5 Essential Peranakan Dishes for Your Next Buffet Catering
Are you looking to serve Peranakan cuisine for your next buffet catering but you don’t know where to start? Don’t fret! Here are some of our recommendations on the quintessential Peranakan dishes to impress your guests.
Peranakan cuisine’s fusion of Chinese and Malay food offers a distinct flavour profile that will be a treat for newbies.
Here are the 5 essential Peranakan dishes you should serve at your next Peranakan buffet in Singapore.
List of 5 Must-Have Peranakan Dishes at Your Buffet
Whether it’s your first time hosting a Peranakan buffet or you prefer having it occasionally, these five dishes will have your guests wanting more the next time round.
1. Signature Kampong Dry Laksa
Some of us are familiar with savouring clear broth noodle soup with meat or seafood. But, the Peranakans had a different idea, and they modified the recipe to create a dish known as laksa. This dish is not only loved by most Singaporeans but also Malaysians.
While most of us are familiar with the spicy, rich broth that comes with a bowl of laksa, it’s time to wow your guests with a twist. Our one-of-a-kind, Signature Kampong Dry Laksa, is a unique dish that captures the same savoury and fragrant taste in each bite.
2. Signature Ayam Buah Keluak
The Ayam Buah Keluak is an important dish for many Peranakans, but cooking this dish can be tricky because the rich taste comes from the seeds of the kepayang tree – now a heritage tree in Singapore. Even so, you will not regret having a taste of this dish.
Depending on the cooking style, the gravy is made from a blend of spices, which is then stir-fried till fragrant, after which other ingredients like lemongrass and the flesh of the keluak nuts are added. This makes the Signature Ayam Buah Keluak a unique dish.
3. Udang Masak Nenas
For prawn and pineapple lovers, this Peranakan dish is a must-have for your buffet catering. The sauce features a unique combination that results from the sweetness and sourness of the tamarind and pineapple, the pungency from the shrimp paste (belacan), the creaminess of the coconut milk, and the heat from the chillies.
While these ingredients don’t seem to match, they can make any seafood taste splendid, like prawns or fish. With more flavours that make your tastebuds tingle, the Udang Masak Nenas is sure to delight.
4. Nonya Chap Chye with Mushroom
No Peranakan buffet is complete without this traditional favourite. The Nonya Chap Chye with Mushroom is a simple stir-fried vegetable using taucheo and prawn stock. And the Peranakans have tweaked the dish to give it a flavourful taste.
Featuring sweet cabbage, cloud fungus, woodsy lily bud, tofu skin, and vermicelli, these ingredients then absorb the rich flavours of the sauce to give you a satisfying yet tasty dish.
5. Pulut Hitam with Coconut Milk
You should never forget about dessert and the Pulut Hitam with Coconut Milk is one of the most popular Peranakan desserts in the region, making it one of the must-haves for your next Peranakan buffet catering in Singapore.
Made of black glutinous rice and coconut milk, it is the equivalent of a rice porridge to relieve your tastebuds after savouring all the dishes above. It is first sweetened with palm sugar or rock sugar to give it a rich flavour. You can mix coconut milk into the rice for a creamier texture, depending on your preference.
Why should you have Peranakan food buffet catering?
There are many reasons to have other types of cuisine for your next catering. But, you can create a unique tasting experience for your guests with Peranakan foods. Besides, there are various interesting facts that you and your guests may not have known about Peranakan cuisine.
About Chilli Manis
Chilli Manis, which means “sweet chilli” in the Indonesian language, is a halal buffet catering service in Singapore that seeks to showcase the best of Peranakan cuisine – dishes that have amalgamated signature flavours across Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian fares. It is also a subsidiary of Neo Group.
Ordering from Us
Over the years, Chilli Manis has become one of Singapore’s popular Peranakan Buffet Caterer, serving a wide array of regular buffet, mini buffet, bento sets and more that combines nostalgic Peranakan taste with a touch of modern influence.
Conclusion
You can rest assured of the quality of food and services that we offer as we take pride in providing only the best dining experience. Depending on what you order, you can enjoy as many as over ten types of dishes in one seating for your social gatherings or corporate events. You can explore our buffet menus on Chilli Manis’ website.
