It simply occurred to me that historically talking, Malay cuisines are missing in any fish-based soup. It appears fairly ironic too as at one level within the annals of historical past, the Malays had been seen as a nice seafaring race. It’s been 24 years and I’ve but to expertise correct fish soup…till just lately, after I patronised You&Me Teochew Fish Soup situated at Pasir Panjang Food Centre.

You&Me Teochew Fish Soup is run by Daanyal Chee, a Muslim convert of almost 2 a long time. The stall was a comparatively latest addition to the hawker centre, because it opened on 16 Nov 2022. Before this, Daanyal was a company employee and cited that he needed to do one thing that he likes, which is cooking, earlier than he will get too outdated (he’s 50 now).

Despite admitting that he was extra accustomed to cooking Malay cuisines, he opted to open a Muslim-friendly Teochew fish soup stall since there have been already different Malay stalls within the hawker centre and he needed to supply one thing distinctive. He assured me that the recipe he follows was as genuine as it may possibly get, excluding solely using wine and pork bones within the soup.

What I attempted at You&Me Teochew Fish Soup

I used to be stunned at how diversified a fish soup stall may very well be. There are soup gadgets similar to Batang Fish Soup (S$5.50/S$7.50), Fried Fish Soup (S$5.50/S$7.50) and Seafood Soup (S$5.50/S$7.50). Every order of soup additionally got here with a alternative of carbs starting from the signature Bee Hoon to Udon Noodles (S$1).

There had been additionally different meals decisions like Fish Porridge (S$3.50) and Rice with Fried Fish and Egg (S$4.50), the latter of which comes with completely different sauce choices specifically Lemon Sauce, Sweet and Sour and Black Pepper. We selected Fish Porridge and Seafood Soup with Udon Noodles.

For each order of soup, an possibility so as to add milk was given however we had ours because it was. Something I’ve observed with fish soups generally was how deceptively easy they have a tendency to look and this was no completely different. The Seafood Soup had extra substances similar to a few prawns, crab sticks and fishballs together with the anticipated Batang fish slices.

My first sip of the soup left me in a daze. I couldn’t fairly decipher what I had simply tasted. The subsequent sips did nothing to alleviate me of my pondering. This was nothing like I’d ever tasted earlier than and but I used to be going for spoonful after spoonful as if I used to be used to it.

It was a smooth-tasting soup with hints of sweetness and a tangy end, which I reckoned was from the sliced tomato. Surprisingly, the soup was absent of any fishy style which was what I totally anticipated. It was refreshing too and didn’t depart me thirsty. Even my colleague agreed that this tasted precisely just like the fish soup he knew and cherished!

The slices of Batang fish had been delicate to chew and had a welcoming fishy style. What additional cemented my enjoyment and appreciation for the fish slices was how Danyaal talked about he solely had one contemporary Batang fish to work with day by day and doesn’t reuse outdated produce, as the shortage of freshness enormously impacts the feel and style of the fish.

The prawns and crab sticks had been nothing to write down house about, although I loved the crab sticks greater than the prawns due to their added sweetness (synthetic or not). In hindsight, I might have opted for different carb choices because the thick udon by no means totally absorbed the flavours of the soup. It additionally bought bloated surprisingly fast, shedding its pivotal chew and chew.

Astonishingly, the Fish Porridge had a extra full-bodied sweetness to it with outlined flavours of fish inventory. I additionally encountered a slice of ginger, which added a refreshing flavour that permeated all through the porridge. Additionally, it was topped with crispy, salty and barely bitter fish skins which offered a pleasant change of each texture and style. 

The denser porridge additionally works seamlessly with the Batang slices to offer it a fuller chew.

Final ideas 

I had such expertise at You&Me Teochew Fish Soup, with heat and hearty soups and an excellent hotter stall proprietor. The rarity of Muslim-friendly Teochew soup ought to be sufficient to warrant a go to to the comparatively ulu space of Potong Pasir. Though I most popular the Fish Porridge, don’t let that cease you from attempting the soup as effectively.

The solely gripe I had with my lunch was {that a} downpour solely started after I used to be carried out with my meal. Oh, what an excellent warming expertise it might have been!

Expected harm: S$3.50 – S$5.50 per pax

Other articles you may like:

13 fish soups 鱼片汤 in Singapore to assist climate the wet season

Yanji Seafood Soup: 40-year-old household model well-known for its broth opens Bedok outlet