White rojak rocks (By Lua Jia Min)

(Picture Source: straitstimes.com/Lifestyle/Taste/Story dated 27 March 2011)

The Sunday Times

2011-03-27

Lifestyle > Taste > Story

White rojak rocks

By Lua Jia Min

The late Michael Jackson famously sang: 'It don't matter if you're black or white.' But for Mr Low How Lai, 66, it does - when it comes to his rojak.

He eats only white rojak and orders it from Madam Chua Chun Lan's Hojiak Rojak stall four times a week.

'White rojak is more fragrant than the black one,' says the wonton mee hawker, who has been eating white rojak for the past six years.

'Give me the rojak, a bowl of soup and rice, and I'm a happy man,' he adds.

White rojak - which uses sour plum paste instead of the traditional shrimp paste that gives the dish its dark hue - first appeared in Singapore about six years ago. Most stalls offering white rojak include ingredients such as fried dough sticks, taupok and turnip in the dish, which are commonly found in black rojak.

While the origin of the dish is hazy, Ms Christine Ty, 40, owner of Apa Rojak, says she started selling white rojak in 2009 to cater to vegetarians and those allergic to shrimp.

Ms Jessie Wee, 46, owner of Aunty Jessie's Rojak, serves about 100 plates of white rojak a night even though her stall at Food Republic Beer Garden at St James Power Station is less than a month old.

She says: 'We're still introducing our customers to white rojak, but there has definitely been an increase in demand for it.'

Fans of white rojak prefer the lighter and more refreshing taste of the sour plum sauce.

Dispatch driver Seow Kim Moi, 46, says: 'I like it better because white rojak doesn't leave you feeling thirsty after eating.'

Madam Chua adds that white rojak appeals to health-conscious people because the sour plum paste is a healthier alternative to shrimp paste.

Agreeing, nutritionist Velumani Deepapriya says that, leaving aside the other ingredients, plum paste is better since it has virtually no cholesterol. In comparison, there is about 25mg of cholesterol in one tablespoon of shrimp paste.

To ensure that her rojak is healthy, Ms Sophia Teh, 60, owner of the vegetarian New Green Pasture Cafe, leaves out fried dough sticks and taupok, and uses only organic fruit and vegetables in her dish.

White rojak has also gone down well with some tourists.

Mr Roger Marks, 52, an American engineer, tasted both black and white versions at Apa Rojak and says: 'The flavour of the fruits in white rojak is more noticeable. I would definitely order this the next time.'

Rojak rendezvous (A List of some White Rojak Stalls)

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HOJIAK BLACK 'N' WHITE ROJAK

Where: Block 848, Yishun Ring Rd

Open: 11am to 11pm, daily

Price: $2.50 to $5

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AUNTY JESSIE'S ROJAK

Where: Food Republic Beer Garden, St James Power Station, 3 Sentosa Gateway

Open: 6pm to 5am (Sun to Thu), 6pm to 6am (Fri to Sat)

Price: $4 to 6

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NEW GREEN PASTURE CAFE

Where: 190 Middle Road, 04-22 Fortune Centre

Open: 11am to 8pm (Tue to Sun, closed on Mon)

Price: $6 to 12

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APA ROJAK

Where: 18 Raffles Quay, Stall 114, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market

Open: 11am to 11pm (Mon to Sat, closed on Sun)

Price: $4 to $8