Vegetarian Buddha's Delight

I love stir-frying cellophane or glass noodles with or without meat, with combination of eggs, cabbages, carrots, dried black fungus and dried shiitake mushrooms.  Recently, I came across an online recipe which is a Vegetarian Dish and it uses red fermented  bean curd, and this is indeed a recipe which really captivates me.  I have been looking forward to cook this dish, and it didn't take me long to do so.... here's to share...

Ingredients:

2 bundles glass noodles (soaked to softened and drain)

3 dried shiitake mushrooms (soaked and sliced)

1 handful Black fungus (soaked and drained)

1 bowl beech mushrooms

5 leaves Napa cabbage (washed and cut)

1 packet Baby corn (washed and halved vertically)

1/2 Red carrot (peeled and sliced)

For cooking:

3 cubes Red fermented bean curd (mashed into paste)

4 slices ginger (peeled)

1 tbsp. cooking oil

1/2 tbsp. Sesame oil

Sauce:

1 tbsp. oyster sauce

1 tbsp. light soy sauce

1 tsp. sugar (to taste)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground white pepper

Methods:

1. Briefly blanch all the vegetables in boiling water and set them aside.
2. In a wok, heat a tablespoon of cooking oil and saute the sliced ginger.  Add the fermented bean curd paste and stir until fragrant.  Remove the sliced ginger.
3. Add all the vegetables into the wok and pour in the sauce ingredients.  Give it a quick stir.
4. Create a small space in the center of the vegetables and add the softened glass noodles.  Cover the wok with a lid and let it simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to absorb.
5. Once the vegetables are tender, drizzle with sesame oil and stir to combine.
6. Remove the dish onto a serving plate and enjoy!

This delicious recipe is adapted from 'jaida_ow' with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Spicy Terung Asam Fish Soup

It has been quite a long while since I last cook this appetizing dish.  One morning as I was doing my grocery shopping at a popular Supermarket, I saw some Terung Asam, so immediately I grab hold of it and there it goes... A bowl of Simple Yet Yummylicious 'Spicy Terung Asam Fish Soup' for our lunch!!

This is my very own recipe of Signature Terung Asam Fish Soup which can be obtain by clicking this link here.

Hope you all enjoy this appetizing dish as much as I do.  It always calls more more rice, so if you cook this dish, make sure to cook more rice ~ sluuurrrp ~

Chicken Chop Suey

 

Ingredients:

100 g. chicken thighs (without skin - thinly sliced)

2 shallots (peeled and sliced) - can use onion

2 cloves garlic (peeled and chopped)

1 stalk celery (sliced)

2" carrot (peeled and sliced thinly)

6 florets broccoli (cut into 2-3 pieces if each floret is big)

2 tbsp. cooking oil 

Marinade:

1/2 tbsp. Shaoxing wine

Dash of salt

1 tsp. cornflour

Sauce:

1/4 cup water (chicken broth) - add more if you prefers to have more sauce

1/2 tbsp. oyster sauce

1/2 tsp. rice wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. Shaoxing wine

1/2 tsp. sesame oil

1/2 tsp. dark soy sauce (Optional, for color)

1/4 tsp. brown sugar 

1/4 tsp. chicken stock granules

Dash of white/black pepper

1 tsp. cornflour

Methods:

1. In a bowl, combine the sliced chicken, Shaoxing wine, salt and cornflour.  Mix until everything is evenly coated and set aside.
2. Combine all the sauce ingredients and stir until the sugar and cornflour are fully dissolved.  Set aside.
3. In a large saucepan heat 1 tbsp. cooking oil over medium-high heat until hot.  Add the chicken to the saucepan in a single layer and separated the pieces with spatula.  Cook the chicken on one side until it begins to brown.  Flip and cook the other side until cooked all the way through.  Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
4. In the same pan, add the remaining 1 tbsp. cooking oil, add shallot/onion to the pan.  Stir and cook until just begin to brown, then add garlic and stir fry for a few seconds to release the aroma.
5. Add the celery and carrot, stir-fry to cook off excess moisture.  Then add in broccoli and stir to combine.
6. Stir the sauce again and pour it into the pan.  Add the chicken back into the pan and toss to combine everything.  Cook until sauce is thickened.
7. Transfer everything to a serving plate.
8. Serve hot with a plate of freshly cooked fluffy rice!

This recipe is adapted from 'Omnivore's Cookbook' by Maggie Zhu with slight adjustments to suit my cooking preference.

Braised pork belly in soy sauce

 

Ingredients:

4 pieces pork belly (3" long)

3 slices ginger (peeled)

2 stalks spring onion

1 stick cinnamon

3 pods star anise 

2 pieces bay leaves (dried)

Braising liquid: (mix in a bowl)

2 tbsp. light soy sauce

3/4 tbsp dark soy sauce (add more if your sauce is not dark)

1 tbsp. Shaoxing wine

1/2 tbsp sugar (to taste)

3/4 cups water (add more if needed)

Methods:

1. Rinse the pork slices and wipe dry with kitchen paper.  Use a fork to pierce the pork belly pieces all over - this helps them cook faster and absorb more flavor.
2. Heat a dry pan over high heat.  Add the pork belly slices and sear both sides until light golden.  No oil is needed as the pork will render its own fat.
3. Add the ginger, spring onion, cinnamon stick, star anise and bay leaves to the pan.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the braising liquid. Give it a stir to mix.
5. Cover with a lid and braise until the pork is fully cooked.  In between braising, turn the pork belly over to ensure even cooking.
6. Uncover the pan, turn the heat to high and reduce the sauce, spooning the sauce continuously over the pork to glaze it.
7. Remove the pork belly onto a plate, slice the pork belly into bite-sized pieces and serve!

Braising in progress..

Pork belly before slicing

This Simple Yet Yummylicious recipe is adapted from 'cicili.tv' with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Nian Gao Wraps

If you love your Nian Gao snacks crispy on the outside and gooey, sweet and soft on the inside, then this is one recipe to make and enjoy.  It's so simple, with only 2 ingredients and hassle free.

Ingredients:

Nian Gao slices

2 wraps

Methods:

1. Cut nian gao to thin slices. Thin slices is preferred as it's easy to melt as compared to thick slices.
2. Heat up a pan at low heat and place one piece of the wrap on it without adding any oil.  Place nian gao slices over it with another piece of wrap on top.
3. Heat one side for about 2 minutes or until slightly golden brown; then flip over for another 2 minutes till slightly brown.  Gently press the top with a ladle to let the melted nian gao spread out evenly between wraps, and it is done.
4. Remove onto a flat serving dish.  Cut nian gao wraps into wedges and serve immediately.

I adapted this recipe from 'Anncoo Journal.'

Thai Omelette (Kai Jeow)

 

Ingredients: (serves 2)

2 eggs

40 g. ground chicken (mixture of breast and thigh)

1/2 tablespoon fish sauce

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Methods:

1. In a bowl, crack the eggs and beat lightly.
2. Add the ground chicken and fish sauce, then mix until evenly combined.
3. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium high heat.  Pour in the egg mixture.
4. Fry until golden on both sides.
5. Remove from the pan and serve hot with your favorite chili sauce.

I adapted this Simple Yet Yummylicious recipe from 'Rasa Malaysia' with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.

Masala Fried Fish

 

Ingredients:

1 piece fish fillet

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. red chili powder

1/4 tsp. tumeric powder

1/2 tbsp. ginger garlic paste

1/2 tbsp. rice vinegar (can use lemon juice)

1 tbsp. rice flour

1 tbsp. cornflour

Cooking oil (for shallow frying)

Methods:

1. Clean and pat dry the fish.
2. In a small bowl mix salt, chili powder, tumeric powder, ginger garlic paste, vinegar, rice flour and cornflour.
3. Coat fish evenly and rest for 15 minutes.
4. Shallow fry on medium heat until golden and crisp.
5. Remove onto a serving dish and serve hot!

I adapted this recipe from 'Easy Homemade Recipes' by Linda Palma with slight adjustment to suit my cooking preference.