GEORGE TOWN, Jan 3 — It is soft, sticky and fragrant with coconut milk and when eaten with a thick, spicy chicken curry, the nasi kunyit is a meal that is both satisfying and full of flavours.

Nasi kunyit, translated to mean turmeric rice, is a very traditional dish of Malay and Peranakan origins that is often served during celebrations and auspicious events.

It is glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and given its bright yellow colour from the addition of turmeric and it is served with a thick, rich chicken curry.

The perfectly cooked nasi kunyit will have a soft and sticky consistency but not be overly sticky or soft so that it still holds its shape when served.

The chicken curry, cooked with spices and also coconut milk to thicken it, is the best accompaniment to this sticky yellow rice.

Nasi kunyit is a must-have when it comes to a baby’s full moon celebrations for the Peranakans or Nyonyas but it has also been adopted by the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia.

During a baby’s first month celebrations, it is very common to have the nasi kunyit along with chicken curry — accompanied by hard boiled eggs with their shells dyed red and ang koo kuih, a tortoise-shaped kuih with a skin made from glutinous rice and a mung bean filling -— served to guests.

Even if the parents opt not to have a large celebration, the nasi kunyit set is delivered to close relatives and friends as a way to inform them that the baby has turned one month.

For the Malays, the nasi kunyit is served during other celebratory occasions such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and instead of chicken curry, the pulut kuning, as it is also called, is also served with rendang or serunding.

Due to the traditions tied to the nasi kunyit, it is usually a homemade dish, especially made for special occasions so it is not easy looking for hawker stalls that sell it.

In Penang, we managed to find only three good hawker stalls and one main shop to buy this.

Mutiara Selera, Lorong Delima 7, Island Glades GPS: 5.382102, 100.304408 Time: 7pm-10pm

This is a Nyonya kuih stall that also sells other kuih but be warned, the stall does not have a fixed day off so it is sometimes not there and the nasi kunyit is also not a constant item. It sells out rather fast too.

Aunty May’s Nasi Kunyit, Old City Food Court, Jalan Fettes GPS: 5.451152, 100.304406 Time: 10am-4pm

Aunty May has been selling nasi kunyit for several years now and has extended her menu to include fried noodles and spring rolls for those not so keen on glutinous rice. Her portion of the nasi kunyit is also rather large so be prepared for a really filling meal or share it.

New World Park, Hutton Lane, George Town GPS: 5.421349, 100.327108 Time: 11am-4pm

This stall, located at the hawker centre, also sells nasi lemak, Nyonya kuih and desserts aside from the nasi kunyit. The nasi kunyit comes with a mild chicken curry that is not too thick with coconut milk. They will be at this hawker centre until they are relocated to a temporary site just across the road along Swatow Lane in April 2016.

Eaton Kuih Centre, Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim GPS: 5.392575, 100.306079 Time: 9am-6pm Website: eaton.com.my

Eaton used to be a humble shop that caters strictly to baby full moon celebrations. Today, the shop is well known for its nasi kunyit and ang koo kuih so it has expanded to include a retail section with various packages for walk-in customers and also an online store for delivery orders. They also sell single sets of the nasi kunyit and kuih to walk-in customers.