Seasoning involves adding salt, herbs or spices to food to improve its flavor or taste. As a significant port, Singapore has dealt with herbs and spices since her early days when playing a vital role in the Spice Trade from the East to West1. Here are three commonly used seasonings in Singapore’s poultry dishes.
1. Salt
Salt is usually used as a preservative2. Before the invention of refrigerator, salt was used to desiccate food such as salted fish. Similar to salt curing, edible salt would be used to rub all over the food, ensuring its proper preservation for future consumption. Salt is also used as a flavoring. A small amount is usually added when food tastes bland. Sea salt helps to tenderize meat such as chicken and beef3. Prior to cooking, salting the meat evenly helps to enhance its texture, juiciness and flavor4.
Other widely known salts are the Himalayan Pink Salt and Kosher Salt5. The Himalayan Pink Salt is harvested in Pakistan. Mined from the second biggest salt mine in the world, the salt is pink in color as it contains iron oxide. It contains smaller amounts of iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Kosher salt has a flaky, coarse structure texture, which makes it efficient in extracting blood from meats. It is a chef’s favorite seasoning since it has bigger flake size, which allows chefs to rub the salt evenly on meats.
2. Coriander
Also known as Chinese parsley in Singapore, coriander is believed to date back to at least 5,000 BC6. The leaves and dried seeds are usually used in cooking whereas the stem is added as a garnish. To achieve the coriander in powdered form, the seeds are dry roasted before putting them in a blender. A dish where this seasoning is commonly used is in one of the local favorite dishes, Ayam Penyet7. Coriander also contains health benefits such as reducing skin inflammation, diarrhea and mouth ulcers8.
3. Nutmeg
This spice is attained from the inner kernel of nutmeg seeds harvested from the Myristica frangan tree found in Banda Islands, Indonesia9. Usually found in ground or powdered form10, nutmeg has a distinctive sweet taste and is currently used in cuisines worldwide. In Singapore, nutmeg is added to dishes such as oxtail soup or roasted chicken. Similar to coriander, nutmeg is also associated with health benefits such as its ability to alleviate pain, boost one’s immune system function, and skin condition11.
Nutmeg is an integral ingredient in certain local cuisines. For instance, Peranakan cuisine represents the symphony of Chinese-Malay culture and uses nutmeg in most of their dishes. Such dishes are Hong Bak (a classy Pork stew), Kiam Chye Ark (duck served in salted mustard soup), and Ngoh Hiang Lor Bak (a five-spiced pork roll).
References:
- Marinabaysands.com. (2016). Herbs and Spices of Singapore. [online] Available at: http://www.marinabaysands.com/restaurants/foodie-guide/herbs-and-spices-of-singapore.html
- Mental Floss. (2016). The Origins of Salt, Pepper & Other Popular Spices. [online] Available at: http://mentalfloss.com/article/20640/origins-salt-pepper-other-popular-spices
- Steamy Kitchen Recipes. (2007). Steak Recipe: How to turn cheap “choice” steaks into “prime” steak. [online] Available at: http://steamykitchen.com/163-how-to-turn-cheap-choice-steaks-into-gucci-prime-steaks.html
- Happyeats.com. (2016). Should You Salt Meat Before Cooking? Yes! | Happy Eats! [online] Available at: http://happyeats.com/should-you-salt-meat-before-cooking-yes/
- Authority Nutrition (2016). Types of Salt. [online] Available at: https://authoritynutrition.com/different-types-of-salt/
- Parkinson, R. (2016). You Say Cilantro, I Say…Coriander? [online] About.com Food. Available at: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/a/cilantro.htm
- Khoo, H. (2011). Ayam Penyet and sambal recipes. [online] Soshiok.com. Available at: http://www.soshiok.com/recipe/ayam-penyet-and-sambal-recipes
- Organic Facts. (2008). Health Benefits of Coriander | Organic Facts. [online] Available at: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-coriander.html
- Szczepanski, K. (2016). Nutmeg | The Unsavory History of a Tasty Spice. [online] Available at: http://asianhistory.about.com/od/colonialisminasia/p/Nutmeg-Unsavory-History.htm [
- iFood.tv. (2016). Top 5 Spices Of Singapore. [online] Available at: http://ifood.tv/ingredients/404926-top-5-spices-of-singapore
- Organic Facts. (2016). [online] Available at: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/nutmeg.html