Newly-opened hawker stall Kantan specialises in Nasi Kerabu, a visually appealing Malay rice dish served with a melange of aromatic herbs and choice of protein.
The blue colour of the rice comes from the petals of the blue pea/butterfly pea flower, which are used as a natural food colouring in cooking it.
The prices at this Golden Mile stall are relatively affordable, starting at S$4 for a plate of Nasi Kerabu sans any sides.
Nasi Kerabu
At Kantan, the dish has several standard components; besides the blue pea rice, other ingredients include fish floss, salted egg, salad, chilli sambal, budu (fermented anchovies sauce), and solok, chillies stuffed with a mix of fish paste and coconut.
At S$4, the basic Nasi Kerabu dish is truly a value-for-money meal, but don’t just stop there.
Kantan also offers a variety of side dishes — 7 of them to be exact — that are the perfect accompaniments to Nasi Kerabu.
Sides
If you prefer familiarity, the Ayam Goreng Berempah would be your best bet. Literally translated from Malay, ayam goreng berempah means ‘spiced fried chicken’.
Infused with a mix of herbs and spices, this fried chicken dish is crunchy, juicy and accompanied with heaps of crispy addictive crumbs.
Other chicken alternatives include the Honey Grilled Chicken, boneless chicken breasts with a honey glaze while the Percik Grilled Chicken comes with a generous coating of creamy, spiced coconut milk sauce.
A serving of any chicken dish costs S$5 a la carte or S$7 with rice.
Beef lovers are not left out, either. Take your pick from the Original Grilled Beef or if you prefer a flavour bomb, the dish known by the sobriquet Tiger Tears Beef looks like a promising lip-smacker.
For the initiated, Tiger Tears Beef or Daging Harimau Menangis is an exquisite Thai style grilled tender beef brisket served with a dipping sauce.
A serving of any beef dish costs S$5.50 a la carte or S$8 with rice.
Not a fan of both chicken and beef? Ok, how about fish instead? Kantan offers Ikan Celup Tepung which is fresh selar fish “rubbed with dry herbs and finally coated with a mixture of selected starches” to make it crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
Last but not least, the Ikan Percik features a grilled fish slathered with the same spicy and creamy coconut sauce used in the Ayam Percik.
A serving of any fish dish costs S$5 a la carte or S$8 with rice.
Kantan
Address: 505 Beach Rd #B1-20 Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
Halal Status: Muslim-owned
Opening hours: 11am – 8pm daily
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Top photos by Kantan.
