I never cease to be awed by just how simple things can combine to become so much more than the sum of their parts. Take this serving of mentai mayo gyozas from Ramen Kiou from @njoy.singapore, for example. It’s just a trio of steamed pork & veggie dumplings that were panfried for a little while before getting a delightful dollop of mentaiko mayonnaise squirted all over them.⠀
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Sounds pretty pedestrian on paper, but these gyozas come alive on your tongue. The tastefully thin gyoza skin that envelopes the salty, satisfying pork & vegetable fillings are steamed excellently. All that softness is checked by the crispy underbelly, which had been pan fried for a charming char and a little extra flavour.⠀
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And on top of that crispy layer is the undeniably umami creaminess of the mentaiko mayo. It adds an even deeper layer of sapidity to the dumplings thanks to the pollock roe that has been mixed into the mayonnaise. And of course, it’s blowtorched for that extra smoky flavour.⠀
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And just like that, a trio of pork gyozas went from a simple side dish to an enthralling experience. Culinary sorcery? Probably. But I like your fabulous foods, magic man. And that’s all that matters.