Fu Zhou Oyster Cake: A Delicious Street Food Snack You Must Try

If you're a fan of street food, then you must try Fu Zhou oyster cake. This local food is a traditional snack that has been enjoyed by Singaporeans for decades.

It's a savoury pastry that's crispy on the outside and filled with a delicious mix of oysters, minced pork, and chives.

The history and origin of Fu Zhou oyster cake can be traced back to the Fujian province in China. The recipe was brought over to Singapore by Fujianese immigrants and has since become a beloved local delicacy.

Today, you can find it in hawker centres and food courts all over the island.

Making Fu Zhou oyster cake is a labour-intensive process that involves making the dough, preparing the filling, and frying the cakes to perfection.

It requires skill, patience, and attention to detail. But the end result is worth it. Each bite is a flavour explosion that will leave you craving for more.

Key Takeaways

• Fu Zhou oyster cake is a traditional snack that has been enjoyed by Singaporeans for decades.
• The recipe was brought over to Singapore by Fujianese immigrants and has since become a beloved local delicacy.
• Making Fu Zhou oyster cake is a labour-intensive process that requires skill, patience, and attention to detail.

History and Origin

Fuzhou Influence

Fu Zhou Oyster Cake is a traditional snack that originated in Fuzhou, China. It is a popular street food that has been enjoyed by locals for generations.

The dish is made by mixing oysters, flour, and other ingredients to create a batter, which is then fried until it is crispy and golden brown.

The oyster cake is believed to have been created during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Fuzhou. It was originally made as a snack for fishermen who needed a quick and easy meal to take with them on their boats.

Over time, the dish became more popular and spread to other parts of China.

Singapore's Adoption

In Singapore, the Fu Zhou Oyster Cake has become a popular hawker centre snack. One of the most famous oyster cake stalls in Singapore is the Maxwell Food Centre, which has been serving the snack since the 1950s.

The oyster cake is made fresh to order, ensuring that it is always crispy and delicious.

The oyster cake has also been adopted by other hawker centres in Singapore, such as the Berseh Food Centre.

The Fu Zhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake stall is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, serving up delicious oyster cakes that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Making of Fu Zhou Oyster Cake

Ingredients and Variations

To make Fu Zhou Oyster Cake, you will need a variety of ingredients.

The traditional recipe includes flour, rice batter, whitebait, minced pork, Chinese celery, cilantro, peanuts, and oysters.

However, there are many variations of this dish that include other ingredients such as prawns, squid ball, mushroom, sweet potato, salted egg, abalone, and even vegetarian options.

You can also adjust the spiciness of the dish by adding chilli sauce or kimchi. Some seafood special variations include salmon, octopus, and shrimp.

Cooking Technique

To prepare the batter, mix the flour and rice batter together and add water until the mixture becomes smooth.

Next, add the minced pork, Chinese celery, cilantro, peanuts, and oysters to the batter and mix well.

Heat up the oil in a wok and deep-fry the mixture until it becomes golden brown and crispy.

To make the dish even more delicious, you can add fresh prawns and ikan bilis to the hot oil and fry until crispy. This will give the dish an extra crunch and flavour.

Serving and Presentation

Once the Fu Zhou Oyster Cake is cooked, it can be served immediately with chilli sauce or any other sauce of your choice.

The dish is traditionally served hot and crispy with a crispy crust on the outside and a soft and chewy texture on the inside.

You can also garnish the dish with Chinese celery or cilantro to add a pop of colour and flavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you make an oyster cake?

Oyster cakes are made by combining a mixture of flour, water, and seasoning to create a batter.

Oysters, minced meat, peanuts, and coriander are then added to the batter and mixed together. The mixture is then shaped into small, round cakes and deep-fried until they are golden brown.

What's the typical price range for an oyster cake?

The price of an oyster cake can vary depending on where you buy it. Generally, you can expect to pay between £1 and £3 for a single oyster cake.

Where can I find the best oyster cake nearby?

The best place to find oyster cakes is at a local food market or hawker centre.

In Singapore, some popular stalls include Fu Zhou Poh Hwa at Berseh Food Centre and Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake at Maxwell Food Centre.

What ingredients are in a traditional oyster cake?

A traditional oyster cake consists of a rice-based fried batter, minced meat, chopped oysters, crunchy peanuts, and coriander. Some variations may also include other ingredients such as Chinese mushrooms or dried shrimp.

Can you recommend a good oyster cake spot in Singapore?

If you're looking for a good oyster cake spot in Singapore, we recommend trying out Fu Zhou Poh Hwa at Berseh Food Centre or Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake at Maxwell Food Centre.

Both stalls are known for their delicious oyster cakes and are popular among locals and tourists alike.

What's the history behind oyster cakes?

Oyster cakes originated in Fuzhou, a city in the Fujian province of China.

They were traditionally made during the winter months when oysters were abundant.

Over time, the recipe spread to other parts of China and eventually made its way to other countries, including Singapore.

Today, oyster cakes are a popular street food in many parts of Asia.