Punjab Grill’s Monsoon Menu: A Mastery of Seasonal Indian Cuisine

PUBLISHED August 10th, 2016 07:00 pm

Whenever the rains arrive in India, a new seasonal menu pops up in Singapore at the award-winning restaurant Punjab Grill. That’s how Chef Javed Ahamad pays tribute to the monsoon.

From the petrichor of rain falling on dry earth to the ringing peals of thunder and lightning heralding the power of mother nature, the monsoon holds a special place in the heart of most Indians, evidently including the restaurant’s culinary team.

Until 31 August 2016, you can also experience for yourself the unique smells, tastes and flavours strongly associated with the season, with flavours ranging from the aromatic and mouth-watering to the sweet and spice-laden. Make no mistake though, dining here isn’t the same as binging on panipuri at a roadside stall in Amritsar.

Punjab Grill is fine-dining through and through, with cushy leather arm chairs, polished stone flooring, and thousands of glass fixtures hanging from the ceiling. It is also where everyday dishes like your palak paneer and roti intertwine with the secret recipes of North Indian royal kitchens, plus a dash of modernity.

Available for both lunch and dinner on the Monsoon Seasonal Menu are unique dishes, like the crispy sweet Cauliflower Fritters ($20 for an assorted vegetable platter), gorgeously set on a bed of aged beetroot pickle. The Tomato Basil Rasam ($18) soup, conveniently served in a small cup, is delightfully pleasant, served with crispy carom seed croutons to open up our appetites.

The Pan-Grilled Tiger Prawn ($46) were next – perfectly grilled, succulent, and oh-so-sweet, with some tossed lemon bread crumbs for contrast. The meats though, were the ones that stole our hearts. Think tamarind-flavoured Tandoori Kukkad Wings ($40), marinated with black pepper, yoghurt, kashmiri chilli before being finished tenderly in a clay oven, and Mango Chutney Spiked Lamb Ribs ($45), fall-off-the-bone soft with both sweet and sour flavours.

For mains, the Smoked Tandoori Duck ($48) is nothing short of outstanding, smoked and simmered in kashmiri rogan jus (a lamb curry) to pack in all the delicious flavours. Get this with a basket of Warki Jeera Naan ($10) – great for sopping up the rich gravy.

If you like a good show, don’t leave without ordering the Flambe Chocolate Bomb ($22), set alight via a stream of flaming sauce to reveal a lovely saffron pistachio frosty inside. Wash all that good stuff down with a cup of obligatory Masala Wali Chai Tea ($10) and you’re done.

The Monsoon Seasonal Menu is available until 31 August 2016. Punjab Grill is located at #B1-01A, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972, p. 6688 7395. Open Mon-Sun 11am – 11pm.