KUALA LUMPUR: Adding a unique twist to her Christmas celebration in Australia recently, Raja Ilya achieved unexpected success by serving "pengat durian", a local Malaysian delicacy.
The Malaysian actress decided to make this culinary experiment during her festive gathering in Australia with her in-laws.
Raja Ilya aimed to contribute to the family feast by attempting to cook a durian dish, not anticipating the unique challenge of introducing local flavors to foreigners.
Upon inquiry, Ilya's husband, Trent, expressed his desire for "pengat durian", a popular creamy durian dessert in Malaysia.
Surprised and slightly worried about successfully recreating the dish, Ilya took on the challenge, seeking guidance from her family back home through video calls.
She also managed to source the necessary ingredients in Australia, including frozen D24 durians and palm sugar from an Asian store.
"I was worried this might be my last time spending Christmas with Trent's mother. I might get banned next year if I fail at preparing the sweet treat.
"Luckily, I found frozen D24 durians and palm sugar at an Asian store here, thank God." she said in her Instragram reels.
To her delight, the "pengat durian'' turned out to be not only a success but also a hit with her in-laws, including Trent and her brother-in-law, who savoured every bit of the sweet dish.
Reflecting on the achievement, Ilya said, "Not only Trent, but my brother-in-law finished the dessert. I was relieved. Thank goodness my dessert was a success."
This is Raja Ilya's fifth year spending Christmas with her in-laws in Australia, where she helped wrap gifts, decorate the house, and even create a mini playground for the kids.