A PLANT-BASED RAYA

Elliz Azhar, also known as The Kampung Vegan, shares with Tatler her favourite recipes to celebrate Hari Raya

- Amanda Fung

Local Malaysian fare is known to be produce-heavy and vegetable-forward. However, making them entirely plant-based and substituting essential ingredients with vegan alternatives, while still preserving a dish’s flavour and texture, is no easy task. Enter Elliz Azhar, also known as @thekampungvegan on Instagram, with over 150,000 followers.

Growing up, Elliz and her parents went through phases of vegetarianism and somewhere along the way, she lost her appetite for meat. Coupled with her lactose intolerance, adopting a plant-based diet only seemed natural to her. “I swayed toward eating more vegetables and fewer animal products as I got older,” she explains. “The fact that I would be helping the planet was also a massive factor in this transition.”

Based in Langkawi, Elliz posts videos and recipes of plant-based local fare that are guaranteed to make you drool. Not compromising on taste, flavour, and aroma, her recipes are true to nature and simply delectable.

While the transition from cooking with animal ingredients to plant-based ingredients was easy for Elliz, finding vegan alternatives and vegan food while travelling was not so simple. “Finding suitable plantbased options at restaurants can be tricky, especially in areas where veganism is less prevalent,” she shares. “Despite these challenges, it is possible to maintain a vegan diet while travelling by being proactive and planning ahead.”