杂菜 + 粥 ($2.80)!
A budget hawker plate: mixed vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, braised tofu) with a bowl of plain Teochew congee. $2.80.
About as honest and wallet-friendly as lunch gets: 杂菜 + 粥 (mixed vegetables with congee) for $2.80. 😋
What I had:
- A plate of mixed vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, carrot and braised tofu
- A bowl of plain congee (粥)
This is the cai png approach applied to porridge: a plate of veg from the spread, paired with a bowl of plain rice porridge. The congee here was the Teochew style, looser and watery with the rice grains still whole, so it stays light and easy on the stomach, the perfect plain canvas for the savoury vegetables.
The vegetables did the work. Soft, garlicky cabbage, broccoli with a bit of bite, and the pick of the plate, cubes of braised tofu soaking up a savoury brown sauce that you spoon over the porridge to flavour it. Alternating between the clean congee and the saucy tofu and greens is simple, comforting eating.
There is something quietly satisfying about a meal this plain and this cheap that still leaves you full and content. At $2.80, it is hawker accessibility at its best.
Overall: 4.4 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Light Teochew congee with garlicky greens and saucy braised tofu, humble comfort for $2.80. Would re-order.
