Fried Oyster Cake 炸蚝饼

My son has been raving about the Fried Oyster Cake (炸蚝饼) sold at Chomp Chomp Hawker Center for a long time.  After trying it myself, I have to agree with him that it does taste really good.  However, the price of $2.50 for a piece of snack that could hardly fill the stomach seems ridiculous to me. 

NTUC Supermarkets has started to carry frozen oyster recently which costs only $3.80 a packet (200g).  I used it to recreate this hawker-snack based a recipe I found on-line and the result was very satisfying!  The oyster cake is crispy outside and moist inside.  Even my son gives a thumbs-up for it!  

For the cost of less than a fraction of what you pay outside, this recipe is definitely a keeper!   



 

Fried Oyster Cake 炸蚝饼

Fried Oyster Cakes (Yield 8 pieces) 

Ingredients:

Filling:

200g                  Minced Pork
16                     Small Shrimps
1 packet             Frozen Oyster
100g                  Chives, chopped
Some                 Peanuts (optional)

Minced Pork Seasoning:

1/4 tsp               Sugar
1/2 tsp               Sesame Oil
1/2 tsp               Light Soy Sauce
1/2 tbsp             Corn Flour
1/2 tbsp             Water
1/2 tbsp             Cooking Oil

Batter:

100g                  Plain Flour
100g                  Self-Raising Flour
50g                    Rice Flour
1/2 tsp               Baking Powder
350ml                 Water

1 tsp                  Salt
1 tsp                  Chicken Stock Granules
1 tsp                  Pepper
1 tbsp                Cooking Oil

Directions:

1. Marinate minced pork with seasoning and set aside for use.
   
2. Rinse oyster under tap water for a while.  Drain the water.  Mix 1 tbsp of potato starch with a bowl of water.  Soak rinsed oyster into mixture and set aside for use.
   
3. In a large bowl, sift all flour together.  Add in all remaining ingredients for batter and mix well.
   
4. Heat up a pot of hot oil.  The level of oil must be deep enough to cover  the ladle.  Place ladle in hot oil for about 1-2 minutes to heat it up.  This will prevent the batter from sticking onto it. 
   
5. Scoop about 2 tablespoon full of batter into the hot ladle.  Swirl the batter around to ensure it cover base of the ladle.  Add minced pork, shrimps and 2-3 oysters.  Top with some chopped chives before adding another layer of batter on top.  Add some peanuts on top (optional).
   
6. Dip ladle into hot oil and fry oyster cake until golden brown.  Serve hot. 
    

Tip:

• Use a shallow ladle to fry the oyster cake, so that it can be removed easily.