200px, Taiwanese style Oyster omelette
The oyster omelette, as known as o-a-tsian (), o-chien () or orh luak (;
Peng'im
(: ( Teochew) (Swatow), : or , : or ) is a Teochew dialect romanisation system as a part of Guangdong Romanisation published by Guangdong Provincial Education Department in 1960. Tone of this system is based on Swatow dialect. The system ...
: ''o
5 luah
4'') is a dish of Banlamese (both
Hokkien
The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages ...
and
Teochew) origin that is renowned for its savory flavor in its native
Minnan region
Minnan, Banlam or Minnan Golden Triangle (), refers to the coastal region in Southern Fujian Province, China, which includes the prefecture-level cities of Xiamen, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou. The region accounts for 40 percent of the GDP of Fujian Pr ...
and
Chaoshan
Chaoshan or Teoswa (; peng'im: ''Dio5suan1'' i̯o˥˥꜖꜖.sũ̯ã˧˧ is a cultural-linguistic region in the east of Guangdong, China. It is the origin of the Min Nan Chaoshan dialect (). The region, also known as Chiushan in Cantonese, c ...
, along with
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
and many parts of Southeast Asia such as the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
and
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
due to the influence of the Banlamese diaspora. Variations of the dish exist in some southern regions of China.
Summary
The oyster
omelette
In cuisine, an omelette (also spelled omelet) is a dish made from beaten eggs, fried with butter or oil in a frying pan (without stirring as in scrambled egg). It is quite common for the omelette to be folded around fillings such as chives ...
is a Taiwanese "
night market
Night markets or night bazaars are street markets which operate at night and are generally dedicated to more leisurely strolling, shopping, and eating than more businesslike day markets. They are typically open-air markets popular in East Asia, So ...
favorite", and has constantly been ranked by many foreigners as the top dish from Taiwan. Its generous proportions and affordable price demonstrates the trait of night market cuisines. In the Philippines, English language menus often call the dish "oyster cake".
Ingredients
The dish consists of an
omelette
In cuisine, an omelette (also spelled omelet) is a dish made from beaten eggs, fried with butter or oil in a frying pan (without stirring as in scrambled egg). It is quite common for the omelette to be folded around fillings such as chives ...
with a filling primarily composed of small
oyster
Oyster is the common name for a number of different families of salt-water bivalve molluscs that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but not ...
s. Starch (typically sweet potato starch) is mixed into the egg batter, giving the resulting egg wrap a thicker consistency. Pork lard is often used to fry the resulting omelet. Depending on regional variations, a savory sauce may then be poured on top of the omelette for added taste.
Spicy or chili sauce mixed with lime juice is often added to provide an intense kick. Shrimp can sometimes be substituted in place of oysters; in this case, it is called shrimp omelette ().
Names
In different
Chinese language
Chinese (, especially when referring to written Chinese) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and many minority ethnic groups in Greater China. About 1.3 billion people (or approximately 16% of the ...
s, the "oyster omelette" is known by various names in different Chinese geographical regions.
Thailand
In Thailand known as ''hoi thot'' ( th, หอยทอด), it was adapted to
mussel omelettes (''hoi malaeng phu thot'', th, หอยแมลงภู่ทอด), though the original oyster version (''hot nang rom thot'', th, หอยนางรมทอด) also popular but higher price. In Bangkok, notable areas for oyster omelettes include
Talat Wang Lang 250px, Sushi shop within the market
Wang Lang Market ( th, ตลาดวังหลัง, , ) is a daily market in Bangkok Noi district next to Siriraj Hospital and Chao Phraya river in Bangkok's Thonburi side.
The name "Wang Lang Market" mean ...
near
Siriraj Hospital; Wang Lang (Siriraj) Pier in
Bangkok Noi
Bangkok Noi ( th, บางกอกน้อย, ) is one of the 50 districts (''khet'') of Bangkok, Thailand. Neighboring districts are (from north clockwise) Bang Phlat, Phra Nakhon (across Chao Phraya River), Bangkok Yai, Phasi Charoen, a ...
where there are two restaurants;
Yaowarat
Yaowarat Road ( th, ถนนเยาวราช, ; ) in Samphanthawong District is the main artery of Bangkok's Chinatown. Modern Chinatown now covers a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. It has been the main centre for trading ...
neighborhood, where there is one
Michelin-
Bib Gourmand
The Michelin Guides ( ) are a series of guide books that have been published by the French tyre company Michelin since 1900. The Guide awards up to three Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The acquisition or loss of ...
restaurant with
Charoen Krung neighborhood in
Bang Rak, among others. In 2017, the World Street Food Congress announced that oyster omelette is one of the three most notable
street food
Street food is ready-to-eat food or drinks sold by a hawker, or vendor, in a street or at other public places, such as markets or fairs. It is often sold from a portable food booth, food cart, or food truck and is meant for immediate consumpt ...
among the
street foods of Thailand.
Gallery
File:Oyster_omelette_-_Singapore_Style.jpg
File:蚝煎 Oyster Omelette - Lucky Yu (3011561831).jpg
File:A oyster omelette stall in Zeng Cuo'an.jpg
File:蚵仔煎 蚵仔之家(板橋南雅夜市) (3205900014) (2).jpg
File:Tortilla de ostra no estilo de Hong Kong.JPG
File:Oyster omelette - Singapore style.JPG
File:Fried Oyster Omelette.jpg
File:TWOysterOmeletRichy.jpg
See also
*
Night markets in Taiwan
Taiwanese night markets ( zh, t=夜市, p=yèshì) are street markets in Taiwan that operate in urban or suburban areas between sunset and sunrise. A few, such as Huaxi Street Tourist Night Market (or Snake Alley), utilize purpose-built marketpl ...
*
Hangtown fry
*
Pad thai
Pad thai, phat thai, or phad thai ( or ; th, , , ISO: ''p̄hạd thịy'', , 'Thai stir fry'), is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food in Thailand as part of the country's cuisine. It is typically made with rice noo ...
*
List of Chinese dishes
*
List of egg dishes
This is a list of notable egg dishes and beverages. Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have been eaten by humans for thousands of years.Kenneth F. Kiple, ''A Movable Feast: Ten ...
*
List of seafood dishes
This is a list of notable seafood dishes. Seafood dishes are food dishes which use seafood (fish, shellfish or seaweed) as primary ingredients, and are ready to be served or eaten with any needed preparation or cooking completed. Many fish or ...
References
{{Omelettes
Teochew cuisine
Fujian cuisine
Singaporean cuisine
Taiwanese cuisine
Egg dishes
Malaysian cuisine
Thai cuisine
Omelettes
Oyster dishes