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Otah is a staple and childhood favourite of mine. Slightly spicy and umami, it’s an ingredient commonly found as a condiment in nasi lemak. One of my guilty pleasures is enjoying sandwiching otah in bread for breakfast or a mid-day snack.
So, I decided to take things up a notch, and create a ‘heart-attack’ Brûléed 4-Cheese Otah Toast. Here’s the recipe:
Note: You’ll need a flame torch for this.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of thick bread (we used a 9-grain variety)
- Otah (5 pieces)
- Arugula
- Sharp Cheddar (4 slices)
- Shredded mozzarella
- Camembert
- Garlic cream cheese
- Butter (2 tablespoons)
- Sugar (2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Step 1: Slice the camembert thinly; it should yield about 8 to 10 pieces.
Step 2: Heat up a non-stick pan and add in 2 tablespoons of butter. Place one slice of bread on top and grill under low to medium heat until surface is golden-brown, then flip over. Switch the heat to low to prevent the bread from getting burnt.
Step 3: Stack 2 slices of sharp cheddar followed by 4 to 5 slices of camembert.
Step 4: Slather 2 tablespoons of garlic cream cheese over the camembert.
Step 5: Add in shredded mozzarella.
Step 6: Stack the 5 pieces of otah atop the cheese followed by arugula.
Gu Zao Rojak: Popular 25-year-old AMK rojak stall run by only 1 uncle, with fragrant banana otah
Step 7: Reverse the cheese placement: Layer shredded mozzarella, 4 slices of camembert, and 2 more slices of sharp cheddar (excluding the garlic cream cheese). Finally, top with the second slice of bread to complete the sandwich.
Step 8: Using a flat spatula, gently lift up the bottom of the bread and check that it’s golden-brown. Carefully, flip it over the other side and grill till browned as well. If needed, turn the heat up to medium.
Step 9: Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius and insert toast for about 6 to 7 minutes until the cheese has melted nicely. If you don’t have an oven at home, don’t worry! You can do it with a toaster as well.
Step 10: Set aside 2 tablespoons of white or brown sugar. Sprinkle sugar on top of toast.
Step 11: With a flametorch, brûlée the sugar on top, ensuring not to burn it.
Step 12: Now, all that’s left is to cut it in half and enjoy!
And there you have it— a brûléed 4-cheese otah toast. It’s an ultra-rich and garlicky cheesy treat filled with a hint of spice coming from the otah. The aragula in the centre helps prevent things from getting too overwhelming while the brûléed sugar on top gives it a touch of sweetness.
If you do try this recipe, let me know in the comments about your thoughts.
To have a clearer idea of what I’ve just done, click here to watch the reel.
