Diced chicken with cashew nuts and celery is a staple in any chinese restaurant in the bay area. I have often found it slightly odd because growing up, celery was imported and not a common food item. It was not easily found in a wet market, and if it were, probably did not offer as […]
vegetables
Includes roots and tubers
Green Beans with Prawns
1 lb green beans, ends trimmed, cut into 1″ length ½ lb prawns, tails intact, deveined and slit minced garlic 2 tbsp chinese cooking wine salt/sugar to taste Serves 2 Blanch green beans in salted, boiling water. Drain and place into iced water to stop the cooking process. Saute garlic till fragrant. Add prawns to […]
Pan-Fried Asian Eggplant
This a quick and easy one that also meets my daily quota of coloured vegetables. Tips: I found that using my fingers worked better at getting the seasoning into the eggplant, especially over the rounded, skinned surfaces. Avoid making the slices too thin, some thickness is needed to get into the ‘meat’ of the eggplant […]
Sweet Corn Soup with Spam
I’m on the lookout for quick, savory lunches using whatever is on hand. I don’t usually keep a fully stocked kitchen, so this exercise often ends up with some interesting results. I also wanted something that I could freeze for future lunches. A sort of Smoky Corn Chowder was what I had in mind. I […]
Braised Chinese Cabbage with Chicken
Marinate 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp sesame oil 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp cooking wine Salt and pepper ½ chinese cabbage, cut into 2″ pieces ½ chicken breast, chopped 2 spring onions, chopped 1 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp cooking wine ½” ginger, minced Serves 2 Marinate chicken and chill for 2 hours. Saute […]
Curried Cauliflower with Apples
The curry is warming on a chilly day. Cumin seeds add a nice kick to the dish. For a more interesting texture, I prefer the ginger just chopped, not minced. ½ head cauliflower, cut into small pieces 1 carrot, chopped 4 tbsp curry powder 3 tsp cumin (or 1 tbsp cumin seeds) ½” ginger, chopped […]
Hamburger stew
It’s a cold day and I was yearning for something warm and comfortable. I’d come across The Pioneer Woman’s Hamburger Soup a few days ago and it has been lingering in my mind. A peek in my fridge revealed that a simple adaptation could serve, without a trip to the grocery store. Beef and tomatoes […]
Kueh Pie Tee
Kueh Pie Tee is a popular peranakan appetizer. Crispy shells are filled with a sweet mix of turnip or jicama and variety of vegetables, all thinly sliced or grated, topped with prawns and sambal chilli. Part of the fun in eating it is assembling them with together with family and friends around a table. For […]
Sayor Lodeh
This is a Malay vegetable curry dish. You can substitute any of the vegetables. Those without a high water content works best. Traditionally, it is served over longtong/ketupat (rice cakes). A link to Ridha’s recipe is included below. To save time, I use adabi brand “Ketupat”, which tastes good and smells authentic. Ingredients Curry Paste […]
Eggplant with Coconut Milk
2 eggplants, cut into 1″ thick 1 chicken breast, cubed 2 carrots, cubed 1 shallot, sliced 5 tbsp coconut milk 2 tbsp sherry 1 tbsp cornstarch 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp sesame oil salt & pepper cooking oil Serves 3 Marinate chicken in sherry, cornstarch, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt & pepper. Heat cooking oil. […]