Other battered treasures included tempeh and oyster mushrooms, yet there were more nibbles – kueh-kueh, epok-epok and samosas – to tempt us. But to end on a fittingly sweet note, we tried the pisang bebola (RM1 for two), a banana ball concoction of flour and overripe fruit. Fresh from the giant kuali or wok of bubbling oil, the rich, cake-like treats had a sticky, caramelised crust which made for a delightful final indulgence.
“In Malay, we also call these jemput-jemput,” Vimala explained. “For example, jemput makan means ‘please eat’, so jemput-jemput is like an invitation. Welcome to Johor!”
