Traditional food in Singapore is a blend of culinary traditions from different parts of the world. Most of it comes from Chinese, Malaysian, Indian and European cuisines. In this article, you’ll find dishes ranging from vegetarian to meat, from the familiar to the exotic. We promise: Singapore will surprise you.
You can enjoy the flavor alone, or you can enjoy it in the company of a guideChicken Rice
A traditional Singaporean dish that is strikingly simple: a mound of rice with chicken, boiled or baked. It is served with a cup of broth and sliced cucumber.
It is available almost everywhere in Singapore. But we advise you to check out the Michelin-guided Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall. As you can tell from the name, it’s a signature dish.
Chilli Crab
A cross between Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine, this dish is a must-try for everyone. Don’t be intimidated by the name: you can ask any place to adjust the spiciness to suit your mood.
The sauce in which the crab is cooked is made from tomato paste with onion, garlic, ginger and pepper. This way the meat becomes tender and juicy. We advise you to order buns to dip them in the sauce. It turns out very tasty!
Laksa
This soup recipe was invented by Peranakans, descendants of Chinese settlers in Southeast Asia. It became very popular there, so there are many variants of preparation. But traditionally it consists of rice noodles with a sauce of coconut milk and aromatic spices. And necessarily seafood (most often prawns) or tofu to make the soup more nourishing.
In Singapore, they also like to add curry to laksa. It’s quite a spicy food. If you are not ready for this, ask for a tweak to the recipe. The locals are sympathetic to those who don’t share their fondness for spicy food.
Singaporeans have invented their own version of soup – Katong laksa. It can be eaten with a spoon instead of chopsticks, because the noodles are cut very finely. They also add ground dried prawns to the soup, which gives it an interesting «sandy» texture.
Ice Cream Sandwich
Street food is very popular in Singapore. One representative of local street food is ice cream in a slice of toasted bread or waffle. Some sellers add food colouring to the dough, which makes the dessert look even more unusual.
But the most tempting thing is the huge choice of ice-cream flavours: from classic plombir to corn. The cost of such a treat is not expensive at all: in the region of one Singapore dollar. You’ll find plenty of ice-cream shops on touristy Orchard Road and in Chinatown.
Fried Carrot Cake (Chai Tow Kway)
You won’t be able to tell from the name of this traditional Singaporean dish on the menu what you’re getting. It doesn’t include carrots, and instead of the typical dessert, it’s something that looks like slices of flatbread on the plate. It’s a cake made from daikon (Chinese radish), which is cut into cubes and fried in egg and seasonings.
There are two variations of the recipe in Singapore:
- White – a pie with a toasted and crispy crust
- Black – a dessert with sweet soya sauce
Ice Kachang
This unusual dessert is perfect in hot weather. It is prepared as follows: ice is crushed, piled up and various toppings are added. It used to be just ice and red beans, but now it’s completely free to choose.
Go for a tastingSingaporeans love ais kachang with creamy corn and herbal jelly, and of the syrups, they prefer red rose syrup. There are more familiar additions too, choose to your liking.
It’s not hard to find a frosty treat. Cafes and food courts across Singapore offer guests a refreshing glass of colourful ice.
Kaya Toast
Kaya toast is often eaten for breakfast in Singapore, as it’s quick and easy to make. It’s just two slices of bread with a thick filling called kaya. It is made from eggs, sugar and coconut milk. Pandanus is often added to kaya for flavour. The leaves of this tree are a popular seasoning in Southeast Asia.
Toast is served with butter and boiled eggs and served with black coffee or tea. The dish is so popular that you can easily find a place to try it. And toast is prepared all day long, not just in the morning. Who would miss an opportunity to make money?
It is said that the dish was invented by natives of Hainan province. They used to cook for British sailors. And then they settled in Singapore and began to open coffee shops – kopitiams.
In the recipe for toast, the Hainanese replaced fruit jam with coconut paste, which they made themselves. They served this simple dish in their establishments and it quickly became popular.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes came to Singapore from China. They are usually round, with a thick crust and thick filling, which can be any kind of filling. The classic recipe has salted egg yolk or sweet red bean paste inside. And on top of the mooncake are hieroglyphics representing the moon, harmony or longevity.
Mooncakes are made to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and given to their loved ones. But there is a legend that they used to have a completely different meaning. They were used by revolutionaries to send secret messages that were encrypted in the patterns on the pie crust.
Drinks in Singapore
The food in Singapore is definitely memorable. But you can’t ignore the local drinks. Although Singaporeans didn’t invent world-famous beer like the Czechs or Germans, they still have something special.
Coffee and tea
Let’s start with the more familiar drinks, but they are prepared in Singapore in a special way.
As in many Asian countries, coffee (i.e. Kopi) is served with condensed milk. Black coffee without additives is also prepared, it is called Kopi-O-kosong. The situation with tea is similar: if you order just Teh, you will get tea with milk. So ask for Teh-O-kosong to enjoy the familiar flavour.
Pearl Barley Limonade
No, pearl here has nothing to do with pearls. Pearl barley is just regular pearl barley.
Sugar and lemon or lime juice are added to the broth of the groats. The result is a fresh and sweet drink. It is usually served with ice and mint leaves.
Lemonade combines pleasant and useful: it is said to help relieve swelling.
Singapore Sling
The name suggests that the famous gin-based cocktail was invented in Singapore. It tastes very pleasant: a little sweet, spicy and sour. A glass with a drink is usually decorated with a cherry or a piece of pineapple.
Bars in Singapore offer their guests to try not just a legendary cocktail. Many invent author’s variations of the drink, trying to achieve the perfect balance of flavour so that their Singapore Sling would be called the best.
If you’re in Singapore, be sure to try something from our list of traditional dishes. And after a delicious meal, it’s doubly enjoyable to walk around the city and experience its culture. We wish you a delicious travelling experience!
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