Fusion Food Recipes
What started as a way to make dishes from abroad more suited to local tastes, fusion food is now a distinct part of Singapore’s food repertoire — and it should be added to your collection of home cooking recipes, too. Fusion food is delicious, plus lots of fun to explore how the different cultures intertwine.
If balancing the delicate flavours of fusion dishes is still unchartered territory for you, start with these 8 fusion food recipes that are fast and easy to make at home:
1. Laksa Prawn Pasta
Kickstarting this list with a signature delicacy from our little red dot, our Laksa Prawn Pasta is perfect for pasta lovers looking to liven up their plates with extra oomph. We are not kidding when we say it is an explosion of textures and flavours here — with al-dente linguine topped with a spicy creamy sauce and sweet, juicy prawns.
While the Singaporean-Italian fusion dish has been going around for a while now, you’ll be surprised that there are still plenty of ways to enhance the flavours. For one, did you know that the prawn shells can be fried and simmered to give the stock a fuller flavour? Another pro tip is to set aside some pasta water (the one you use to boil pasta) and add it back later into the sauce — the starchy consistency helps to bind and thicken the sauce for a more intense mouthfeel.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/laksa-prawn-pasta/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serve 2 pax.
2. Scallop Uni Pasta
If you want something that’s easy to make (and impress!) for special occasions, our Scallop Uni Pasta is your answer. The dish cleverly combines famous Japanese seafood and capellini/angel hair pasta, where the latter’s thin shape better absorbs and amplifies the savoury, umami flavours of the former.
However, its thin shape also requires careful handling during the cooking process. Hence, we recommend preparing an ice bath in advance to dunk the pasta and preserve the al-dente texture. You can also pick between black and white truffle oil, depending on the flavour you’re going for — the black truffle oil will give a stronger, earthier taste, while its white counterpart is more light and delicate.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/scallop-uni-pasta/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 1 pax.
3. Teochew Braised Duck Confit
I never thought I would see the words ‘Teochew’ and ‘confit’ together, until our Teochew Braised Duck Confit came about. With origins from France, confit refers to slow-cooking food in oil/grease over low temperatures. While duck confits are nothing new, our recipe uses chinese sauces and spices to give it a twist, making this a true ‘East-meets-West’ dish.
There are two parts to nailing this dish — the spices, and the rendered duck fat. Our secret is the chuan xiong (ligusticum) and mandarin peels; both traditional spices which give the meat a citrusy and slightly sweet flavour. On the other hand, cooking the duck legs in duck fat helps to tenderise the meat and give it a rich flavour. Get these down, and you’re on your way to a crispy, yet tender plate of duck confit.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/teochew-braised-duck-confit/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 6 pax.
4. Plant-based Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta
If there is one thing about fusion food: it is for everyone, including vegans and vegetarians. Our Plant-based Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta is not just your typical Japanese-Italian fare — it is also completely dairy-free! Instead of butter, a blend of miso paste and silken tofu is used here to make the cream base, and you bet you won’t be able to tell the difference at all. Gear up for a savoury treat as the luscious cream sauce pairs up with lightly caramelised mushrooms and crispy, fried tau kwa cubes for extra texture.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/plant-based-creamy-miso-mushroom-pasta/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax.
5. Miso Brown Butter Potato Gratin
You may have heard of potato gratin, but have you heard of Miso Brown Butter Potato Gratin? As its name suggests, the renowned French classic takes on a Japanese twist in this recipe. It may sound complicated, but it is really not — simply blend the miso paste with heavy cream and you’ll get a rich, decadent base with a good balance of savoury and creamy flavours. Pair that with thin, crispy potato strips and sour cream for maximum indulgence. You can thank us later!
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/miso-brown-butter-potato-gratin/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax.
6. Shakshuka Lasagna
Our Shakshuka Lasagna will definitely make the list of the most unique fusion dishes to exist. Tracing its origins back to North Africa, Shakshuka is a traditional Tunisian dish consisting of poached eggs in a simmering tomato sauce alongside assorted spices and vegetables. Lasagna on the other hand, is an Italian classic featuring stacked layers of pasta with fillings in between — in our case, we used San Remo’s lasagna sheets that came with a meaty, tomato sauce.
While the Shakshuka Lasagna is a tomato-heavy dish, be rest assured that you will be tasting way more than tomatoes here. The wide array of spices offer a range of flavours to be experienced, be it the earthy cumin or the spicy paprika/gochugaru. The taste journey doesn’t end here — the layers of melted cheese is the cherry on the cake.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/shakshuka-lasagna/
Preparation Time: 30 (hours/minutes). Serves 2 pax.
7. Abalone Truffle XO Fried Rice
Upgrade your fried rice to a boujee one however, with our Abalone Truffle XO Fried Rice recipe. Bringing together the ‘treasures’ of the East and West — abalone and truffle, this is an indulgent East-meets-West dish to attempt in your next cooking sesh. On top of the fragrant, signature wok-hey flavour from the fried rice, the chewy abalones add texture and the truffle brings an earthy, all-umami taste which further elevates the dish.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/abalone-truffle-xo-fried-rice/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 2-3 pax.
8. Miso Sticky Date Pudding
Last but not least, every good meal is only complete with an equally good dessert. Lucky for you, our Miso Sticky Date Pudding will meet the mark. Adapted from the famous British sticky date pudding, our version adds a tinge of umami through the miso-caramel sauce that goes on top of the moist sponge cake. This gives the sweet, indulgent dish a more balanced flavour, ideal for those who prefer their desserts less sweet. Alternatively, you can adjust the sweetness level by adding less sugar or rice syrup, whichever works better. Top it off with a delicious scoop of vanilla ice cream for a perfect contrast against the caramelised puddings.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/miso-sticky-date-pudding/
Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 4-6 pax.
Fusion Food Recipes
Not so difficult now, isn’t it? Going beyond the blending of ingredients from different regions/countries, fusion foods are also a great way for us to learn about the cultures of where these ingredients come from. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll fall in love with a cuisine you’ve never expected yourself to! Until then, we hope these recipes are of help— whether you’re preparing a quick fare or for a gathering with your loved ones.
—
More of what you might like:
P.S. We’ve got recipes for all your Singaporean and Asian favourites on our YouTube Channel. Subscribe and share with your friends!
P.P.S. Can’t find a recipe you like? Drop us a comment or ping us on our socials.
—
Get cooking with us:
Facebook | Instagram | Telegram | TikTok | Pinterest
