Published On:
January 18, 2023

7 Ways to Eat Bakkwa

Bakkwa (also spent bakwa or bak kua), also known as jerky or dried meat, is a popular snack food in many parts of Asia, especially during Chinese New Year. It is made by drying thin slices of meat, typically pork or sometimes beef or chicken, and often marinating them in a mixture of sweet and savory sauces before drying and grilling. The resulting snack is chewy, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor.

It’s also not uncommon to see super long queues at the top bakkwa shops like Lim Chee Guan and Bee Cheng Hiang. Queues have been known to stretch for hours! So it's essential to maximise your bakkwa.

Ba kwa can be eaten on its own as a snack, but it is also very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. Here at Nimbus Homes, we are great bakkwa lovers, so we tried to find every possible way to eat bakkwa. Let's face it, I would eat it every meal and every day if I could.

Here are just a few of the many ways you can enjoy ba kwa:

1. As a Snack

One of the simplest ways to eat ba kwa is to simply tear off a piece and enjoy it as a sweet and savoury snack. Some people like to eat ba kwa on its own, while others like to pair it with other snacks, such as nuts or fruit. We also recommend heating the ba kwa up in the oven or microwave. It’s the most flavourful when hot! For ease of eating, you may wish to cut it up into smaller pieces using kitchen scissors.

Bakkwa is delicious as it is! 

2. With rice:

Ba kwa can be a delicious topping for rice dishes. Try adding a few thin slices or minced bakwa on top of a bowl of rice for a burst of flavor and texture. Even better, fry it into fried rice for fragant goodness! 

Fry it into rice

3. In soups:

Ba kwa can be a great addition to soups, adding flavor and a chewy texture. Try adding a few slices to wonton soup, hot and sour soup, or any other soup that could benefit from a boost of sweet and salty flavor. Think of them as upgraded spring onions.

Soups will always benefit from delicious bakkwa flavour! 

4. In stir-fries:

Thinly sliced ba kwa can be a tasty and protein-rich addition to stir-fries, acting much like sliced meat. Try adding it to stir-fries made with vegetables, noodles, or both. It adds some umami and flavour in a uniquely Asian flavour!

5. In sandwiches:

Ba kwa can be a delicious and unusual filling for sandwiches or wraps. Thinly slice the ba kwa and add it to your sandwich or wrap along with your choice of vegetables and condiments. Or, some people just love to eat it sandwiched in plain bread! This option is especially good if you find the taste of bakwa too salty. A very simple snack or lunch!

Delicious and simple lunch!

6. In snacks and appetizers:

Ba kwa can be used as an ingredient in a variety of snack and appetizer recipes. For example, you could use it to make ba kwa wontons, ba kwa spring rolls, or ba kwa skewers. It can replace many different meats in recipes as filling, especially since it's already so flavourful by itself.

The best feeling is bakkwa.

7. In desserts:

While ba kwa is most commonly used in savory dishes, it can also be used in sweet recipes. For example, you could try using it to make ba kwa cookies or ba kwa bread pudding. Add a savoury kick to your favourite dessert! 

As you can see, there are many ways to enjoy bakkwa, and the possibilities are almost endless. Whether you like it as a snack on its own or prefer to use it as an ingredient in dishes, bakkwa is a versatile and delicious food that is sure to please.

After you're done feasting and cooking bakkwa in all your favourite ways, why not leave the cleaning to us? Nimbus Homes' professional house keepers will let you enjoy the eating without the nagging thought of having to clean up afterwards! Take a look at our house cleaning services today.