
Classic cans, bold new bites
TRENDS may come and go, but some flavours stay timeless. For over 130 years, Ayam Brand sardines and mackerel have been a staple in Malaysian kitchens.
While we always love familiar favourites like mackerel curry and sardine sambal, there's so much more you can do with a can.
Beyond opening up a world of flavour and fun in the kitchen, Ayam Brand sardines and mackerel also pack a powerful nutritional punch that often goes unnoticed.
According to a study titled Comparison of nutritional composition, chemical preservative, and glutamic acid content of canned food with freshly cooked and home-cooked food products published in 2021, Ayam Brand sardines can have up to seven times more Omega-3 than freshly cooked fish 1.
Ayam Brand sardines and mackerels are also sustainably caught from cold seas and are naturally rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA 2, 3.
These two types of 'healthy fats', in which the body does not naturally produce, are said to support key organs.
Ayam Brand marketing head Teoh Wei Ling said Malaysians have always had a soft spot for the brand's sardines and mackerels.
'They have long been a familiar favourite across generations. It's comfort food that reminds you of home, of family, and of simpler times.
'Through Makan Lain Macam, we want to inspire Malaysians to have fun in the kitchen and see just how versatile these classics can be.
'While dishes like mackerel curry, sardine sambal or even roti sardine gulung will always have a place at the table, there's also something exciting about trying something different or new, knowing it's still packed with nutritious goodness,' she added.
With just a can or two, Ayam Brand makes it easy to whip up dishes that feel familiar, taste refreshingly new, full of flavour and endless possibilities. Here are some must-try recipes:
Sardine mac and cheese balls
Think crispy on the outside, melty on the inside, sardine mac and cheese balls combines cheesy macaroni, melty cheese, and mashed sardines into bite-sized delights.
Ingredients 1 can Ayam Brand Sardines in Tomato Sauce
1 cup macaroni, cooked
3 tablespoons sriracha sauce
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
11/4 cups milk
3 tablespoons chopped spring onions
2 to 3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 eggs, beaten
11/3 cups breadcrumbs
Instructions
In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, garlic powder and salt. Stir until well combined. Slowly pour the milk in while continuously whisking until the mixture thickens.
Stir in both cheeses and the sriracha sauce. Continue to cook and stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth.
Stir in the Ayam Brand Sardines in Tomato Sauce and cook for a few minutes until heated through, ensuring they're evenly mixed into the sauce.
Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese mixture and stir well. Transfer to a container and chill in the fridge for one hour to firm it up. Once chilled, scoop and shape the mixture into bite-sized balls. Freeze them for 30 minutes.
Dip each ball into beaten egg and coat them with breadcrumbs. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C. Air-fry the balls for 10–12 minutes or until golden and crispy. Serve them hot and enjoy.
Mackerel Masak Merah with butter rice
Spicy and rich, mackerel Masak Merah is a bold twist on a Malaysian classic that comes together in minutes.
Ingredients 1 can Ayam Brand Mackerel in Tomato Sauce
1 pack Ayam Brand Spicy Tomato Paste
salt and sugar
6 cups rice
125g butter
1 1/2 cups fresh milk
water
coriander leaves
1 large onion
4 to 5 cloves garlic
2 to 3 cm ginger
1 stalk lemongrass, crushed
1 to 2 pandan leaves
Instructions
To prepare the butter rice, blend the onion, garlic, ginger, and pandan leaves into a fine paste, and saute the mix. In a wok, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the ground paste and pounded lemongrass, stir-frying until it's aromatic.
Add washed and drained rice to the wok and stir it around for one to two minutes, ensuring it's well coated with the earlier paste. Pour in the fresh milk, stir to combine, and remove from heat.
Transfer the rice mixture to the rice cooker. Add water (according to the required rice-to-water ratio) and season with salt to taste.
To prepare the mackerel Masak Merah, heat some oil in a pan and saute Ayam Brand Spicy Tomato Paste until fragrant.
Add the Ayam Brand Mackerel in Tomato Sauce and stir them together. Season it with salt to taste and serve hot with butter rice.
'Makan Lain Macam' isn't about reinventing the wheel, but reimagining the meals we already know and love, and having fun while making it.
Ayam Brand's sardine and mackerel are available in four sizes (155g, 230g, 300g, 425g). For a limited time only, it is offering a buy-two-sardines or Mackerels (425g) and get-one-free Ayam Brand Fried Chilli Mackerel (155g), available at selected stores.
Check out the full range of easy, fusion-friendly recipes at www.ayambrand.com.my/recipes.
Follow @ayambrandmy on Instagram and Ayam Brand Malaysia on Facebook for fresh ideas, cooking tips, and more.
References
1. Muhammad Ezzudin, et al. (2021) Comparison Of Nutritional Composition, Chemical Preservatives, And Glutamic Acid Content Of Canned Food With Freshly Cooked And Home-Cooked Food Products
2. Li, Jian-Jun, et al. (2022) Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Prevention and Treatment of
Cardiovascular Diseases: A Consensus Statement from the Experts' Committee of National Society of Cardiometabolic Medicine .
3. BDA (2025) Omega-3. BDA: The Association of UK Dieticians
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
130 Malaysian students awarded scholarships by Taiwan
KUALA LUMPUR: 130 Malaysian students have been awarded scholarships to pursue studies and Mandarin language courses in Taiwan this year. The recipients include 37 students under the Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarship and 88 under the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES). Taiwan's representative to Malaysia, Phoebe Yeh, congratulated the students and encouraged them to make full use of the opportunity to gain global exposure. "Malaysian students have always performed well, and we hope that the recipients take this opportunity to expand their knowledge and broaden their horizons during their time studying in Taiwan. "The skills and expertise obtained will enable them to excel themselves in various fields and may serve as a bridge for enhancing the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Malaysia as top talents," she said. She said Taiwan enjoyed a growing global reputation, adding that it ranks sixth in the 2025 World Competitiveness Rankings by the International Institute for Management Development. Yeh added that Taiwan's universities were well known for research, innovation, and strong industry-academia collaboration. Among the success stories of past scholarship recipients is Madeline Chong, an alumna of the 2019 Taiwan Scholarship programme who previously studied mass communication. She said she didn't expect to be in the environmental field, and the opportunity given to her has turned into a life-changing journey. Madeline said her passion for environmental education started when she covered a beach cleanup during her internship at Tamkang TV station, where she met members of the Wilderness Society, Taiwan's largest environmental non-governmental organisation. "Out of curiosity, I joined their nature facilitator training. Suddenly, every Tuesday I was hugging trees, walking through forests in the dark, and guiding groups to connect with nature." Her newfound passion led her to pursue a master's degree in environmental education at National Taiwan Normal University, the first university in Taiwan dedicated to this field. With support from the Taiwan Scholarship, she explored ways to foster empathy for animals among children, working closely with Taipei Zoo on education programmes. She said after completing her studies, she returned to Malaysia to share her knowledge and is now co-founder and director of Eco Lestari Strategy Sdn Bhd "But let me be honest, all this wasn't always smooth. There were days of confusion, financial stress, self-doubt, moments where I felt lost or unsure if I was doing the right thing. "But Taiwan taught me something I still hold on to: resilience. The most meaningful growth happens when no one is watching," she said at the Taiwan Scholarship & Huayu Enrichment Scholarship Award Ceremony. Of the 37 Taiwan Scholarship recipients, five will pursue doctoral studies, 25 will enrol in master's programmes, and seven will undertake undergraduate degrees. Each Taiwan Scholarship recipient will receive tuition fees of NTD 40,000 (RM5,800) per semester and a monthly allowance of up to NTD 20,000 (RM2,900). HES recipients will receive a stipend of NTD 28,000 (RM3,900) per month. Five other Malaysians have been awarded the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund Scholarship for master's programmes. The awards were presented at a ceremony organised by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia today.

Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
- Environmentalism Needs The Soul
Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. Yet despite this growing awareness, our rivers are still polluted, and our forests still falling. Why? Because we often forget that caring for the environment is not only a scientific issue – it is a deeply human one. In Malaysia, conversations about the environment are everywhere – from school murals to government masterplans. We talk about climate change, biodiversity, clean energy, and zero waste. I've seen community projects struggle because they lacked this emotional connection. Without a sense of belonging or shared purpose, even the best-funded initiatives fall flat. But the planet isn't just a system to be fixed. It's a relationship to be mended. And relationships don't thrive on data alone – they require empathy, care, and meaning. Today, environmental activists across Malaysia are out there cleaning rivers, picking up trash, restoring forests. But their work should never be misunderstood as simply correcting what others – whether locals or tourists – have done wrong. Environmentalism loses its power when it becomes transactional. It regains that power when it becomes personal. We usually don't protect what we don't feel connected to. Living examples of hope These acts are not punishment. They are invitations. They are living examples of hope. In Malay culture, we call this 'suri teladan' – to lead by example. When someone bends down to collect a plastic bottle from the riverbank, they are not just removing trash. They are reminding us what dignity and care look like. They are performing a small, visible act of devotion to mother earth, in hopes that others will feel moved to do the same. Goodness is contagious. When we witness someone doing good, it awakens something inside us. We feel inspired to join in. And that is how transformation spreads – not by force, but by example. Some people hesitate to speak out about environmental issues because they fear being seen as hypocrites. 'How can I talk about zero waste if I still use plastic?' 'How can I ask others to plant trees if I haven't yet planted one?' But here's the truth: it is okay to call others to do good even if you're still trying to do it yourself. Every change begins with an intention. Every good habit starts with a conversation, a reminder, a nudge. Sometimes, saying it out loud – even before we fully live it – is part of becoming the person who eventually does. What matters is sincerity. When we speak from the heart, not to lecture but to spark thought, we're helping to build the foundation for action both in others and in ourselves. In many ways, Malaysians are still being pampered by a system that protects us from inconvenience. For example, we are not yet required to strictly segregate domestic waste. We're not faced with the reality that our unseparated garbage could be left in front of our homes indefinitely, or that we would have to wait until a certain day – and only that day – for it to be collected. We may say, 'It's fine, we still have land,' but the real question is: do we need to wait until we have no other choice but to live on top of it? Environmental action shouldn't begin only when we're pushed to the edge. It should begin with awareness and a willingness to shift – even before crisis forces us to. Comfort is not an excuse for complacency. We can change The good news is we can change. We've seen it before. There was a time when people in Malaysia casually used parking spots designated for persons with disabilities. But after constant exposure through television commercial breaks, social media reminders, and signage campaigns – something clicked. Today, most people respect those parking spaces without question. It's not just about enforcement. It's about a collective shift in values. We now understand that those spaces are a matter of dignity and fairness. We learned to do the right thing, even when no one was watching. This is proof that when values are communicated consistently and compassionately, people respond. Although I work in an office setting, I once took the opportunity to join a beach clean-up activity at selected beaches in Pahang and Terengganu. It was part of a research programme focused on identifying plastic waste in coastal environments. Our centre's director was one of the co-investigators and joined us in the activity. At first, I joined out of curiosity – I wanted to experience something new in life. But the experience shifted my perspective completely. As we picked up all sorts of trash along the beach, I saw and felt how much waste ends up where it shouldn't – not only waste manufactured locally that I was familiar with, but also foreign-labelled waste, including from countries like Vietnam. I remembered what I'd learned: plastic takes around 450 years to decompose. And suddenly, it wasn't just a fact – it was real. Tangible. Heavy in my hands. It struck me – this is not just a programme. It's a reflection of what we owe to the environment. It's not the sole responsibility of cleaning staff. It's all of us. We don't do this every day – we still have other responsibilities and tasks – but we show up when we can, because it matters. Today it might be us. Tomorrow, it could be you. We all have a role to play. A similar situation reminded me of this truth during a river clean-up along the Selangor River, which I joined as part of a mobility programme with Australian students. As we collected waste along the riverbank, we discovered that more than half of what we picked up was recyclable. It made me wonder – if we all truly understood that these materials could have been sorted and repurposed, there would be far less waste to begin with. More importantly, none of it should have ended up in the river at all. This is not something that takes complex policy to fix – it's something that can be avoided if we all simply remember that rivers are not a dumping ground. And it made me reflect further – why do we Malaysians admire good practices abroad, but rarely bring them home? We see how people in other countries clear their tables in restaurants, manage their waste responsibly, or act with basic courtesy in shared spaces. Why can't we do the same here? Yes, it's someone's job to clean up – but wouldn't it be kinder if we made it easier for them? During that same beach clean-up, something unexpected happened – the van driver who had been with us throughout the trip quietly began collecting trash too. He had seen us doing it. He had listened to our conversations. And in that moment, he must have understood the purpose behind what we were doing – that it wasn't just about picking up rubbish, but about protecting something shared. He made the decision to join, not because we asked, but because he recognised the need. That reminded me that change doesn't always start with bold campaigns or big speeches. Sometimes, it happens when someone sees a meaningful act and quietly decides this is worth doing. That's why we must keep talking about the environment – at work, at home, with friends, with strangers. Talk about it until it reaches the soul of someone else. That is how movements grow, not only through action but through reflection, storytelling, and example. That is how we build a greener, kinder Malaysia together. -- BERNAMA Dr Azizi Abu Bakar is a Research Officer at Universiti Malaya Sustainable Development Centre (UMSDC).


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
A humane path for strays
Stray dogs roaming around a landfill in Papan, Perak. Recently, in Ipoh, over 200 Malaysians gathered at night not in anger, but in solemn remembrance. Candlelight flickered in the hands of mothers, students, retirees – people from all walks of life – honouring the lives of thirty dogs recently euthanised at the Lahat Animal Detention Centre in Ipoh. What brought them there was grief. But what they lit wasn't just wax and flame – it was the beginning of a brighter, more humane conversation.