What is kueh pie tee and where did it come from?

Kueh Pie Tee is a delectable little snack that is a true favourite in Singapore, It appears at hawker stalls and on platters at events carted by Singaporean chefs. its ideal as a snack or as component of a larger meal.

Let’s take a look at what kueh pie tee is and where its true origins are.

What is Kueh Pie Tee and How Do People Call it?

A pie tee mould is used to create the kueh pie tee shells. The mould is first dipped in a flour batter before being dropped into the hot oil. Once the thin batter layer has been fried in the oil, it will become crispy and release from the mould as a sweet little pastry shell. The kueh pie tee cups are typically stuffed with an assortment of vegetables, chopped prawns, shredded turnips, yam beans,carrots, and a mixture of spices. Following that, they are garnished with omelette strips, shrimp, coriander leaves, and chilli sauce.

Although it may be spelled Kuih Pie Tee or Koay Pai Tee in other locales, the dish is known as “Kueh Pie Tee” or “Kueh Pie Ti” in Singapore. Due to their resemblance to a top hat when turned upside down, kueh pie tee portions are known as "Top Hats" in Malacca. While Singaporean versions of kueh pie tee do not have this brim, those from Malacca do have a flat edge around the cup's rim.

The Origins of Kueh Pie Tee

Although the majority of people think kueh pie tee is a Peranakan dish, no one is certain who invented it or where exactly it came from. Chinese immigrants from China arrived in the Malay archipelago between the 15th and 17th centuries, settling primarily in southern Thailand's Phuket and Ranong as well as British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. These immigrants are known as Peranakan, or Straits-born Chinese.

Most experts attribute kueh pie tee to British cultural influence on Peranakan society. It is frequently consumed as a snack and is widely regarded as the Nonya equivalent of a British pastry. It makes sense that "Pie Tee" could have come from "Patty" or "Pastie", as this theory has been put forth by some. Kueh Pai Tee, according to Baba Ong Jin Teong's article in The Peranakan, was created in Singapore and was known as “Syonanto Pie” while the country was occupied by the Japanese. During the war, the Japanese referred to Singapore as Syonanto. He asserts that Syonanto’s "Pie" is related to "Pie Tee" in some way.

Without a doubt, kueh pie tee and popiah, also known as the spring roll, a Hokkien dish served to commemorate the arrival of spring, are closely related. Similar to kueh pie tee, popiah filling should contain bamboo shoots, whose appearance signals the start of spring. Due to the higher expense, many places today omit using these bamboo shoots. But to leave out the bamboo shoots would be to miss out on a significant aspect of both its history and flavour.

Buy the Best Kueh Pie Tee in Singapore from Ann Chin

Perhaps you would prefer not to spend hours making those crunchy casings before serving kueh pie tee to your loved ones. Order your kueh pie tee from Ann Chin or purchase our DIY kueh pie tee set or the kueh pie tee party set, which comes with everything you need to make your own kueh pie tee in a lot less time. This is an alternative to spending hours slaving over the shells. You can get this traditional Singaporean appetiser ready to serve your guests in no time with a little quick preparation. To check out our kueh pie tee DIY party sets, visit Ann Chin Kueh Pie Tee.