If you’re a fan of deep-fried snacks like samosas and pakoras, Happy Briyani’s nine different types of oriental-style dough fritters will hit the spot.
All vegetarian (no eggs) and made mostly from a dough base of plain flour and water, they’re priced at $1.20 each or $1 each when you buy three or more.
#1 The most notable is the You Tiao, a long strand of deep-fried dough that is crispy on the outside yet fluffy on the inside. The extended length makes it perfect for dipping into hot coffee or soy milk and can be paired with congee for an added salted crunch.
#2 Also popular is the Butterfly Bun, which is two medium-sized rectangular pieces of dough joined together to resemble a butterfly’s wings. Deep fried to a yummy golden brown colour with an airy interior, it is generously sprinkled with white sesame seeds on top for a slightly nutty flavour.
#3 For sweet tooths, the Red Bean Bun is a must-try. Each bun is filled with a finely blended, creamy red bean paste that is sweetened with sugar and is perfect with a cup of hot teh-O.
#4 A savoury variant of the red bean bun is the Salted Bun with its distinctive brown swirl on top. Made with five spice powder (a blend of cinnamon, star anise, cloves, fennel seeds and szechuan pepper) the bun is simple yet flavourful, ideal as a light breakfast.
#5 A Singaporean staple is the Curry Puff, easily recognisable by its pleated arches and is stuffed with curried potatoes, making it a hearty snack that can double up as a meal on the go.
#6 Similar to the samosa is the Spring Roll, which consists of julienne-cut vegetables such as carrots and turnips wrapped in paper thin pastry sheets that form an ultra crispy exterior when the spring roll is deep fried.
#7 A favourite among children is the Peanut Sesame Ball, made by covering a scoop of crunchy peanut butter in a slightly thin layer of dough made from glutinous rice flour, giving the outside a mochi-like texture and stretchy pull as one bites into it.
#8 The less hip alternative to the peanut version is the Mung Bean Sesame Ball. Mung bean is a type of legume and when split is moong dal. The finely blended and sweetened mung bean paste offers a milder taste that complements the ball’s sesame seed coated exterior.
#9 Contrary to its name, the Fried Carrot Cake is actually made with white radish and rice flour. Once deep fried, it has a crunchy, golden crust and a soft, mushy interior with a light radish flavour.
