Ang Chong Yi - A Taste of Singapore - Symphony in Every Bite
Singapore is a cultural melting pot, and its cuisine is no exception. Singaporean food has Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Peranakan elements that create a symphony in every bite through the flavours, spices, and influences. If you want something heavy or light for lunch or just want to taste something sweet, then Singapore is the place to be. Here are some Ang Chong Yi — Encounter with Singapore’s Urban Food Symphony that you should not miss while visiting the vibrant city-state.
● Hainanese Chicken Rice
Hainanese chicken rice is one of Singapore’s most recognizable dishes due to its omnipresence. It includes tender chicken poached in an aromatic broth with fragrant rice cooked in the same broth and served with piquant chili sauce on the side, dark soy sauce, and a spicy ginger-garlic paste. In essence, this dish is simple, but its flavors are complex and satisfying.
● Laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup originally from the Peranakan community- a combination of Chinese and Malay cultures. There are many kinds of laksa, but Katong laksa is the best known in Singapore, having huge-sized rice noodles, coconut milk, fish balls, shrimp cockles and thick gravy made from dried shrimp lemongrass galangal, among others. This soup has a creamy texture with hints of spice, served with chopsticks and a spoon.
● Chilli Crab
Chilli crab is another must-try for seafood lovers in Singapore as it represents one of their signature dishes. It uses fresh crabs stir-fried together with a sweet tomato-based sauce that contains garlic chillies, corn starch, tomato sauce, ginger eggs, etc. The exquisite taste of this sauce will make you use fried mantou –Chinese steamed buns- to soak up all of it.
● Kaya Toast
Kaya toast is the perfect way to start your day, and it’s a typical Singaporean breakfast. What this means is that it has toasted bread slices with kaya (a coconut jam made from eggs, sugar and pandan leaves) spread on them and sandwiched with butter. These crispy outsides, soft inside, sweet yet creamy in-between toasts are best eaten with a serving of kopi- local coffee and a soft-boiled egg seasoned with soy sauce and pepper.
● Ice Kacang
When you need to cool off on a hot day, ice kacang is a great dessert. This dessert includes shaved ice combined with several toppings such as red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly, attap chee, which is palm seed and agar agar that serves like jelly, for instance. Lastly, evaporated milk is poured over the ice followed by rose syrup and gula melaka, which is palm sugar syrup, culminating in an attractive sweet dish.
Final thoughts
Singapore is a food paradise and here are only some of the foods you will find in this place. The best way to appreciate the diversity and richness of this country’s cuisine is through exploring its various neighbourhoods, visiting local markets, and tasting street food. If you are into diverse food exploration, do not forget to check out Tasting India: Ang Chong Yi's Epicurean Adventure from Street Food to Royal Cuisine. You will find out that each dish has its story, old days, and culture behind it.
Hainanese chicken rice is one of Singapore’s most recognizable dishes due to its omnipresence. It includes tender chicken poached in an aromatic broth with fragrant rice cooked in the same broth and served with piquant chili sauce on the side, dark soy sauce, and a spicy ginger-garlic paste. In essence, this dish is simple, but its flavors are complex and satisfying.
● Laksa
Laksa is a spicy noodle soup originally from the Peranakan community- a combination of Chinese and Malay cultures. There are many kinds of laksa, but Katong laksa is the best known in Singapore, having huge-sized rice noodles, coconut milk, fish balls, shrimp cockles and thick gravy made from dried shrimp lemongrass galangal, among others. This soup has a creamy texture with hints of spice, served with chopsticks and a spoon.
● Chilli Crab
Chilli crab is another must-try for seafood lovers in Singapore as it represents one of their signature dishes. It uses fresh crabs stir-fried together with a sweet tomato-based sauce that contains garlic chillies, corn starch, tomato sauce, ginger eggs, etc. The exquisite taste of this sauce will make you use fried mantou –Chinese steamed buns- to soak up all of it.
● Kaya Toast
Kaya toast is the perfect way to start your day, and it’s a typical Singaporean breakfast. What this means is that it has toasted bread slices with kaya (a coconut jam made from eggs, sugar and pandan leaves) spread on them and sandwiched with butter. These crispy outsides, soft inside, sweet yet creamy in-between toasts are best eaten with a serving of kopi- local coffee and a soft-boiled egg seasoned with soy sauce and pepper.
● Ice Kacang
When you need to cool off on a hot day, ice kacang is a great dessert. This dessert includes shaved ice combined with several toppings such as red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly, attap chee, which is palm seed and agar agar that serves like jelly, for instance. Lastly, evaporated milk is poured over the ice followed by rose syrup and gula melaka, which is palm sugar syrup, culminating in an attractive sweet dish.
Final thoughts
Singapore is a food paradise and here are only some of the foods you will find in this place. The best way to appreciate the diversity and richness of this country’s cuisine is through exploring its various neighbourhoods, visiting local markets, and tasting street food. If you are into diverse food exploration, do not forget to check out Tasting India: Ang Chong Yi's Epicurean Adventure from Street Food to Royal Cuisine. You will find out that each dish has its story, old days, and culture behind it.
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