I ran out of ideas a while ago about what I wanted for dinner, so I instinctively went for fried fish soup.
It’s one of my go-to dishes when nothing at a hawker centre looks appetizing in the moment. Generally, there's a good standard for fish soup at hawker centres, so you usually can’t go wrong choosing one. That said, I’m still very selective about which stall I go to.
I tend to think the fish soup is better when it’s prepared by older folks. Personally, I feel they know what they’re doing and have a good eye for selecting fresh fish. On top of that, I believe they’ve developed soup recipes that are perfectly seasoned and carry that fresh ocean flavor, something I find a bit odd but really enjoyable, haha.
Although there are stalls that specialize exclusively in fish soup, there are also general noodle stalls that include fish soup as one of their menu items. Normally, I avoid those because it often feels like the fish soup is added just because it’s a popular dish, not necessarily because they’re passionate about it. But this time, I broke my usual habit. I ordered fried fish soup from a noodle stall, and surprisingly, it was being prepared by a young lady, which stood out since this line of business is usually run by older folks.
This stall didn’t even have proper equipment. The appliances she was using were makeshift, just induction cookers to prepare the noodles and toppings. So, it’s definitely not a traditional setup, and it seemed like more effort was required on her part. But she made it work, and judging by her loyal customers, I’d say she’s on the right track.
The first thing I noticed and found quite unique was her use of romaine lettuce instead of the usual bok choy or cabbage. I really like romaine lettuce, so I enjoyed that a lot.
The soup itself was quite good and refreshing, but since the weather was warm tonight, I didn’t finish it. I started sweating halfway through the meal.
For the carbs, I chose thick bee hoon, which is also the default noodle choice for this dish. I think this type of noodle pairs really well with fish soup because its taste and texture complement the broth. It’s also fun to eat, although I had a bit of a hard time grabbing it with chopsticks because it was so smooth.
Another interesting ingredient I noticed and really appreciated was the addition of fresh, thin strips of ginger. I think that’s what gave the soup an extra fresh taste and made it really soothing to the throat.
Overall, this unexpected bowl of fried fish soup turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It reminded me that good food can come from the most unassuming places and people. Sometimes, breaking out of your usual routine leads to the most memorable meals.
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