The soul of a bowl of laksa lies in its deep flavorsome broth. It is generally made from a chicken/fish stock mixed with with ground up dried shrimp, spices and thickened with coconut milk to give its characteristic orange-white color. As a result, unsuspecting first timers may notice a sandy or gritty texture to the laksa gravy, which in my opinion is not a bad thing at all.
The other key ingredient giving laksa its unique flavor is the laksa leaf, also known as the daun kesom in Malay. The leaves are usually sliced thinly and sprinkled on the top of a finished bowl of laksa to produce its signature aroma.
Lastly, know that even though most generic stalls will cater to any type of noodles customers request, anyone who is looking for the real authentic laksa experience ought to know that only thin, white vermicelli or rice noodles will do.
The toppings that grace a bowl of laksa are rather simple seafood ingredients like cockles, prawns and fish cake. Cubes of tofu puff are also added in so that these tofu cubes soak up the delicious gravy like a baguette. Most stalls have the option of omitting or adding more blood cockles into the bowl of laksa according to preference.
Those who choose the former often belong to the health conscious bunch or are simply afraid of the bloody taste and smell of cockles. I admit that I belong to the latter group who must absolutely have cockles in my bowl of laksa. I think the taste of cockles itself is an essential part of the whole laksa experience.