Buah Keluak
Did you know?
Buah Keluak is poisonous?
The buah keluak tree is a poisonous tree. Hydrogen cyanide exists in all parts of the tree. This can be easily removed by washing with water.
Choosing a good Buah Kelauk is both a skill and an art?
Choose heavier and bigger nuts, as the light ones are dry and do not have much flesh. Give it a shake, if you can hear a rattling sound, it means the interior is dry.
Buah Keluak and Buah Keras are different.
Buah Keras are candlenuts, hence please pronounce it properly when you are looking for it in the wet market!
What can it be used for?
This fruit is often used in traditional Peranakan and Indonesian Cuisines, to add flavour to the food.
Preparatory methods
Due to its poisonous nature, preparation of the nut is extremely important to ensure safe consumption. In the past, fermentation of the nut was done by boiling the nut thoroughly, before burying it in ash for as long as 40 days. Nowadays, it can be prepared by soaking in water and brushing continuously for 5-7 days. Such methods are effective in neutralising the poison (i.e. hydrogen cyanide).Once that is done, crack open the buah keluak shells at the top. Do not throw away the shells! Set them aside for use later.
Some of the favourite dishes that you can create using Buah Keluak are Ayam (Chicken) Buah Keluak, Buah Keluak Fried Rice.
Full receipt on how to cook the ayam buah keluak can be referred from here.
Similarly, many peranakan restaurants sell this dish. Do let us know what your favourite dishes and restaurants are.
What does it taste like?
It is an acquired taste, with flavours reminiscent of cacao (used in chocolate-making), mushrooms and black olives. It has been called the Asian equivalent of black truffles, as connoisseurs attest that buah keluak tastes like the highly prized fungus. You have to taste it to describe the taste, as it is hard to describe the actual taste to different individuals, as all of us have different taste buds.
Where to buy Buah Keluak in Singapore?
Not all wet markets carry Buah Keluak. The reason is because not all Singaporeans know about this, and the preparation is tedious. But we at SGDriedGoods carry this product. You can pick and choose the buah keluak, as it is sold per seed. If you do not know how to choose a good buah keluak, please feel free to ask and we will gladly help choose the best ones for you.
If you do not have the patience to prepare the Buah Keluak, an alternative is to purchase the ready-to-eat buah keluak paste form from the various e-commerce platforms.
SGDriedGoods also carries the buah keluak paste form for your convenience!
Where can you find the Buah Keluak Tree in Singapore?
The Buah Keluak Tree is a heritage tree that you can find in Singapore’s Botanic Gardens. Directions on how to get there are in the link. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/heritage-trees/ht-2014-232
Enjoy the big tree and try to look for the fruit as it drops to the ground.
