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Oyster omelettes, cuttlefish omelettes, prawns omelette…you name it: the sumptuous variety of seafood omelettes is what attracts people to the night markets.

A traditional dish in Taiwan – and also in some other places like China’s Fujian and Guandong regions – the oyster omelette is famous for its unique texture and rich colours: a dish topped with a reddish, homemade sauce – the sauces differing from one market stand to the next – the fresh oysters or other kinds of seafood mixed with a variety of vegetables, tinted with golden egg yolks and accompanied by *half-transparent liquid potato or corn starch.

The origin of the oyster omelette dates back to the 17th century, when Japanese pirates and Chinese sea traders sailed the South Pacific Ocean. As there wasn’t much food available at sea, and as the pirates usually had to fight soldiers when on land, the easiest way to survive at sea was to mix oysters or other kinds of seafood with eggs and potatoes or corn starch and whip it all into an omelette. And now, hundreds of years later, this ‘pirate cuisine’ has captured and captivated every night market in Taiwan.

For many Taiwanese people, a summer evening stroll through a night market with family and friends starts with a small portion of oyster omelette along with a cold tropical drink – one of the best ways to relax. The night market stands also offer alternatives to oysters, using all kinds of other seafood, or even just plain omelettes, which then pay special attention to the sweet chilli sauce and thick, chewy liquid potato or corn starch part.

“I love the moment when the omelette is served, when you can still see the steam rising from the plate, giving off that sweet chilli aroma,” says Joanne Kuo from Taipei, Taiwan. “And of course chatting with friends while eating the dish is also another great part of the whole experience!”

For those who’d like to eat like an old Pacific Ocean pirate and make their own Taiwanese oyster/seafood omelettes, just go to www.delta.tudelft.nl and the online version of this article, where by following the simple step-by-step recipe you’ll get a delicious taste of the traditional Taiwanese night markets in 15 minutes or less!

Taiwanese Oyster Omelette Recipe

Ingredients:

• 
  150g fresh oysters (or any other kind of seafood of your personal preference)
• 
  Vegetables: some chopped Chinese cabbage or spinach
• 
  4 eggs beaten
• 
  Liquid potato or corn starch (pre-mixed): 1 cup of potato or corn starch + 2 1⁄2 cups of water
• 
  Sauce: 4 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce+2 tablespoons of sugar+2 tablespoons of soy sauce+ 2 table spoons of ketchup+ 1 cup water+ small amount of the liquid potato or corn starch
• 
  2 tablespoons of oil
• 
  Small amount of salt and white pepper
• 
  Small amount of green onions and chives to increase the aroma (optional)

Before making the oyster (or other seafood) omelette, pre-cook the sauce separately. Mix all the the ingredients for the sauce mentioned above together in a pot and slowly stir them, at a low heat, until the ingredients are completely mixed. To prepare the oyster omelette: first preheat the pan, add 2 tablespoons of oil, and then put the oysters (or other seafood) in the pan and fry them. Pour in the liquid potato (or corn) starch and fry it until it turns a bit hard and less transparent. Add the eggs and vegetables and stir everything. Serve the dish topped with the sauce.  

De stem van voormalig onderwijsminister Plasterk klinkt duidelijk door in het gisteren verschenen voorlopige verkiezingsprogramma van de PvdA. Universiteiten en hogescholen ‘barsten uit hun voegen’, schrijft de partij in de onderwijsparagraaf. Studenten hebben recht op meer colleges, maatwerk, werkgroepen en begeleiding vanuit hun instelling.

Dat kost echter geld, vandaar dat de PvdA ervoor kiest om de basisbeurs in het hoger onderwijs ‘op termijn’ om te zetten in een sociaal leenstelsel. De partij benadrukt dat studeren nog altijd fors gesubsidieerd wordt. Afgezien van de studiefinanciering kost een student gemiddeld achtduizend euro per jaar, minus het collegegeld. Dat blijft de staat betalen als het aan de PvdA ligt. Evenmin wordt getornd aan de aanvullende beurs voor studenten uit gezinnen met lage inkomens.

De opbrengsten van de bezuiniging op de basisbeurs komen ten goede ‘aan de kwaliteit van het onderwijs’ en dus niet uitsluitend aan het hoger onderwijs, zoals de VVD in haar verkiezingsprogramma claimt. Aparte vermelding krijgen de lerarenopleidingen waarvan het niveau ‘dringend’ omhoog moet. Om dat te bereiken zullen de in- en uitstroomeisen worden verzwaard.

In haar wetenschapsbeleid kiest de PvdA, net als Plasterk, vooral voor toponderzoek. Het geld moet naar de beste mensen en de nuttigste ideeën vloeien.