Hop on the Mala Xiang Guo train trend before you are too late! Mala Xiang Guo is making the rounds in Singapore and its population is simply compounding by the day.
What is Mala Xiang Guo?
Let’s start by explaining what does the first two words mean: Mala (麻辣) is a spicy and numbing sauce originating from China, particularly the Chong Qing and Sichuan region. Xiang Guo (香锅) means fragrant wok. The game changer here is the fragrance that comes from the chilli infused oil. Together it means numbing, spicy fragrant wok dish.
Mala Xiang Guo contains meat and vegetables. It is salty and spicy. The production process is: place the required ingredients in the pot, and then add seasoning. In the restaurant, the spicy pot can be prepared and fried by the chef after customers choose the ingredients.
Mala Xiang Guo sold in restaurants may be made from chili essence.
This has now found a home in Singapore. Consisting of chilli pepper and various herbs and spices, it is simmered in oil before being served.
How Mala Xiang Guo Works?
Mala Xiang Guo is almost like ngo hiang. Customers would pick what they want from available ingredients and pass it back to the chef for cooking. The only difference is the base of the cooking sauce.
However, you can advise your customers that eight to ten ingredients are perfect for four to six people. Anymore than that, your customers may end up rolling out of your door! (Which is great for business!)
What are the ingredients needed?
Basic ingredients for spicy oil infusion and base sauce:
- Oil
- Star anises
- Sichuan peppercorn
- Fennel seeds
- Black cardamoms (草果)
- Cinnamon stick
- Bay leaves
- Whole nutmeg
- Dried orange peel
- Dried ginger (沙姜) or fresh ginger
- Dried red chili peppers
- Spicy red bean sauce
- Hot pot soup base sauce（火锅底料）
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Scallions
- Shaoxing rice wine
- Sugar
- Salt
- Cilantros
Ingredients you should have in your restaurant/stall:
- Toufu
- Mixed vegetables (carrots, lotus roots, mushrooms, broccoli, etc…)
- Crab sticks
- Fish fillets
- Meatballs
- Chicken cubes
- Prawns
- Pork ribs
- Minced pork
- Toufu bean sheets (Fuzhu)
- Fish cakes
- Fish balls
- Taiwanese sausages
- Chinese wax sausages (lap cheung)
- And, any ngo hiang ingredients
What else to know?
Having great ingredients for your cooking is definitely on the top of the list. However, we would like to remind all F&B owners that excellent service and top-notch cleanliness should be adhered to be the best in the eyes of customers.
There are dozens of Mala Xiang Guo restaurants and stalls opening in Singapore on a monthly basis. Thus, do make sure that your shop or stall stands out in more ways than one. For example, air conditioning, indoor and outdoor seating, wet wipes, clean toilets, and tissue box for each table.
This is because Mala Xiang Guo is spicy and can get messy for some customers – wet nose, stomach upset due to spice level, and lots of sweating. Be sure to satisfy your customer’s every need!
Where to get all these ingredients?
Of course, you will have to get them with us!
CKH Food Trading supplies all Mala Xiang Guo ingredients at an affordable price to help you start your business.
Contact us through this form or call us at (65) 6261 2682 for any enquiries. Our lovely representative will get back to you as we can.
We look forward to working with you.