Singapore is fondly known as the food nation, with its cuisine combining the flavors of Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, and India. Singapore cuisine attracts foodies and gives them various choices. In Singapore, one can easily get pocket-friendly happy meals at every nooks and corners of the streets.
Singaporeans have embraced all types of dishes, making them part of their lives as the nation is well known for its multi-ethnic culture and heritage. Singaporean cuisine is extremely colorful with its unique flavor and aroma. Dishes such as Kaya Toast, Wanton Mee and Nasi Lemak are a treat to the taste buds of the average Singaporean. Among such a vast selection of dishes, these 10 dishes are the best picks to give a try.
Bak Kut Teh – Tea from pork ribs and assorted herbs
The name itself means "pork rib tea" where pork ribs are shouldered to create a flavourable base and then combined with a variety of herbs, cloves, and garlic. This dish is known for its distinct aroma. There are two distinct schools of making Bak Kut Teh – one is Hokkien Chinese type where you add soya sauce for the base. However, in case of Teochew Chinese, the base is moiré neat and lighter. Usually, Bak Kut Teh is served along with white rice, dough fritters and so on.
Carrot Cake – Savory Egg and Raddish treat
The main ingredient in this dish is radish, also known as "white carrot". The carrot is grated and added along with rice, flour, and water to form cakes, and then these are stir-fried with egg, pickled radish, and spring onion. Carrot cake is famous among the hawkers, who give you a choice between "black" (fried with sweet soya sauce) and white.
Char Kway Teo – Noodles
Char kway Teo is nothing but a fried flat rice noodle dish prepared with dark soya sauce, eggs, Chinese sausage, prawns, cockles and sliced fried fish. This dish is made famous by hawkers who are experienced in making this dish. Char Kway Teo can be well served with dash of chilli.
Chilli Crab
This is the most famous dish with the combination of greasy and spicy seafood. Each crab shell is cooked in a paste made up of garlic, onion, ginger, sesame oil and ground chilli with a velvety coating of thin crab in its shell. This dish is best made in restaurants where they provide hot buns alongside. For added flavour, you can try Chilli Crab with a variety of sauces.
Hainanese Chicken Rice
In Singapore, Hainanese Chicken Rice is served with ginger mash and chilli lime sauce. The chicken is simmered in the broth, which is then cooked with rice resulting in yellowish and fatty Hainanese Chicken rice, served alongside cucumber and other vegetables in oyster sauce.
Satay – Barbecue Asian Style
Satay is soaked with meat and roasted on a skewer, then served with peanuts and sauce. This dish has an Asian identity that compiles the vision of late night feast and charcoal smell. Satay is best served at Hawker's center giving you the choice to choose from variant flavors.
Laksa – Noodle Dish
Laksa is basically a noodle dish bathed in coconut milk curry and cockles. The sauce is thinner when compared to the thick curry decorated with tofu and shredded chicken. Let's not forget the lemon grass topping that completes the recipe. Laksa is served in a unique manner in Katong District with shorter cut noodles.
Fish Head Curry
Fish head is meaty and flavorful, which is cooked with spicy red broth from belican chili, mustard seeds, and onions. It is then blended with tomatoes and okra.
Roti Prata
Roti Prata is basically an Indian dish. But, in Singaporean cuisine this dish is given a different texture by flattening the dough and serving it in a form of pancake. The twirled pancake is then grilled and it can be enjoyed with sugar or ice cream.
Rojak
Rojak is a crisp and flavored salad containing cucumber banana flower, bean, and sprouts. It is then dressed with prawn paste, tamarind sauce and decorated with peanuts.
