Begin each morning with Malaysian Kaya Toast, a golden crispy toast containing creamy kaya (coconut jam) and a spark of cold butter. It is the simplest but still, legendary breakfast that gives the right balance of pleasant sweet, salty, and buttery flavours sealed between two pieces of hot-toast bread. Locally called “Roti Bakar Kaya”, it is one of the most comforting and nostalgic Malaysian breakfast options, accompanied by soft-boiled eggs and a cup of strong “kopi” (Malaysian coffee).
The toast has a crisp exterior and soft interior and the thick kaya coconut jam brings out the sweetness of the tropics. Kaya Toast is more of a cultural thing that people enjoy across generations, taking back to their childhood. It is a breakfast piece that can be found in the kopitiams (traditional coffee shops) in Malaysia and Singapore.
About Malaysian Kaya Toast
Kaya Toast is named after a culinary group of Hainanese immigrants who had modified Western-style bread and mixed it with local foods. Kaya is a coconut custard spread whose ingredients are coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and pandan leaves that give the custard spread its unique green colour and specific floral smell.
Traditional Kaya Toast is served in both rustic and trendy cafes in Malaysia and may be grilled over charcoal or pan-toasted. The combination of the sweet kaya and cold butter in between slices of the toast balances the taste very perfectly. It is traditionally eaten with soft-boiled eggs flavoured with soy sauce and white pepper and a good cup of coffee or tea.
Kaya Toast with soft-boiled eggs and kopi can be consumed as a breakfast, a brunch, or a tea-time snack, but either way, you must have it as a bite that will allow you to taste the whole Malaysian delicious cuisine.
Ingredients and Substitutes of Kaya Toast
- White Bread (or Soft Brown Bread) – Kaya Toast’s foundation. Get the fluffy crumb, soft sandwich bread. Whole wheat bread can be used as a healthier alternative but it provides the least traditional texture
- Butter (Cold, Salted Preferred)- Adds richness and a salty taste to the sweet kaya. This sliced chilled butter sandwiched between hot toast gets a bit mellow but does not get mushy
- Kaya (Coconut Jam) – The main star of the plate. It’s made with coconut milk, eggs, sugar and pandan essence. You may buy it from the market or prepare it at home
- Eggs (as a side)- Eggs are normally served on the side in soft-boiled form. They increase the creaminess and protein in the meal. They are cooked firm and then eaten with a spoonful of soy sauce and white pepper
- Soy Sauce & White Pepper (for eggs)- The traditional way of Seasoning the soft-boiled eggs. Not mandatory, but contributes to an umami boom
Recipe for Malaysian Kaya Toast
To make kaya toast recipe at home, combine:
- 3 eggs
- 200 ml Coconut milk
- 100 g sugar
- Pandan essence (a few drops)
- Cook on low heat stirring frequently till jam-like. You may also use store-bought kaya in the case of time constraints
Toast the Bread
- Toast 2 slices of bread per serving by using a grill, toaster or pan
- To make it taste authentic, roast it over a charcoal grill (if available)
- Toast on each side till golden and crunchy yet mushy inside
Put Together the Toast
- When the bread is hot, spread kaya on one or even on both slices
- In the center put 1-2 slices of cold salted butter
- Seal the sandwich and flatten it down
- Cut the toast in a slanting direction and serve warm
- This is how to make Kaya Toast just like it’s served in kopitiams
Prepare Soft-Boiled Eggs (Optional)
- Bring enough water to a boil
- Turn off the stove and place 2 eggs in the hot water
- Cover and let them sit for 6–7 minutes
- Crack open into a bowl, and drizzle with light soy sauce and a pinch of white pepper
Serve the kaya Toast with Coffee and Boiled Eggs
Have your kaya toast sandwich with a portion of soft-boiled eggs and a hot cup of kopi or teh tarik to get the real kopitiam experience.
Kaya Toast with butter and eggs is a great way to treat yourself to a nostalgic and flavorful morning. Crispy toast, creamy coconut jam, salty butter, soft eggs make a flavourful, extravagant but simple breakfast that you just simply cannot skip.
