A Flaky & Crispy Snack: The Handmade Curry Puff At The Baba Curry Puff Cafe, Potong Pasir

December 20, 20205485 views0

Curry Puffs — A snack that many of us take for granted due to how common it is in our region.

Curry puffs. Great for family gatherings.

𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀.

According to Wikipedia, the curry puff is a snack of Malayan origin. It looks like a much smaller version of pasty, the UK baked pastry. A curry puff has a pastry shell that is either baked or fried, and often filled with curried ingredients like potatoes, chicken, sometimes even sardine.

𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘅!

We had these flaky handmade versions as one of the sides during a family gathering. Yeah, curry puff sides, who would have thought… But I must say that they are one of the most well-made and delicious flaky curry puffs I’ve had in a while.

Looking fresh!

The thickness of the pastry shell is just right and can hold its form well. Many flaky curry puffs will just crumble into a messy pile of flakes when you cut or eat it. The fillings are generous, flavourful and moist. When you take a bite out of it, it all becomes a tasty, delicious mix of flavours and texture. Mouthwatering!

These curry puffs are golden!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀.

I love the curry puffs so much that I went looking for them to get more for my friends. Following the directions on my GPS, I arrived in an environment is as typical of a Singaporean neighbourhood as it can get. With shops of varied products and services lined alongside each other on the first floor of the HDB block in the Potong Pasir heartlands, including a coffee shop, the warm bustle of activities envelops me comfortably.

Block 137. Potong Pasir Ave 3.

I found the shop nested comfortably in the middle of the line of shops. The storefront is simple, no fancy fanfare, with a glass display showing off their curry puffs, and to my delight, other types of snacks as well.

More than curry puffs.

The owner is a cheerful chap, and we had a hearty quick chat before I left with a pack of puffs for my friends. As I took my leave, I turned around to see a small group of people, and someone pushing a baby pram entering the shop.

Loud but pleasant greetings and bantering ensued, like the joyful arrival of family and friends.

“Wah! The baby is here ah!”
“Ya! How are you?”
“Good good! How is baby doing?”

Tiny open kitchen. Where it’s all made, by hand!

Seeing that, I realised that aside from the hard work and sweat, what I’m tasting in these delicious snacks are also the warm flavours of the people in this heartland neighbourhood.