Forget greens, purple is the colour where food is concerned according to health food company, Whole Foods. And it’s not just because they add a dose of extra colour to your plate (cue food Instagrammers). They are said to be dense in nutrients and antioxidants too.
So whether you are doing it for social media credibility or are genuinely interested in the extra nutrients that purple foods pack, here’s a Singapore hit list for 2017’s first food trend. As an added bonus, most of these food items don’t just look good, they are kid-friendly and taste quite good to boot.
Haakon’s Classic Acai Bowl
The purple acai berry has been making its rounds around Singapore in the last few years and it boasts one of the highest antioxidant levels found in foods and is said to help combat high cholesterol levels, improve heart health and delay signs of ageing. This version by Haakon Singapore includes coconut flakes, banana, strawberries and blueberries as well as chia parfait and granola.
Retails for S$7.90 for a medium and S$12.90 for a large superfood bowl. Available at Haakon Singapore, Holland Village.
Tiong Bahru Bakery’s Rainbow Rice Bowl
This bright and cheerful looking dish that lives up to its name — see how many colours this one bowl has — and will have you almost forgetting that it’s totally vegetarian. Part of Tiong Bahru Bakery’s new hot food menu, it contains brown and wild rice, poached organic egg, spicy pineapple kimchi, mixed sprouts and salsa verde, with purple potato crisps for an added crunch and we’re certain that it’ll be a dish that everyone in the family will be fighting over.
Retail at S$16. Available at Tiong Barhu Bakery, Raffles City outlet.
QQ Rice Rolls
The concept that QQ Rice has is simple. Pick your rice (choose purple rice, which they say has higher levels of vitamins, minerals and fibre) and your ingredients, and they’ll roll it all into a handy to eat rice roll. It’s also one of the first places in Singapore to offer purple rice as a takeaway option.
Prices start from S$3.15 and vary depending on the ingredients you pick. Available at all QQ Rice outlets.
Plentyfull’s Little Farms’ Vegetable Dip
Plentyfull feature a rotating menu that’s seasonal based on the produce available from its farmers. Thus the veggies found on Little Farms’ Vegetable Dip, which features seasonal market selected vegetables, always changes, so do ask ahead if you absolutely need a dose of purple vegetables. The two versions of this dish we’ve seen on social media though have featured purple carrots and purple cauliflowers, so we’ll say your chances of snagging purple items on your plate it quite high, subject to nature of course.
Retails at S$16. Available at Plentyfull, Millenia Walk.
Small Potatoes Ice Creamery’s Small Potato Party
This aptly named treat is bursting with all things purple, from sweet potato paste to sweet potato chips. And holding it all together is the Japanese Purple Kumamoto Yam soft serve. Though the flavour isn’t too strong, psychologically we think it helps to think that this indulgence is slightly healthier than the usual ice cream, given its purple hues.
Retails at S$9.50. Available at Small Potatoes Ice Creamery, Square 2.
