Sarawakian Local Delights : Daun sabong

Daun Sabong @ Daun Dodah @ Daun Melinjo

This leafy edible plant is called daun Sabong (Iban), daun Dodah (Bidayuh) or daun Melinjo with scientific name Gnetum gnemon*. This wild plant can normally be found at a secondary jungle in Sabah and Sarawak.

The leafy young leaves brownish green  in color can is a nice vegetable dish especially cook stir-fried with shrimp paste, Malay style.

Daun Sabong and pumpkin soup

However most Iban housewives would cook it with pumpkin in a soup.


The leaf is slightly slimy in texture when cooked, with subtle and unique flavor.

Daun Sabong sold in a tied bundle like this in a Miri Tamu

According to an elder, daun Sabong is a good health food to help reduce uric acid. Diabetics can also improve their health if they keep eating this  dish every day.