Indian Singaporean cuisine facts for kids
Indian Singaporean cuisine is all about the yummy food and drinks in Singapore that come from South Asian cooking traditions. You'll find a great variety of Indian food in Singapore, especially dishes from the Tamil people and local Tamil Muslim cooking. Recently, food from North India has also become more popular.
Over time, Indian dishes in Singapore have changed quite a bit. This happened because of contact with other cultures in Singapore, and also because of the ingredients available locally. The taste of people in Singapore also played a part! These local Indian foods can be seen as unique versions of Indian food, or even a mix of Indian and Singaporean styles.
Popular Indian Singaporean Dishes
Here are some popular 'Indian' dishes you can find in Singapore. Sometimes, even non-Indians prepare and sell these tasty foods!
- Pickle - This is a mix of vegetables preserved in spices. It's now served by Chinese and Malays too, with their traditional meals.
- Nasi biryani - A popular Indian Muslim dish made with special saffron rice and meat. Both Indians and Malays sell it, and it's a must-have at Malay weddings.
- Curry - This is a basic Indian gravy made with vegetables or meat. It's now very common in local Chinese and Malay traditional cooking. For example, Laksa is a Peranakan dish whose name comes from a Sanskrit word meaning 'hundred thousand'. Devil curry is a Eurasian example, and Chilli crab is a Chinese example.
- Fish head curry - This is a famous Singaporean dish! It was created by Indians (specifically Mr. Marian Jacob Gomez from Kerala) for Chinese people, who enjoy different textures in their food. You won't find this dish in India.
- Indian Rojak - This is a salad with deep-fried battered potatoes, eggs, seafood, tofu, and other items. It's served with a hot and sweet chili sauce. This dish is unique to Singapore and its region; it doesn't exist in India.
- Indian Mee goreng - This dish uses Chinese yellow noodles, but they are cooked 'Indian style'. They are fried with spices, minced meat, green peas, and potatoes.
- Murtabak - This is like a Roti Prata that's stuffed with minced chicken, mutton, beef, or sardines.
- Roti john - This is a split, pan-fried baguette (a long loaf of bread) topped with egg, minced mutton, and onions. It's served with ketchup.
- Roti Prata - Some people call this 'Singapore's answer to the croissant'. It's a popular late-night snack after leaving nightclubs. You can find different kinds, like durian and cheese prata.
- Teh tarik - This drink literally means 'pulled tea'. It gets its name from the way it's prepared, where the tea is poured back and forth between two containers. It's often compared to a cappuccino because of its frothy top.
Dishes from the Colonial Period
During the time when Singapore was a colony, Indian ingredients and cooking styles spread to places like Singapore. Many of these dishes are still enjoyed in some homes and restaurants today.
- Mince with potatoes and peas - This is a pork mince cooked with cloves and soya sauce. It's similar to Goan quema and Indian kheema.
- Chicken Wrap - An Anglo-Indian chicken wrap, which comes from the wraps made by pepperbox.sg.
- Panneer Wrap - A North-Indian Panneer wrap, also from the wraps made by pepperbox.sg.
- Mulligatawny - This is an Anglo-Indian peppery curried soup. It comes from the Tamil rasam.
- Fish moolie - A spicy fish and coconut dish that might have come from Portugal or India.
- Curry tiffin - Another Anglo-Indian tradition. The word 'tiffin' is an Indian term for lunch. This meal usually has a curry as the main dish with different side dishes.
- Pork vindaloo - This dish comes from a Goan vinegared curry. It probably arrived in Malacca with the Portuguese in the 16th century. Now, it's considered a Eurasian dish.
- Spiced mutton chops - These are deep-fried spicy mutton chops. Historically, they were prepared by a person named Ujagar Singh at St Gregory Lane in Singapore.
Other Indian Foods in Singapore
There are also many other Indian foods that are not as widely available. However, you can still find them in areas that serve more specific Indian customers, especially in and around Little India, Singapore. These include:
You can also find various Indian sweets, including:
