Singapore is an island well-known for its gastronomy from different ethnic background. Here's 10 dishes you absolutely cannot afford to miss if you ever travel to Singapore.
1. Fried Carrot Cake
The simple dish has its origins in Southern China’s Chaoshan province. There, it is known as 'chao gao guo' (fried starch cake) which is made mainly with rice flour. Fish sauce and black sweetened soya sauce are used to marinate the rice cake before it is cut and fried with eggs, oysters and prawns. Brought over to Singapore by Teochew immigrants, it was known as 'char kway' (fried rice cake), which was simply cubes of rice cakes fried with dark soya sauce.
2. Bak Kut Teh
This is a dish that is commonly found both in Singapore and Malaysia. Bak Kut Teh is customarily prepared through many hours of simmering meaty pork ribs in a broth of pepper garlic and many other herbs.
3. Chicken Rice
This ubiquitous dish can be found in hawker centers across the country. Whether it's in major hotels or tiny street cafes, the fragrant rice, succulent chicken combined with spicy chilli and ginger paste makes it a perfect lunch time meal.
4. Rojak
Rojak is a popular dish often served with mixed sliced fruits and vegetables served with spicy palm sugar dressing. Unlike common fruit salads, the Singaporean variant of rojak contains cuttlefish. The term "rojak" is also used as a colloquial expression for an eclectic mix, can also be used to describe the multi-ethnic character of the Singaporean society.
5. Roti Prata
Similar to its cousin, roti prata can be easily confused with the traditional indian nan. Prata is also commonly cooked upon request with cheese, onion, banana, red bean, chocolate, mushroom, egg, and yes, even ice-cream. Be sure to check out this tasty local cuisine!
6. Singapore Chilli crab
Chilli crab is among Singapore’s greatest culinary inventions, the king of all crab dishes. The crab is divine but the sauce is the star – sweet yet savoury, slightly spicy and supremely satisfying with dipping fried or steamed buns, called mantou. A delightful blend of tomatoes and chilli paste, thickened with ribbons of beaten eggs, it's just simply finger licking good!
7. Char Kway Teow
A popular and inexpensive usually eaten during lunch or dinner at food center in Singapore. The dish is commonly stir-fried with egg, slices of Chinese sausage, fishcake, beansprouts, and less commonly with other ingredients. Do ask for healthier versions with more vegetables and less oil if you don't want to return home 5 kg heavier!
8. Laksa
One of my comfort food is the Laksa. Laksa is a robust spicy gravy rice noodle dish topped with prawns and cockles to produce a sensational curry-based flavor. Your life is not complete if you haven't already tasted it.
9. Fish Head Curry
The squeamish will squirm at the sight of puffy cheeks and bulging fish eyes surrounded in a sea of red gravy. Yet, for many, it is a visually appetizing feast - usually eaten with rice to soak up the fragrant curry. Fish head curry is unique to Singapore, the epitome of a cultural melting pot. Every ethnic group here has its own version of the dish, with slight variations to the curry.
10. Satay
A dish of seasoned, skewered and grilled meat served with peanut sauce. You can choose from a variety of meat including chicken, mutton, goat, beef, pork, and even tofu.
Have you ever traveled to Singapore? Do you know of any local dishes that you simply cannot have enough of?
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