Top 10 vegetarian Singaporean dishes in Singapore

PUBLISHED February 19th, 2013 01:08 am | UPDATED February 2nd, 2016 02:41 pm

It doesn’t all have to be about meat, now does it? There are plenty of great vegetarian options to be had on our little red dot of Singapore, many of which you need not look any further beyond our local makan for. We give a round up of our top 10 favourite vegetarian-friendly Singapore dishes, and our favourite places to eat them here…

Chinese Rojak

Rojak is a Malay word which literally means an eclectic mix of…anything! In this case, it refers to a savoury fruit salad of cucumber, pineapple, mango, bean sprouts, banana flower, turnip, ginger, dough fritters and fried bean curd, which is then tossed in a piquant dressing of tamarind, prawn paste (which can be opted out for a veggie version), sugar, chilli, lime juice and a generous topping of crushed, roasted peanuts. The mix of flavours is truly tasty – sweet, sour, spicy and incredibly fresh.

Where: We love Aunty’s Rojak in LTN Food Village on 936 East Coast Road. Note that there is Indian rojak and Chinese rojak, which are two totally different dishes.

Roti Prata – probably Singapore’s best invention!

This is a light, fluffy puff pastry pancake which is impressively flipped and twirled to incorporate air and then pan-fried till crispy golden brown. Being an Indian speciality, its typically served with curry but nowadays you can get exotic versions with cheese, mushrooms and even banana and chocolate for a sweet version! Goes great with a mug of teh tarik – hot frothy milk tea.

Where: We love Thasevi Famous Jalan Kayu Prata Restaurant at 239 Jalan Kayu Singapore 799463; Singapore Zam Zam at 697 North Bridge Road Singapore 198675; and Casurina Curry House at 138 Casuarina Road Singapore 579526.

Popiah

Nyonah fresh spring rolls made from thin wrappers stuffed with turnip, jicama, bean sprouts, fried tofu, shredded carrots, and many other fillings depending on the individual vendor. The filling is usually grated and steamed, and the popiah is dressed with a sweet-spicy bean sauce made of soy sauce and hoisin sauce and an optional chilli paste. This is served fresh, not fried which makes it a healthy snack.

Where: We love Miow Sin Popiah & Carrot Cake at Lavender Food Centre 380 Jalan Besar; Qing Tian Niang Dou Fu, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 1 Bedok Road; Glory Catering Nonya Popiah, 139 East Coast Road Singapore; and Old Long House Popiah, 22 Lorong 7 Toa Payoh.

Mee Goreng/Nasi Goreng

Spicy Fried noodles or Fried rice. This is one of those hybrid dishes that’s unique to Singapore; the dish was introduced by Chinese immigrants to Singapore and the Malays and Indians added their own twist. What results is yellow noodles or rice stir-fried with garlic, onions, chilli, vegetables, tomatoes, egg and sometimes tofu and a medley of different sauces. Usually served with a side of sliced cucumber with tomato ketchup!

Where: We love Kampong Glam Cafe, 17 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199438.

Nasi Padang

Originates from Indonesia and consists of a portion of steamed white or yellow (turmeric-flavoured) rice with a choice of various meat or vegetable dishes to go along with it. My favourite version is with sayur lodeh (vegetable coconut curry), sambal tofu-tempeh (spicy tofu and fermented beans), bergedel (potato cutlet) and achar (pickled carrot and cucumber). Although this is available all over food stalls in Singapore, go to Kampung Glam or Geylang for more authentic versions.

We love: Hjh Maimunah, 20 Joo Chiat Road #01-02 Singapore 427357
Tel : 6348 5457, Opening Hours : 8am to 9pm and Hjh Maimunah Restaurant @ Jalan Pisang 11 & 15 Jalan Pisang Singapore 199078, Tel : 6297 4294, Opening Hours : 7am to 8pm, Open Daily except Sunday ; and Sabar Menanti Restaurant & Catering, Kampong Glam Shop Houses , 48 Kandahar Street 198899 and Palmer House , 70 Palmer Road 079427.

Gado-gado

Another outstanding salad, this one Indonesian-style. Typically made with blanched green vegetables, fried tofu and tempeh, cucumbers, steamed rice cakes, bean sprouts and sometimes hard-boiled eggs which is then tossed in a spicy peanut sauce and topped with crispy tapioca crackers. Very filling, and healthy salad.

We love: The House of Gandos, Geylang Serai Market, 1 Geylang Serai, #02-156, Singapore 400001. Opening Hours : 0900 – 2000 (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). Fasting Month Opening Hours : 1200 – 1900 (Everyday).

Ice Kachang

Literally means ‘Iced Beans’. Traditionally a special hand-cranked machine is used to churn out thinly shaven ice, but today its usually motorised! It starts with layers of red beans, jelly, sweet corn and attap chee (palm seeds) topped with a mountain of shaved ice and dressed with different colours of sweet syrup and a final lashing of sweetened condensed milk. Great way to end a spicy meal or seek solace from the hot humid weather!

We love: Hollywood Desserts, #01-66, Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Road.

Dosai

Thin and crispy South Indian savoury crepe made from rice flour. The original version is usually served with dhal (lentil curry), vegetable curry and coconut chutney but you can also get different stuffed versions known as masala dosai with potatoes, vegetables and spices. Best place to try this is Komala Vilas Restaurant in Little India which is one the original South Indian restaurants and has all the different versions.

Goreng Pisang

Popular snack food of piping hot deep-fried banana fritters. The best goreng pisang vendors use pisang raja, which are small, sweet bananas. Nowadays, restaurants are churning out fancier dessert versions of goreng pisang served with vanilla ice-cream or chocolate sauce or dusted with cinnamon and icing sugar.

We love: Geylang Lor 20 Banana Fritters, #01-57, Old Airport Road Food Centre, 51 Old Airport Road

Carrot Cake (carrots not included!)

The most confusing Singapore dish! Carrot cake does not contain any carrots, it’s made from a combination of white radish, rice flour and water which is then steamed into cakes. These cakes are diced and stir-fried with eggs, pickled radish, garlic, and spring onion. Other ingredients include shrimp or diced mushroom, and you will generally have a choice of “black” (fried with sweet soy sauce) or “white” (plain). Ask for a dash of chili powder for that extra kick.

We love: Xiong Ji Fried Carrot Cake, Tampines Round Market, Tampines Street 11, Block 137.

What are your favourite vegetarian dishes in Singapore?

Written by Little Green One. Want to hear more? Check out her website here. Updated 10 April by Stephanie Y.