No matter the weather, be it wet and raining, or warm and sunshiny, gorging down a hearty bowl of herbal bak kut teh is always a good option. It is comforting and nourishing, both for the body and for the soul.
At Feng Xiang, our herbal bak kut teh Singapore is prepared with our secret blend of quality herbs and ingredients, lovingly stewed for long hours, optimally bringing out the authentic flavour that has been passed down generations.
Our herbal bak kut teh broth is perfectly drinkable on its own, but we know that connoisseurs love drizzling them over fluffy white rice to enjoy them. And then there are those who prefer to dip their fried dough sticks into the soup to soak up the goodness.
There are many ways to enjoy a good claypot full of herbal bak kut teh Singapore, and we are here to share the accompaniments and add-ons that we declare are must-haves. Join us to indulge in the authentic flavours of Klang at Feng Xiang, and take your pick.
Top choices of sides to include
- Beancurd Skin (Tau Kee)
They may look dry and crumbly, and perhaps a little tasteless on its own, but adding it to a hot bowl of herbal bak kut teh totally adds oomph to the whole dish.
Tau Kee has the ability to soak up all the rich herbal flavours of broth, and at the same time lends to the soup its own soy bean taste. As the tau kee are usually fried beforehand, it also adds a slight crunch and bite, providing a different texture to the dish.
- Beancurd Puffs (Tau Pok)
Similar to Tau Kee, these cubes of fluffy beancurd puffs are also able to absorb the broth into themselves. However, Tau Pok’s distinct texture is unbeatable, slightly chewy, and squirts out the broth when bitten upon. It is light and airy, providing a different mouthfeel to the bak kut teh.
- Fresh Lettuce
A little green goes a long way. The humble lettuce makes for a perfect accompaniment to our herbal bak kut teh, because it is sweet and crunchy on its own, and when soaked in the broth, shares its sweetness with the soup, adding a layer of freshness in terms of the taste.
And since bak kut teh is prepared with thick chunks of pork, the lettuce has the ability to help cut the fattiness of the dish, providing for a varied mouthfeel and texture. This pairing is not only tastier but also healthier.
- Enoki Mushrooms
These long-tailed fungi are popular with children, adults and seniors alike. Everyone loves enoki mushrooms, not only because it’s cute, but also because of its distinct taste and bite texture. While it is plain on its own, when cooked in the herbal bak kut teh, it absorbs the rich herbal flavours of the broth, and becomes an interesting alternative to noodles (minus the carbs). Slightly chewy, a little crunchy, enoki mushrooms are must add-ons for herbal bak kut teh. (We hear they are also really good with the stir-fried dry bak kut teh served at Feng Xiang.)
Best options of accompanying carbs
- Fried Porridge
Enjoying your Klang-style herbal bak kut teh? Your best bet to accompany that will be a fried porridge dish that’s also got its root from the same region!
Rice porridge is fried with a variety of condiments, with Maillard reaction taking place to bring out the umami-ness, and a ton of wok hei (breath of the wok) added in through the frying process. The bowl of comfort food is elevated multiple times, making fried porridge perfect to pair with bak kut teh.
You have the option to choose a main ingredient for your portion of fried porridge, from abalone slices to fried pork cutlet, or mixed pork organs. Here’s a tip: add a scoop or two of the herbal bak kut teh Singapore broth over and you get ‘da bombs’ (#iykyk).
- Fried You Tiao
Yes, it’s that breakfast comfort food that you always have with your soya bean milk. A little crunchy, a bit chewy, the fried dough stick is lovely when dipped into herbal bak kut teh as well. You Tiao has the ability to soak up the flavourful broth, just like Tau Kee and Tau Pok, and the doughy texture tastes great with the thick cuts of pork ribs in the stew.
- Herbal Mee Sua and Fried Mee Sua
Thin wheat vermicelli from Fujian, China. They are incredibly versatile, and present interesting textures depending on the way they are prepared. Served dry (fried mee sua) or with soup (herbal mee sua), they are both delicious when paired with herbal bak kut teh.
- White Rice
And then we have the humble white rice. As Asians, a bowl of grains is always the most comforting of comfort food, and a top choice of carbohydrate for any meal. Not to mention, white rice really goes well with everything.
Whether you consider herbal bak kut teh Singapore a heavy dish, or a light tasting soup (different people have different tastes), drizzling them over white rice (or using the broth to drown your portion of rice) is always wise. The fragrant white rice will complement the rich herbal aroma of the bak kut teh, as you slowly enjoy bites of chunky pork along with a spoonful each time. Need we say more?
Enjoy your herbal bak kut teh your way!
Now, are you looking to indulge in a hearty bowl of herbal bak kut teh with all the choice condiments and add-ons? Just head down to Feng Xiang. You can also enjoy our signature dishes such as dry bak kut teh, vinegar pork trotter, as well as many other popular and delicious street food from Klang, Malaysia!
Visit Feng Xiang at these locations:
- Fernvale Hawker Centre & CC (nearest MRT station: Sengkang)
- Food Republic @ BreadTalk iHQ (nearest MRT station: Tai Seng)
- Food Republic @ VivoCity (nearest MRT station: HarbourFront)
- Food Republic @ Parkway Parade (nearest MRT station: Dakota)
- Kopitiam @ AMK Hub (nearest MRT station: Ang Mo Kio)
- Kopitiam Food Hall @ JEM (nearest MRT station: Jurong East)
- Kopitiam @ Northpoint City (nearest MRT station: Yishun)
- Lau Pa Sat (nearest MRT station: Downtown)
- Senja Hawker Centre (nearest MRT station: Bukit Panjang)