Lost and found

Kledek masak lemak

THE grand dame of Singaporean cooking, Violet Oon, has her eye trained on reviving lost dishes in her latest menu update, and she's introduced the keledek masak lemak, or sweet potato leaves cooked in rich gravy.

Once a staple on traditional Peranakan and Malay dinner tables, the dish is often overlooked in restaurants because the leaves are generally considered a cheap vegetable for those on a budget. Ms Oon cooks her version in a Nonya rempah of candlenuts, chillies, shallots and belacan, followed by coconut milk to lightly braise the leaves. It's not a classy dish, but rather something you would find as part of a home-cooked meal.