Sunday, March 9, 2008

Heng Huat Char Kway Teow: Healthy.....yet Still can Eat

With Damien


Char Kway Teow must be one of the top three dishes with the worst reputation for being unhealthy. Just ask anyone which is the most unhealthy hawker dish and I think most people will mention Char Kway Teow.

To counter this bad rep, an increasing number of Char Kway Teow stalls are putting more vegetables on top of their Char Kway Teow in an effort to disguise the artery clogging properties of what is essentially rice noodles in a lard based sauce.

But if you think that the drive towards a healthier Char Kway Teow is a recent trend, then you would be surprised that this man has been frying his Char Kway Teow this way for over 20 years, from the time he took over his father's stall in Spottiswoode Park. He started adding the vegetables not because of health reasons, because he felt that it actually tastes better that way

He claims that he was the first one to actually fry Char Kway Teow this way and that other people, especially the famous one at Golden Mile FC had copied him. Is this true? Don't really know. Perhaps there are readers out there who can support or renounce his claim?

Anyway, I actually liked this CKT better then the more famous one at Golden Mile. He adds chye poh to the CKT and that adds a bit of kick. Still, I am a firm believer that CKT requires lard and without lard it is impossible vfor a CKT to reach its full potential. So I would rather eat a good CKT once in a long while and enjoy it rather then to eat partially healthy CKT more often. That said, this one is actually quite enjoyable although they don't put the lard in. Not something I would go all the way to Pasir Panjang to eat, but I'd say it is better then a lot of CKT I have eaten. 4/5

Conclusion

Not a bad CKT considering there is no lard and the vegetables will definitely soothe your conscience.

So what would you consider to be the top 3 most unhealthy hawker food?

PS: Westies should be happy that I am venturing this far West eh?

Heng Huat Fried Kway Teow
121 Pasir Panjang Road

Pasir Panjang Food Centre
5 miles
Stall #01-36
11am to 9.30pm

Closed on Sundays and PH

11 comments:

jo said...

I think oyster ommelette is one of the most unhealthiest! Seriously, I haven't eaten one that wasn't dripping with oil. Perhaps, they should use olive oil instead! ;)

ieat said...

Olive Oil Oyster Omelette would taste real weird I think. Anyway it is not good for deep frying or frying at high heat, and certainly not good for getting that Wok Hei flavour

SCS butter said...

Representing all westies....Not far west enuf!!!!!!! Pasir Panjang only mah...

Blur Ting said...

Oh, I have eaten the CKT at this stall before few years back. It's a nice change but at that time, I also thought it was weird to eat green vege with noodles. Yet, for some reason, you do feel that you're not just eating oil drenched noodles. It didn't taste so oily or unhealthy.

The most sinful food in my list - fried carrot cake, laksa and orh luak.

Anonymous said...

Why i want to become a vegan for health reasons.

1)I eat a ton of crap

2)Remain sedentary

3)Fall ill

4)Make meat the scapegoat

ivy said...

oyster omelette! personally, i avoid shellfish (for a weird reason: cos i can't stand food that feels rubbery/slimy in my mouth hahaha) but i guess its a good thing since its so cholestrol laden!
and what bout chwee kuay? the rice paper is usually soaked with oil by the time i tabao it home.

cindy said...

seriously dr tay..what in your opinion are the top 3 most unhealthy hawker food?? Seems like if it is not unhealthy..it aint gonna be good! hahahah

Anonymous said...

hi, welcome to the west...:)

You should visit Taman Jurong Food Centre, there is a fish soup stall which you should try it out. Just $3/-, very generous in the slice fish, soup come with bitter gourd and cabbage. During Sun lunch, you will see advance order in bulk for takeaway. Stall #02-75 China Fish Soup.

jems said...

haven't been to this stall for quite a long time. The CKT taste quite normal, it's really the extra veggies that sets it apart from others.

Anonymous said...

Yes it is true. His is the authentic Char Kuey Teow with mountain of Chye Sim. He started it all , because he is located next to the Wholesale Centre, he buys them cheap. Some of the Veg wholesalers who are my personal friends, they eat his CKT.

ieat said...

Ah great to know there is an ardent supporter of this uncle. Thanks for that bit of info!

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