An “Ang Moh” in the United States (US) recently went viral on the r/Singapore subreddit after sharing a mouth-watering — and impressively authentic-looking — plate of chicken rice he had made himself.
The dish features off-white rice, a result of the oil and seasonings typically used in this local favourite.
Succulent pieces of char siu and chicken drizzled with soy sauce complement the fragrant rice.
Source: Reddit
The Redditor also made sure to include the essential accompaniments: the iconic chilli condiment and cilantro-topped soup, completing the dish for an authentic experience.
According to the caption, the man, a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR), cooked the dish for his Singaporean wife.
Based in Illinois, the couple has limited access to chicken rice, a dish unique to certain parts of Asia.
He added that they have been living in the US for five years and have yet to find any good places that serve chicken or char siu rice.
“So I had to figure it out for myself. Happy wife, happy life,” the man quipped in his caption.
The post has since garnered almost 3,000 upvotes, with netizens sharing their thoughts on the man’s attempt at recreating Singapore’s beloved chicken rice.
Many users remarked that the dish looks so “legit” it could easily be mistaken for one from a stall in the Lion City itself, right down to the plate and table setting.
Source: Reddit
Others were particularly impressed with the OP’s attention to detail.
Many noted that he didn’t skimp on the ginger and chilli condiments, adding just the right “kick” to the dish.
Source: Reddit
Another Redditor praised the rice’s colour, calling it just “right”.
In response, the OP explained that he carefully added the fatty chicken and broth to prepare the rice, mimicking the techniques used by stalls in Singapore.
Source: Reddit
“I’m not messing around over here,” he proudly stated.
Speaking to MS News, the man identified himself as Phil Lazarus, a 51-year-old who works in architecture and construction.
An American citizen, Mr Lazarus moved to Singapore in 2006 to join the design team for Marina Bay Sands.
Source: Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Over the years, he has contributed to several iconic projects, including the National Stadium, Star Vista, Tanjong Pagar Centre, and Paya Lebar Quarter.
In 2019, Mr Lazarus and his wife relocated to the US for personal reasons.
When asked what inspired his viral chicken rice, he said it stemmed from both craving Asian cuisine and the need to recreate flavours from home.
“I may have come to Asia for beaches and temples, but I stayed for the makan! Rice is life, wah, and I’m a hungry, hungry man!” he exclaimed.
Living in an area with few authentic options, he has relied on friends sending spices like bak kut teh mix and ayam goreng paste.
He then learned dishes like beef rendang and char siu pork through sites like Hot Thai Kitchen.
Image courtesy of Phil Lazarus
For the chicken rice, he referred to Hot Thai Kitchen’s Classic Hainanese Chicken Rice instructions.
“The fundamentals of cooking Singapore chicken rice are very similar to the Thai version, but the sauces are different,” he explained.
He added that making the chilli sauce was no challenge, as he had already been preparing his own while living in Singapore.
For the garlic and ginger, he explored various recipes online until he “got the idea”.
“The sweet sauce is ABC Kecap Manis with a little extra sesame oil and rice vinegar,” he shared.
In total, Mr Lazarus spent around two hours preparing the dish.
“I like to take things slow,” he said. “I really enjoy the process and want to enjoy every minute of it.”
Also read: Chicken rice stall in M’sia takes flight with aeroplane-themed menu, hawkers dress as pilots
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Featured image adapted from r/singapore on Reddit and fotostorm from Getty Images Signature on Canva, for illustration purposes only.
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