Beef Soup Noodle 1

Beef noodle comes in many different version , the taiwanese style beef noodle, local kolo mee style beef noodle, clear soup beef noodle, 'hong shao' beef noodle to name but a few. Beef noodle aficionados usually claimed one version to be the best, and even have their favourite beef noodle stall / shop. 

What makes beef noodle so addictive? The soft and tender beef cut, the chewy beef tendon, the springy noodle and a perfectly prepared broth makes every bite a heavenly experience, and every sip of soup a gustatory orgasm.

This beef soup noodle recipe is actually a fusion of the different versions that i have tasted before. I will be experimenting with different ingredients soon, which is why i've labelled this as Beef Soup Noodle 1. Expect version 2, 3 or 4 to come!

Many might think that making beef soup is such a daunting, herculean task with so many ingredients involved. I can assure you that this recipe is suited for all those eager to have an easy, breezy time in the kitchen, yet still manage to enjoy a satisfying, rewarding meal at the end of the day. The active preparation time is less than 10mins, and while the soup is boiling, enjoy the aroma that permeates the whole kitchen!

Ingredients

500 g                  beef shin (cut into pieces)

200g                   boiled beef tendon

1                        carrot (cut into big pieces)

5                        shallots (pilled)

2 slices               ginger

1                        star anise 

1 tbsp                 pickled lettuce*

1 tbsp                 spicy bean paste*

1 tbsp                 hoisin sauce*

1 tsp                   chilli paste

1 tbsp                 light soya sauce

1 tbsp                 fish sauce

1 tsp                   sesame oil

1 tsp                   sugar 

                           water

                           noodle

*All these ingredients can be found at Asian grocery stores.

1. Blanch beef with boiling water to remove excess blood. This step ensures a clearer broth.

2. Put all ingredients into a pot, ensure water is sufficient to cover the meat. 

3. Bring the water to boil, and reduce to low heat. Cook for at least 1 1/2 hour or until the meat is soft and tender.

4. Once the beef soup is ready, cook the noodle and serve them together.

Easy, isn't it? : )

Pork Leg Mee Sua 猪脚面线

What other better ways to spend a nice Sunday morning than having a delicious home-cooked meal? After a long week of hard work, its time to pamper yourself with some much-needed, well-deserved good food. Throw away the calories counter, forget about hitting the gym, and indulge yourself in some calorie-bursting food. Once in a while, giving yourself some sinful indulgence is all that you need.

Pork leg mee sua is a popular Chinese cuisine. My Taiwanese friends brought me to one well known shop called 阿水狮猪脚  that specialises in pork leg dishes. The properly braised pork leg with its succulent meat, chewy tendon and gelatinised gravy goes perfectly well with mee sua. That has inspired me to try making my own version of pork leg dish.

Mee sua is another variant of noodles made from wheat flour. It is cooked during important festivities, eg Chinese New Year. As it symbolises longevity, it is also a birthday food in Chinese culture.

Ingredients A

1                        Pork leg (cut into pieces, boiled to remove excess blood)

2 tbsp                 Black Vinegar

3 tbsp                 Dark Soy Sauce

2 tbsp                 Sugar

Ingredients B

1 inch                 Ginger (pounded)

1 bulb                 Garlic

3                         Chillies

2                         Star Anise

5                         Shitake Mushroom 

3 tbsp                  Oyster Sauce

1 tbsp                  Plum Sauce

2 tbsp                  Fish Sauce

2 tbsp                  Light Soya Sauce

1 tsp                    Sesame Oil

2 tbsp                  Shao Xing Wine

1 cup                   water                             

2 tbsp                  starch water

                            Oil

Ingredient C

                            Mee Sua

1. Marinate pork leg with black vinegar, dark soy sauce and sugar (ingredients A) for 30 minutes.

2. Heat up oil in wok, stir fry ginger, garlic, chillies, star anise until fragrant.

3. Add in pork leg and the rest of ingredients B and bring to boil.

4. Turn to low heat and cook for at least 2-3 hours or until the meat is soft and tender.

5. Stir in starch water.

6. When you are ready to eat, cook mee sua and serve it with pork leg.

Galangal Chicken with Curry Leaves

Galangal and curry leaves are two key ingredients in many Asian cooking. As i mentioned before, galangal comes from the ginger family, yet it has stronger taste than the common ginger. Widely used in Thai cuisine (Tom Yum soup) and Indonesian cuisine (Soto), it has this strong yet refreshing aroma not comparable to any other herbs and spices.

Curry leaves is grown in tropical countries.My mum planted one just outside our house.Usually we can also find the dried ones in stores, though the aroma is largely inferior. Curry leaves are widely used in Indian cooking, for example as seasoning in curry, while in Chinese restaurant, they are commonly used to cook butter prawn.

For this recipe, i am using both these ingredients to heighten the flavour of the fried chicken. The crispy chicken is coated with a layer of aromatic spices, making it a great dish to eat with a bowl of plain white rice.

Ingredients:

1                         Chicken thigh (deboned, cut into pieces)
1 1/2 inch            Galangal
1 clove                Garlic
3                         Shallots
2                         Chilli
1 tsp                    Turmeric Powder
1 tbsp                  Light Soya Sauce
1 tbsp                  Oyster Sauce
3 tbsp                  Corn Flour
                            Salt and Sugar to taste
                            Oil for deep frying    

1. Marinate chicken with light soya sauce, oyster sauce and corn flour. Set aside.

2. Blend galangal, garlic, shallots ,chilli and turmeric powder.

3. Heat up oil and deep fry chicken until golden brown. Dish up and remove excess oil.

4. Heat up wok. Add in a bit of oil. Fry the spices until fragrant.

5. Add fried chicken into the wok and mix well. Add salt and sugar to taste.

Fried Tofu with Chilli Peanut Sauce

There's one popular local snack food called “Hey-Pia" 虾饼, in which other than the crispy deep fried prawn pastry, another key element to this dish is the chilli dipping sauce. In fact, as long as the chilli dipping sauce is good, anything dipped in it will taste great!

This is another fast and easy preparation that you can try at home anytime. A good idea for those rushing to get dinner ready after a long day of work, or a fast appetizer for any friends and family gathering. Furthermore, tofu with its high protein value, is suitable for people of all ages. This dish can also be a good substitute of "Hey-Pia" for vegetarians.

Ingredienst

1-2 blocks             Tofu (cut into cubes)

1                            Cucumber

2-3 tbsp                 Roasted Peanut (pounded)

1 tbsp                     Sugar

5 tbsp                     Chilli Sauce

                               Oil for deep frying

1. Fry tofu until golden brown. Remove and pat to remove excess oil.

2.Cut cucumber into slices.

3.Mix roasted peanut, sugar and chilli sauce. That's it!

Enjoy!

  

Avocado Juice with Chocolate

We have tried so many different type of juices, typically those made from orange, apple, pineapple or watermelon. But many might not have heard of Avocado juice. Avocado are typically used to make salad or guacamole, but Avocado juice? It's quite hard to imagine how this meaty flavoured fruit will taste like when it is pureed and drank as juice. 

However, i got this idea of making avocado juice from my recent trip to Bali. It has a taste someway between a normal fruit juice and ice cream shake. The meaty flavour of avocado is well complemented by chocolate syrup, giving it a well balanced taste that is neither too sweet nor savoury. And it has this smooth, almost creamy texture. Imagine having a sip of avocado juice, while enjoying the breathtaking sunset view at Kuta Beach. Heavenly!

So this is one fast and easy recipe, that is simply delicious.

Ingredients:

1                      Avocado (peeled, preferably chilled)

1-2 tbsp           Condensed Milk

                        Chocolate syrup

                        Ice cubes (optional)

1. Blend the avocado into smooth puree. Mix in condensed milk.

2. Pour content into a tall glass and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

This is as easy as A-B-C!

Stewed Pork in Pear & Nutmeg Gravy

The best way of having a great time in the kitchen is to play with the food. Instead of following recipes in cookbooks or the internet, why not let your imaginations run wild and prepare something that is authentically yours. Cook with your heart, feel what you are cooking, mix and match the food, the let the chemistry works magic!

This dish was prepared from what is left in my fridge one day. Adding fruits to cooking can add that extra sweetness to the dish. And the aroma from the pear and nutmeg can heighten the flavour of the meat.

Preparing the Meat

Ingredients

500g                     Beef or Pork

1                           Pear

1                           Carrot (cut into big pieces)

a few stalks           Celery (cut into big pieces)

3-5 slices              Ginger

3 cloves                Garlic

a pinch of              Nutmeg Powder

2-3 cups                Beef stock (or any stock)

                             Salt, Pepper, Sugar to taste

                             Oil

1. Heat up oil in pot. Saute ginger and garlic until fragrant.

2.Add in the rest of the ingredients and bring it to boil.

3.Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender.

4.Remove the meat and pear. Pour the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blend into puree.

5. Serve the meat with the puree.

Preparing the Side Dish

For the side dish, i have opted for a mashed potato and mashed sweet potato combo. Mashed potato alone is a bit too dull. Mashed sweet potato alone will be a bit too sweet as a side dish. Hence a combination of both give it the perfect balance.

Ingredients

1-2                        Potatoes

1-2                        Sweet Potatoes

2 tbsp                    Butter

                              salt and pepper to taste

1. Peel the potatoes and sweet potatoes and steam over high heat until they are soft.

2. Mashed the potatoes and add in the butter, salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

                        

A Healthy Vegetarian Meal

I was on my vacation in Phuket recently when i saw this interesting blue-colored rice pack. From the packaging, it is noted that this rice is actually made from brown rice mixed with butterfly-pea flower. It claims to contain high nutritional value.

So for this recipe, i've decided to keep it healthy with lots of vege and fruits. A good option for those health conscious, weight conscious group. Enjoy a guilt-free, nutrition laden meal!

Ingredients

Source of Carbohydrate

1 bowl          cooked rice (any rice will do)

                   

Fresh from the garden

                     lettuce

                     cherry tomatoes

                   

Preparing the Mushroom

                     Korean Mushroom

                     Fresh Button Mushroom

                     or any other mushrooms will do

1 tsp              finely chopped garlic

1 tbsp            oyster sauce

1 tbsp            light soya sauce

                     salt and pepper to taste

                     oil

                     corn flour water

1. Heat up wok, add in a bit of oil, and saute garlic until fragrant.

2. Add in mushrooms, oyster sauce, light soya sauce, salt and pepper and stir-fry until cooked.

3. Add in a bit of corn flour water for thickening.

Preparing the Green Apple Salad

1                     Granny Smith apple (thinly sliced)

1                     Chilli (thinly sliced)

1                     Shallot (thinly sliced)

1 tbsp              Plum Sauce

1 tbsp              Thai Chilli Sauce

1 tsp                Fish Sauce

1 tsp                Sesame Oil

1 tsp                Sesame Seed

1. Mix all ingredients together.

Enjoy!