National Day nibbles: Seven snacks inspired by flavours of Singapore

SINGAPORE – In celebration of Singapore’s National Day, the TL;DR team has curated a selection of seven innovative snacks that pay homage to the nation’s rich culinary heritage. From ondeh ondeh-inspired egg tarts to nasi lemak popcorn, these snacks offer a local twist to everyday foods.

Rojak jam waffles from The Hainan Story

If you are a rojak lover, you may want to try this item from The Hainan Story.

The jam, in a thin layer spread on the waffle, tastes as if rojak ingredients were blended together. You can taste cucumber, you tiao, and even a slight tanginess of pineapple. There is also a sprinkle of peanuts, which gives a nice crunchy texture in contrast to the fluffy waffle.

The waffle costs $3.30. Can’t wrap your head around a rojak filling? There are other flavours to choose from such as gula melaka kaya, peach and avocado egg mayo.

Nasi lemak popcorn from Muji

This take on popcorn brings you on a sensory journey, not unlike Willy Wonka’s three-course dinner gum.

Popping a piece of nasi lemak popcorn into your mouth, you immediately taste the spiciness of sambal chilli. Then emerges the umami taste of ikan bilis, followed by a hint of coconut rice as you continue crunching down.

If you have more of a sweet tooth, Muji offers pulut hitam popcorn too, which has the fragrance of black glutinous rice.

Each 65g packet goes for $4.50.

McDonald’s satay chicken burger and Thai milk tea frappuccino set

The satay burger features a juicy chicken patty generously coated in satay sauce, with bits of raw onion and cucumber slices to cut through the sweetness of the gravy.

The chicken patty comes across like an extra-large piece of chicken skewer, while the bun soaks up excess satay sauce.

However, if you usually prefer your satay without sides or too much sauce, you might want to exercise caution while trying the burger.

Along with the burger, McDonald’s also offers a Thai milk tea frappuccino as part of its set meal. If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in for a treat, as this tastes like a sweeter version of Singaporean iced milk tea, or teh peng. But Thai milk tea isn’t very Singaporean, so no brownie points for the narrative behind this combo.

Each meal (satay burger, criss-cut fries and Thai milk tea frappuccino) costs $12.20. An upsized meal costs $13.15.

Mr Bean’s otah, orh nee and pandan pancakes

Mr Bean has launched three “Go Local” pancake flavours to celebrate National Day.

The otah eggwich ($3.70) has a spicy otah filling atop a cooked egg, encased in Mr Bean’s classic spongy pancake. The spiciness of the otah is balanced out immediately by the egg layer underneath, making for a hearty, savoury snack.

For those craving something sweet, try the orh nee mochi pancake ($2.90). What’s interesting is that besides the thick yam paste, there is also a sticky white mochi filling that gives the pancake a unique chewy bite.

For the pandan pancake ($2.50), the main star of the show was the pandan cheese filling. The savoury cheese balances out the distinctive “grassy” floral fragrance of pandan, giving the filling a creamier mouthfeel.

Ya Kun’s durian kaya toast

The quintessential Singaporean breakfast is kaya toast with a side of soft-boiled eggs. Now, Ya Kun has taken it a step further by blending its kaya with durian.

There are no durian fibres, so the jam comes across like durian pengat.

The smell of durian is strong, so everyone in the lecture hall will know if you’ve had it for breakfast! What would make it better is a slab of butter in between the durian jam and the toast, like the original version.

Four pieces of the toast cost $4.80, while a set with hot coffee or tea is $6.50. It is part of Ya Kun’s 80th anniversary and National Day celebration, and is available till Aug 23.

KFC’s ondeh ondeh tarts

Combining a beloved Nyonya snack with a classic egg tart, KFC has created an ondeh ondeh tart ($2.40) with a pastel green filling and coconut flakes sprinkled on top. Gula melaka comes as a thin layer on the bottom, setting off the pastry.

This is a snack for bold foodies who are willing to try creative fusions, as the egg custard and pandan blend might not work for all palates.

Available till Sept 3.

Mr Coconut’s Mao Shan Wang shake

Mr Coconut’s new Coconut Mao Shan Wang shake is juicing Singaporeans’ love for the king of fruits.

There is real durian flesh in the smoothie. It is not finely blended, so mix it well before slurping.

The milkiness and sweetness of the coconut shake work well with the durian fruit, and make for a cool refresher that isn’t overpowering. We suggest going for 50 per cent sugar or less.

The drink starts at $8.40 (for the medium size) without any additional toppings.