Gourmet Guide by Jo Blennerhassett of The Good Food Trading Co.

Rempah Curry Sauces and Roti have been created by Reuben and Caroline Danam and Rempah curry sauces are available exclusively in this region at The Good Food Trading Co. in Mount Maunganui.

Reuben has been a chef for the past 20 years. Based in Wellington, he has managed several well known food production operations and now makes it easy to recreate Malaysian classics at home. The Rempah range includes laksa, rendang, sambal, peanut, curry, kurma and dhall curry, and the Roti Chanai flat bread.

Laksa, synonymous with Malaysian cuisine, is a rich, delicious coconut-based creamy broth cooked with a myriad of aromatic herbs and spices. Add fresh rice noodles, egg noodles or mee hoon (rice vermicelli) to Rempah's Laksa sauce for a mouth-watering Malaysian meal in minutes.

Rempah's Sambal is a tomato-based sauce capturing the piquant flavours of tamarind and belacan (dried shrimp paste) with garlic, chillies and shallots. Add chicken (ayam) or your favourite meat or vegetables and serve with rice or roti.

Rendang is another ubiquitous Malay dish that uses herbs and spices such as ginger, galangal, turmeric root, lemongrass and chillies, with roasted coconut and coconut milk, and is simmered to a dry gravy to create a tender meat dish.

My favourite however is still the butter chicken served with rice, fresh coriander and cashews or the peanut sauce drizzled over chicken kebabs.

I love the Rempah sauces as they are cost-effective at only $6.50 each (feeds six) and quick and easy to feed the family or guests on a Friday night.

Come and try the delicious flavour of Malaysian curry's the Danam family have made with love from there table to yours!

Available at The Good Food trading Company,35 MacDonald St, Mount Maunganui.