Buah Keluak Fried Rice Recipe: How To Cook The Nonya Dish That Tasha Low’s Emerald Hill Character Made In The Show
In the new Mediacorp blockbuster, Tasha Low’s character Xin Niang whipped up this daring mod version of a classic Peranakan buah keluak dish and impressed even the original Little Nyonya (Jeanette Aw’s Yue Niang).
Food and cooking is at the heart of Peranakan culture, and there are plenty of luscious Nonya dishes showcased in the new Mediacorp blockbuster Emerald Hill.
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BUAH KELUAK FRIED RICE
Serves 1-2 pax
Ingredients:
Rempah:
- 1 cup shallots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp belacan (fermented shrimp paste)
- 4 red chillies
Rice:
- 3 tbsp + 2 tbsp cooking oil
- ¾ cup buah keluak meat
- 100g minced pork, chicken or prawns
- 2 cups day-old cooked white or brown rice
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 fried egg chopped coriander leaves, for garnishing
Method:
1) Make rempah by blending all the rempah ingredients into a smooth paste.
2) Heat 3 tbsp oil in a wok over high heat.
3) Add the rempah to the wok and reduce heat to medium. Stir-fry the rempah till it starts to release its oils. This will take about 10 minutes.
4) Crumble the buah keluak meat into the pan and stir-fry for another 5 minutes. Add a spoonful or two of water if the mixture seems to be drying out.
5) When the buah keluak meat is well incorporated into the rempah, transfer to a blender or use a stick blender to blitz to a fine paste.
6) Place the remaining 2 tbsp oil in the same wok and set to high heat. Return the rempah to the wok along with the minced pork, chicken or prawns. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, then add the rice.
7) Stir-fry the rice vigorously till all the grains are coated in the rempah. Add the light and dark soy sauces and continue stir-frying till everything is evenly incorporated.
8) Taste and add salt, if necessary.
9) Transfer rice to a serving plate and top with a fried egg. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve immediately.
Pro tip: Conveniently de-shelled buah keluak can be found at dry goods stores in wet markets (try the one at #01-210, Blk 665, Tekka Centre).
Additional reporting by Yip Jieying
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