National Day Special: Malaysian National Food Using Latvian and Greece Products

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 31 August 2026 – For Immediate Release

As part of the celebrations for Malaysia’s National Day, high-quality products from Europe, such as Latvia and Greece, will take centre stage in a cooking campaign that showcases how international quality can be combined with local flavors. The campaign will demonstrate the versatility of high-quality European agri-food products and how easily they can be incorporated into Malaysian cuisine, bringing together familiar local tastes with a distinctive European touch.

Through the National Day, a collection of premium products from Latvia, ranging from dairy to confectionery products and dried fruits to salty snacks is featured alongside value-added Greek PDO products, showcasing how these products can be incorporated into the daily meals of Malaysians. Chef Jia Le Woh has created a special Malaysian dish named Kuih Cara Berlauk.

Kuih Cara Berlauk is a highlight in this marketing campaign. Kuih Cara Berlauk is an authentic delicacy that has been revamped by Chef Jia Le Woh using essential European ingredients:

The recipe uses some key ingredients from Europe as follows:

1. PDO Krokos Kozanis (Greece): Premium red saffron from Greece brings not only a beautiful golden color, but also a unique floral aroma and delicate spicy notes to the meat stuffing of the dessert.

2. PDO Corinthian Raisin Vostitsa (Greece): Black raisins are incorporated into the batter to bring in the soft fruit aroma and the natural sweetness.

3. PDO Cretan Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Greece): Used to gently sauté the spices, enhancing the overall flavor of the dessert.

4. Latvian Curd Cheese: A creamy, mild cheese that is placed on top of the warm dessert batter, adding a rich and smooth texture.

“Kuih Cara Berlauk is a nostalgic dish that holds great sentimental value for Malaysians, although it is not as well-known among the younger generation,” says Chef Jia Le Woh. “The combination of Greek krokos Kozanis saffron, Corinthian raisins Vostitsa, extra virgin olive oil, and Latvian curd cheese brings together two culinary traditions in a fusion that creates a nutritious recipe on this beloved Malaysian dish.”

This campaign seeks to inspire home cooks, food enthusiasts, and industry professionals through the common heritage of quality, craftsmanship, and food tradition between Malaysia and Europe, as the demand among Malaysian consumers for superior foods is on the rise.

This National Day initiative reflects the campaign’s commitment to promoting value-added European food products in Malaysia through the power of cuisine, while respecting local culture and embracing international Flavors and culinary traditions.

Recipe: Kuih Cara Berlauk by Chef Jia Le Woh

Filling Ingredients

2g PDO Krokos Kozanis

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for sautéing

50g onion, finely diced

10g garlic, minced

10g curry powder

200g minced meat

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

Kuih Cara Batter

80g PDO Corinthian Raisin Vostitsa

1 cup coconut milk

2 cups plain flour

2½ cups water

1 egg

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp salt

Garnish

Chinese celery leaves

Fried onion

Red chilli

Spring onion

Latvian Curd Cheese

Preparation

1. Heat Extra Virgin Olive Oil in a pan and sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant. Add the minced meat, curry powder, PDO Krokos Kozanis, salt, and black pepper. Cook thoroughly and set aside.

2. Blend the coconut milk, flour, water, egg, turmeric powder, and salt until smooth. Strain the batter for a finer texture.

3. Stir the PDO Corinthian Raisin Vostitsa into the batter.

4. Lightly grease a Kuih Cara mould and pour in the batter. Cook over low heat until approximately 70% set.

5. Add the prepared minced meat filling and Latvian Curd Cheese, then continue cooking over low heat until fully cooked.

6. Remove from the mould and garnish with Chinese celery leaves, fried onion, red chilli, and spring onion before serving.

Notes to Editor

About Premium European Products:

The “Premium European Products” campaign is a promotional program co-funded by the European Union. It highlights the safety, traceability, and authentic flavours of European agri-food products, supporting their expansion into high-growth international markets like Malaysia.

For more information about the “Premium European Products” campaign, please visit  https://premiumeuropeanproducts.eu/ or email us to info@premiumeuropeanproducts.eu.

Pages dedicated to this program can be found on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, @premiumeuropeanproducts.

About National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Greece (ETHEAS)

Founded by Greece’s leading cooperatives and established by Greek law, ETHEAS is the national coordinating body of Agricultural Cooperatives in Greece. With over 300 member cooperatives representing approximately 80% of Greece’s total agricultural cooperative turnover, ETHEAS aims to foster rural and cooperative development, support and promote its members’ activities domestically and internationally, provide expert opinions on cooperative movement agricultural production and sector development, supervise the dissemination and promotion of cooperative ideas, and serve and educate its members through studies, research projects, and assignments.

About Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC)

The Latvian Dairy Committee (LDC) was established in 1995, representing Latvian dairy processing sector and aims to protect its interests. It consists of 17 members processing approximately 80% of industrially produced milk in Latvia.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES