Under the Influence: Singaporean Cuisine

Singaporean cuisine is a vibrant potpourri of delectable Chinese food, flavourful Indian delights, scrumptious Malay treats, as well as various other types of Asian cuisines. For a tiny island, the city-state really offers the world’s biggest buffet spread! But what exactly has influenced local cuisine? We look at the different food cultures which are responsible for bringing out the best in every Singaporean foodie.

Chinese Cuisine The origins of Chinese cuisine can be traced back to regions all over China. Each region and province has its unique twist on its various culinary representations, and in fact, many different types of Chinese cuisines exist. Today, most dishes have found their way to Singapore. Other types of oriental influences hail from places like Hong Kong and Taiwan – which explains the presence of Cantonese and Hokkien cuisine (amongst many others) as well. Local Delights • Char Siew(China/Hong Kong) – barbecued pork; usually served with noodles or rice • Hainanese Chicken Rice (Hainan, China) – chicken served with oily rice, with chilli/pounded ginger as a dipping sauce • Oyster Omelette(Chaozhou/Fujian, China) – omelette prepared with starch (to give the egg a thick, slightly chewy consistency) and small oysters; lime-infused chilli sauce is used as a dipping sauce • Wanton Mee (Hong Kong/Guangzhou, China) – “wanton” means dumpling, and “mee” means noodles; usually either served as a noodle dish or even a soup-based dish

Indian Cuisine The cuisine of both Northern and Southern India has made quite an establishment in Singapore. South Indian food comprises seafood dishes and spicy curries enriched with coconut milk, while North Indian cuisine features fluffy naan breads, creamy yoghurt-based dishes and milder curries, as compared to the South. Local Delights • Roti Prata (known as “Paratha” in North India) – griddle-fried flat breads with various choices of fillings available; usually served with a small side of curry • Appam (South India/Sri Lanka) – thin, bowl-shaped pancakes made from fermented rice flour; usually served with a savoury, spicy condiment or curry • Pappadum (North/South India) – crispy, thin crackers deep fried in oil; they are usually roasted in North India • Curry (various regions in India) – a spicy concoction infused with spices and herbs and enriched with coconut milk; many variations exist, depending on the region

Malay/Indonesian Cuisine Spices like belachan (shrimp paste) and coconut milk are staples of Malay/Indonesian cuisine. Culinary influence is drawn from several countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Southern Thailand and even Singapore. Different regions also have their unique signature dishes. Local Delights • Satay (Java, Indonesia) – pieces of meat on a stick, grilled over charcoal fire • Pisang Goreng (Indonesia/Malaysia) – deep fried banana fritter • Kolo Mee (Kuching, Malaysia) – boiled egg noodles with ingredients like crushed garlic and shallots, minced pork/beef, white vinegar and sliced barbecued pork • Sup Kambing (Malaysia/Indonesia) – a spiced mutton soup with a very rich broth texture

Peranakan Cuisine Peranakan (also known as Nonya) cuisine is a fusion of Chinese ingredients and cooking methods with Malay/Indonesian spices. Peranakan cuisine utilises many herbs and spices, shrimp paste and coconut milk (very much like Malay/Indonesian cuisine), and many dishes come in the form of stews, braised dishes and curries. Local Delights • Ayam Buah Keluak(Straits-Chinese) – chicken pieces combined with "keluak" nuts • Otak-otak (Malaysia/Indonesia) – banana-wrapped meat-paste (made of fish, coconut milk, chilli paste, etc) grilled lightly over charcoal fire • Sour Assam Laksa (Penang, Malaysia) – spicy noodle soup accentuated with spices and tamarind paste • Itek Tim(Malaysia) – a savoury soup comprising duck as the main ingredient, together with salted vegetables, tomatoes, green peppers and preserved sour plums With all these tantalising cuisines and flavours, it’s no wonder Singaporeans are eating 24/7! The best Singaporean food in town Recommended Indian dishes in Singapore