From sizzling clay pot herbal bak kut teh and stir-fried dry bak kut teh, to warm clay pots of fried porridge Singapore, this traditional cookware not only was epoch-making in the history of human development, but also an essential vessel for Chinese families to march through the winter cold with comfort food.
Clay pots are simple, original cookware with more than 5,000 years of history in Chinese culinary culture. They not only cook food in a variety of ways, but also keep dishes warm for longer so that the delicacies can be enjoyed unhurriedly.
Compared with pots made of metal, which are also excellent in stewing food and retaining heat, clay pots perform in very different ways – they don’t seal in all the moisture as well as cast iron pots, and can concentrate the flavours quickly.
Advantages of using clay pots
Clay pots are used in cooking in kitchens worldwide for a variety of reasons. The flavour and moisture of the food is unique to the way it is prepared. The clay pot is ideal for recipes that require a high level of moisture for proper cooking. A small amount of liquid is needed to create this moist final product, and food stays warm longer when left in a clay pot. Meats cook well and maintain their flavours beautifully, and the food’s nutrients and vitamins are retained naturally. In addition, cleaning of clay pots (when cooled) is rather easy and convenient.
These are just a few of the positive factors that continue to bring people back to this ancient cooking method. For those who are also interested in saving energy, clay pot cooking is known to take place at a lower heat level, and requires less time than many other cooking techniques and utensils.
Choosing the right clay pot
Chinese clay pots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each suitable for a particular cooking purpose.
The small pots with short handles, for example, are usually used to make individual servings of dishes like noodles, rice and fried porridge. They heat up and cook the food quickly, and the handle makes carrying the pots more convenient as the pots are usually taken from the stove, staying hot while one is enjoying the food.
The larger, deeper clay pots are perfect for stewing and braising, sealing the heat needed to cook the food thoroughly while still expelling the extra moisture through the small hole on the lid.
Braising with clay pots is a common and popular way of cooking with clay pots. Dishes prepared in this way include Feng Xiang’s signature dry bak kut teh and braised pork trotters. It may require the preparation of the ingredients in advance, such as lightly stir-frying or boiling the meats before moving them into a clay pot with condiments to cook further.
The temperature used in clay pot cooking is quite different from using a wok. It’s usually started from a low heat, then turned up to a high heat so the soup or broth boils, then returned to a simmering low temperature again to cook the food thoroughly, whereas woks can start from a high heat.
You can lightly saute the ingredients in clay pots before adding the liquid to complete braising or stewing (such as in the case of preparing the comfort food, fried porridge Singapore), but it’s crucial to avoid bringing something cold into the clay pots. Hot water and broth not only speed up the cooking process, but also guarantee safety.
Enjoy warm, comforting clay pot delights at Feng Xiang
Craving for a clay pot feast? Then head on down to a Feng Xiang outlet near you to enjoy the piping hot bowls of deliciousness!
There are several dishes at Feng Xiang that are prepared and served in traditional clay pots, including our signature herbal bak kut teh and dry bak kut teh, the many selections of our specialty Klang fried porridge, as well as braised pork trotters.
Feng Xiang’s delicacies offer a distinct taste of Malaysia here in sunny Singapore. All the dishes are prepared according to heritage recipes passed down through generations. They are all comfort food that warms your heart, served hot in clay pots.
It’s time to gather your fellow foodies and make a trip down to a Feng Xiang near you today for your clay pot dishes fix! Find us at the following 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)