WHEN the need for a healthy lunch strikes, I head for Rawsome in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

My first meal there was the Rendang Tempeh, served in a wooden bowl with brown rice, chopped long beans, egg and sambal.

The tempeh is deliciously spicy – I asked for more sambal to go with the egg. The only part I didn’t like were the rather raw long beans.

On another trip, I had the Nasi Lemak. Its flavourful soy protein and potato curry goes swimmingly with the rice.

The curry comes in a good portion, so there’s no need for the sambal, which tasted quite raw. An egg, chopped long beans and cucumber make up the rest of the bowl.

When I met Rawsome founder Elyn Pow on yet another visit, I was told that the sambal is cooked without oil.

There is no deep-frying here, with the fried food items going into an air fryer.

A good decision is to stick to the eatery’s local offerings.

“We make healthy options for local flavours,” said Pow, introducing me to the Satay Bowl, a new menu item.

This has air-fried tempeh and bean curd puffs drenched in an aromatic peanut satay sauce.

The accompanying pickled cucumber, pineapple and carrot are tangy and crunchy – simply spot on.

I couldn’t get enough of the satay sauce, served separately in a small dish, so I asked for more.

When it comes to sauces, don’t hesitate to request top-ups. These can make or break a dish here.

The Ginger Ramen with spinach and mushroom fares much better with an extra pour of its mildly sweet ginger sauce.

For a carb-free meal, the Cauliflower Fried Rice, which comes with an egg, vegetables and sambal, is an option.

This is too “green” for me, but perhaps something that “healthier than thou” folk will enjoy.

Instead of brown rice, you can opt for cauliflower rice (add on RM2), ramen or quinoa.

Almost all the bowls here are meat-free, but chicken can be added for an extra RM4.

Rawsome also offers Blood Type Bowls, and the Blood O Bowl comes with chicken. The eatery is looking at offering beef and fish in the future.

Pow added that celebrity chef Anis Nabilah has come up with a dish of beef, pucuk paku, tofu and Sichuan peppercorns for Rawsome.

Keeping to the theme, the desserts are healthy, with 25 different combinations available.

As a mango lover, I very much enjoyed the Mango Coconut, layered with mango puree, chia seeds and coconut jelly.

The Mango Digestives, with mango, chia seeds and yoghurt on a base of crushed digestive biscuits, keeps you full for a while. This makes a good meal replacement.

Pow’s venture into the healthy food business started with chia seed puddings.

“In 2015, there was a juice detox craze. I signed up for a package, but I couldn’t do it.

“Then, a friend told me about chia seeds. I have a sweet tooth, but I have to watch my sugar level. I then came up with the Mango Digestives, which tastes like cheesecake, something I love.”

She launched a business from home, selling her treats to office workers as a lunch replacement (five per order). And, many of her female customers lost weight!

The bowls cost RM18 each, while the chia puddings are RM13.90 apiece.

There are also toasted sandwiches – roasted sesame egg, mushroom spinach, and chicken cucumber – for RM10.

Cold-pressed juices and smoothies are on the menu as well.

Rawsome’s original location is in Sg Buloh, and there are also outlets in BIG Publika, Menara TH Uptown, Bangsar, Gleneagles Hospital and MyTOWN Shopping Centre, among other places.

The TTDI branch is located on the 1st floor at No. 4, Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 1.

It is open from 9am to 7pm. From 9am to 11am, you can have a breakfast of a sandwich and coffee for just RM9.90. – February 15, 2020.

* Eu Hooi-Khaw has been writing about food for the longest time, covering all aspects, from restaurant reviews to cooking and recipes, as well as the healthy side of it. She has written for major newspapers and magazines, published the cookbook Fresh Ingredients, and also writes for her website hooikhawandsu.com.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.