10 Singaporean Food Hacks – From DIY Ice Kachang To Milo Fondues

10 Food Hacks for Singaporeans

Everyone dreams of being a kitchen deity, but we blame the lack of time and skill to whip up a decent dish. There is no one true way when it comes to food, but the easier, faster way does exist. And that is what this list of food hacks is all about.

Here are 10 food hacks for Singaporeans that are extremely simple yet satisfying to prepare. They will save your soul and your stomach!

1. Chocolate Fondue from Milo Powder

Source: Pickycook

While it is simple and cheap to make Chocolate Fondue the usual way, sometimes you just don’t have the time or ingredients. But most Singaporeans will have at least a packet or tin of Milo Powder. Make fondue the Singaporean way – it’s just as good!

2 scoops of Milo Powder
3-4 drops of boiling water
Stir constantly

Yeah, that easy.

2. Perfect omelette without a non-stick pan

Source: The Kitchn

An omelette is a brilliant dish on its own or a great side for most dishes. However, things get difficult when you don’t have a non-stick pan – ingredients fall out and the eggs can get oily. Here’s our solution.

Beat your eggs well, add your preferred ingredients.
Microwave on high for 40s – 1min (Eggs will rise really high. Make sure the bottom is cooked.)

3. The Two Ingredient Pancake

This simple pancake is not only all-natural but gluten free, dairy free, low in calories, and high in protein.

2 bananas
1 egg
Blend them for a smoother mix (add a pinch of baking powder for fluffier pancakes)
Personalise it with your favourite add ons

4. Avocado-coffee milkshake

Source: Vivianpang’skitchen

Don’t be shocked by the name – it’s getting increasingly popular in the Philippines and Thailand. This bold combination is your recipe for a quick and nutritious breakfast.

Despite the numerous disputes about the health benefits or hazards of coffee drinking, many Singaporeans wake up in dire need of their daily dosage of pre-work caffeine.

To offset my obsession with healthy alternatives, I blended fresh Avocado fruit with my coffee and milk, plagiarising this idea from my father, whose creation was featured in Her World Magazine in 2002.

The original recipe:

Avocado
Fresh milk
Nescafe powder (I use grounded coffee powder)
Gula Melaka
Evaporated milk

5. Three-step Nutella bread pudding

Source: The Perfect Pantry

Nutella never goes wrong and never gets old.

Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius / 300 Fahrenheit
1 piece of bread (add more bread if you prefer spongier pudding)
2 tablespoon of Nutella
1/2 cup of milk
Put in oven for approximately 10 minutes, until the milk dries.

Feeds 1 to 2.

6. Three ingredient peanut butter cookie

Source: Domestic Bliss Square

The cookie recipe couldn’t get any simpler.

1 cup of peanut butter
1 cup of white sugar
1 egg
Beat constantly for a smooth mixture
Preheat oven at 175 Degree Celsius and bake for 7 minutes.

Mix is for approximately 10 cookies.

7. DIY sin-free ice cream / sorbet

Source: The Kitchn

No ice cream machine? No kitchen mixer? No time? Ice cream is sinful, and sorbet can sometimes have even higher sugar content, so here’s a healthy and easy way to make a sin-free ice cream at a low cost. Vegan. Gluten free. And you don’t have to worry about sugar or dairy.

Freeze your desired fruits, preferably stickier ones like durian, banana or avocado, until solid.
Cut them into smaller cubes and blend them. If you like sweeter ice creams, you can personalise it with Nutella, peanut butter, jam, etc.

For sorbet:

Mix sliced lemon into your plain water, sugar syrup and coriander
Blend them with your frozen fruit

8. Ice Kachang / Slurpee

The best drink to cool yourself down in our sweltering country.

a. Ice Kachang

Source: BusinessInsider

500ml bottle of water into freezer set at -24degree celsius for 2 ½ – 2 ¾ hours
Keep checking and make sure they are cold but not frozen
Slightly twist the cap open to release the pressure and turn the bottle upside down
Add your own flavouring to your shaved ice

b. Slurpee

Source: WonderHowTo

500ml bottle of soda into freezer, set at -24 degree Celsius for 3 ¼ – 4 hours
Keep checking and make sure they are cold but not frozen
Slightly twist the cap open to release the pressure and turn the bottle upside down

9. Healthy Chips

Source: RootsCSA

As paradoxical as it sounds, it is possible. Healthy home-made chips – a food that you are likely to find in most social occasions, high in sodium and fats but oh so irresistible.

1 bunch of kale
1 table of olive oil
(sea) salt
Wash and dry the kale and make sure each piece of kale is coated with oil.
Bake for 10 minutes at 300F or 150C

Try this with local vegetables and see what happens!

10. Perfect poached eggs

I grew up with the kopitiam’s half-boiled eggs and am now going bonkers over poached eggs on toast in all the new cafes. But I’m not prepared to pay $15 for something that i can replicate at home.

However, it’s easier said than done. I tried and failed to make the perfect egg-white envelope for the runny yolk. It’s the excess egg white that causes unwanted frills, so just drain your egg with a strainer to get rid of the excess egg whites, and you’ll get your perfect poached eggs.

Source: Amazon

Simple food hacks that change everything

Whether you’re an experienced cook or a struggling student, these quick and simple food hacks are good for just about any occasion. Given the ease and accessibility of these recipes, you won’t have any trouble whipping up your next midnight meal.

Do you use any food hacks yourself? Let us know below!