Singapore: Recipes and Cuisine

Singapore's Marina Bay
Image by Leong Him Woh

The cuisine of Singapore is a rich fusion of the culinary traditions of the many ethnic groups that make up its population. Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian dishes and ingredients are popular.

Singaporeans take their food seriously and talk about it endlessly. This small, affluent city-state is full of vibrant markets, redolent food carts and excellent restaurants with some of Southeast Asia’s best cooking.

Typical Singapore Dishes

A list of typical Singaporean dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Singapore-style meal, party or festival.

Appetizers

  • Ngo Hiang (5-Spice pork and shrimp rolls)
  • Popiah (Malay-style fresh spring rolls)
  • Siu Mai (Steamed pork dumplings)

Soups and Stews

  • Curry Laksa (Coconut curried noodle soup)
  • Laksa Lemak (Rice noodles in coconut gravy with seafood)
  • Soto Ayam (Chicken soup)

Salads

  • Raita (Cooling yogurt dishes)
  • Yu Sang (New Year’s salad)

Noodles and Dumplings

  • Char Kway Teow (Stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp)
  • Curry Laksa (Coconut curried noodle soup)
  • Mie Goreng (Stir-fried noodles with vegetables)
  • Mee Siam (Rice vermicelli with seafood and vegetables)
  • Yangchow Chow Fun (Yangchow fried rice noodles)
  • Singapore Hokkien Mee (Hokkien-style noodles)

Poultry

  • Hoi Nam Gai Fan (Hainanese chicken rice)
  • Hauyou Gai (Oyster sauce chicken)
  • Satay Ayam (Chicken skewers with peanut sauce)
  • Tandoori Murgh (Yogurt-marinated and broiled chicken)

Meats

  • Rendang Daging (Beef simmered in coconut milk)
  • Satay Babi (Pork satay)

Fish and Seafood

  • Chiu Yip Kar Li Yu (Fish head curry)
  • Chun Yau Ching Har (Shrimp with scallions)
  • Dau Shi Ching Yu (Fish steamed with black beans)
  • Fish Head Curry (Spicy curry with coconut milk)
  • Har Lok (Shrimp in tomato sauce)
  • Ketam Cili Singapore (Chili crab)
  • Oyster Omelette
  • Udang Goreng Asam (Tamarind shrimp)

Vegetables and Beans

  • Aloo Gobi Matar (Potatoes with cauliflower and peas)
  • Gado-gado (Vegetables in peanut sauce)

Breads and Grains

  • Murtabak (Griddle bread filled with spiced meat)
  • Nasi Lemak (Coconut milk rice)
  • Zarda (Sweet saffron rice pilaf)

Pickles and Preserves

  • Acar Ketimun (Cucumber pickle)

Desserts

  • Kuih Lopis (Glutinous rice with coconut)
  • Pisang Goreng (Batter-fried bananas)

Beverages

  • Bandung (Creamy rose-scented beverage)
  • Singapore Sling (Gin and juice cocktail)

Singaporean Recipes

Try these recipes from Singapore.

Aloo Gobi 
(Indian potato and cauliflower curry)

Curry Laksa 
(Malaysian, Singaporean coconut curried noodle soup)

Gado Gado 
(Indonesian vegetable salad with peanut sauce)

Rendang Daging 
(Indonesian beef simmered in coconut milk)

Acar Ketimun 
(Indonesian cucumber pickle)

Mie Goreng 
(Indonesian stir-fried noodles with vegetables)

Pisang Goreng 
(Indonesian batter-fried bananas)

Tandoori Murgh 
(Indian, Pakistani yogurt-marinated and broiled chicken)

Siu Mai 
(Chinese steamed pork and shrimp dumplings)

Hoi Nam Gai Fan 
(Singaporean Hainanese chicken rice)

Char Kway Teow 
(Malaysian, Singaporean stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp)

Raita 
(South Asian yogurt condiment)

Satay Ayam 
(Indonesian chicken skewers with peanut sauce)

Ketam Cili Singapore 
(Ketam Cili Singapore)



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