.

There are some restaurants offer Ambuyat in their menu. One of famous restaurant is Aminah Arif located in Kiulap and Jerudong. A must try traditional dish if you visit Brunei

Source: http://www.geocities.com/bruambuyat/sago_paste.htm