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This thick and aromatic fish curry originated in southern Thailand. The base of the dish is prepared with tai pla—fermented fish entrails—and a spicy curry paste consisting of chili peppers, galangal, shrimp paste, turmeric, shallots, and lemongrass.
Other additions usually include dry fish, diced eggplant, bamboo shoots, string beans, or other vegetables. Because of its intensity and strong, pungent aromas, kaeng tai pla is best served with steamed rice on the side. Traditionally, this Thai curry was only prepared with fish, and most varieties do not use coconut milk.
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Hoy tod is a traditional dish that's commonly sold at street food stands. This crispy omelet is prepared with plump oysters or mussels (or both) and bean sprouts that are fried after being coated in savory egg batter. Once fried, the omelet is typically garnished with spring onions and served with assorted condiments such as green chili sauce, fish sauce with chili peppers, or tomato sauce.
There's also the spongy and gooey version called or suan, and it's said that men usually prefer or suan, while women opt for the crispy hoy tod.
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Sliced fish soup is a traditional fish soup originating from Singapore. There are many variations, but it’s often made with a combination of fish such as grouper, minced pork, cabbage, tofu, tomatoes, fish stock, salt, white pepper, sesame oil, cornstarch, soy sauce, and Shaoxing wine.
The fish and meat are marinated, sautéed, and then cooked into a soup with the vegetables and seasonings. If desired, cooked noodles can also be added to the soup. Sliced fish soup is a staple at hawker centers across the country and it’s believed that the dish was created by the Teochew people.
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Fish head curry is a Singaporean specialty dish consisting of fish heads, coconut cream, tomatoes, and an array of seasonings such as curry leaves, garlic, chili, coriander, cumin, turmeric, pepper, and tamarind. The dish was invented during the 1970s as a way to use up unwanted fish heads.
Today, it is served with bread or rice on the side, and one simmering pot of fish head curry can easily feed a few people.
MOST ICONIC Fish Head Curry
View moreKaeng som is a sour, water-based Thai curry that is typically prepared with fish or shrimps and a thick paste that usually incorporates shallots, chilis, and shrimps. The dish comes in numerous varieties, and it can greatly differ depending on the region.
In southern Thailand, it often incorporates turmeric and is occasionally listed on the menus as orange or yellow curry, but it should not be confused with the classic, coconut-based yellow curry known as kaeng kari. The varieties found in central regions are usually enriched with tamarind pulp that gives the dish its typical sour flavor.
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This simple Thai stir-fry combines glass noodles and whole shrimps. The dish is usually prepared in clay pots with larger tiger prawns or freshwater shrimps and comes topped with soy sauce, peppercorns, coriander, and ginger, while variations may include bacon slices, oyster sauce, garlic, shallots, or different herbs and spices.
Although it is believed that the dish was created under Chinese culinary influence, it is now a staple in numerous seafood restaurants in Thailand.
The main elements of this Singaporean soup include a flavorful fish-based broth that is enriched with milk and spices, bee hoon noodles (rice vermicelli), fried or boiled fish heads or fish slices, and mustard greens. Garoupa, snakehead, pomfret, and batang are the most common types of fish used in this dish, and the fish stock is occasionally flavored with brandy or rice wine.
This hearty soup is a classic hawker-style dish that is usually served garnished with fresh scallions. In 2010, CNN mentioned this soup as one of the forty must-try dishes in Singapore.
MOST ICONIC Fish soup bee hoon
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Pinangat is a popular Filipino stew that is prepared in two main versions. The sour version is prepared with fish, bilimbi, tamarind, and vinegar, while the Bicol region version is prepared with coconut milk, taro leaves, hot chili peppers, and fish (sardines, catfish, or tuna).
Bicol region is abundant with taro leaves, so it is unsurprising that taro is a key ingredient in many Bicolano delicacies. Pinangat is served with a variety of toppings, and is usually ladled over rice. Cooking the dish is an easy process that only requires combining all of the ingredients and cooking them together, which is one of the main reasons for its popularity.
MOST ICONIC Pinangat
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Pla muek yang is a Thai-style chargrilled squid dish typically coated in a spicy, sweet-and-sour sauce consisting of lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, chilis, coriander roots, and sugar. The dish is often served with peanuts and coriander leaves on top and is commonly sold at roadside eateries and street stalls across Thailand.
It can be consumed on its own as an appetizer or a main course, or it can be mixed with salads.
Adobong pusit is a traditional dish that's a part of the famous adobo group of dishes. The dish is prepared with a combination of fresh squid and its ink, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, salt, sugar, oil, onions, and tomatoes. The squid is first boiled in a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar, and it's then sautéed in a combination of garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
It's important not to overcook the squid as its texture will become rubbery. This simple squid stew with robust flavors is sometimes accompanied by vegetable-based dishes on the side.
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