We Singaporeans love eating curry. Assam Fish Head, Eurasian’s Devil’s Curry, Aloo Gobi and Tikka Masala – the possibilities are endless. How many of these curries have you tried?Makan My Curry brings Singaporeans into the homes of our different home cooks to hear more about the processes and stories behind their curries and culture.

What is Peranakan Ayam Buah Keluak?

Ayam buah keluak, a dish traditionally prepared for ancestral worship, is also consumed during Chinese New Year and special occasions. The dish is believed to have its roots in Indonesia, where keluak nuts can be found. It was brought to Singapore by Peranakan families.

About the cook

Lawyer Jasmine Adams has a deep passion for history and heritage especially when it comes to her heritage cuisine - Peranakan food. Her earliest memories of the cuisine, and the dish ayam buah keluak in particular, can be traced back to her childhood home - her family’s shophouse at Marshall Road.

“In those days, ancestor worship was a very big thing,” she recalled. “And my mother, who is 88 this year, used to be a real tornado in the kitchen. She was always able to whip up as many as a dozen dishes on her own. Ayam buah keluak was always part of the spread.”

This was a mean feat, noted Ms Adams, especially since the dish is notoriously difficult to prepare. The keluak nut which tastes like dark cocoa and truffle, is rather tricky to clean. As the nut itself is poisonous an elaborate process of soaking and boiling is required. “My family soaks the nuts in a basin of water for six to eight days. Although burying the nut in ash draws out the toxin, we usually opt for the soaking method,” she said. After soaking, a hammer or a stone pestle is used to pry open the nut. Its contents are then added to the curry.

Details of the Programme

• Language: English
• Dates: 4th Sunday of the month
• Timing: 10am-12pm
• Meeting place: Address will be sent to registered participants closer to the event (Nearest MRT: Farrer Park Reservoir)
• Please arrive 15 minutes before the stated meeting time for registration and temperature taking. Our facilitators will be wearing our event t-shirt.
• Parking is unavailable at the event premise
• Venue is not wheel-chair friendly

What to bring?

• Wear a mask and comfortable clothes (no Bermudas!)
• Bring along hand sanitisers and a bottle of water
• Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.

COVID-19 Safety Precautions

• All participants must wear a mask.
• All participants must complete the Safe Entry, health declaration and temperature taking before the event.

Instructions for Participants

• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host (eg. out-of-bound areas, use of toilet). Facilitators will brief participants before the start of the programme.
• This recipe uses non-halal ingredients and is unsuitable for vegetarians. Curry may contain traces of nuts, dairy and other allergens. Participants are reminded to declare their food allergies, if any, in the registration form.
• In lieu of the recent COVID19, participants will be required to take their temperatures and submit a health declaration form for contact tracing. Please do not attend the event should you feel unwell.
• There will be no refund if you wish to cancel your tickets.
• By agreeing to participate in the activity, participants will be responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to negligence of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
• It is compulsory for a parent/guardian to accompany any child of or under the age of 12 children under his/her charge.
• There are pets at the premises

For updates:

• Visit www.mycommunityfestival.sg for updates.