The ingredients for the chocolate flavoured cream: sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, emulsifier & flavour.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Strawberries with Chocolate Flavoured Cream
The ingredients for the chocolate flavoured cream: sugar, vegetable oil, cocoa powder, emulsifier & flavour.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Claypot Tofu
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 1 piece (400g±) soft beancurd/tofu, halved and deep-fried
° 100g chinese cabbage (wong bak), shredded
° 2 (50g) shiitake mushrooms, shredded
° 25g carrot, peeled and shredded
° 1 tablespoon dried black fungus shreds, soaked
° 1 slice vegetarian ham or sweet beancurd wafers, shredded
° 1 slice ginger
° 375ml water or vegetable stock
° 1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce, or to taste
° 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, or to taste
° 1½ tablespoons tapioca flour, mixed with 3 tablespoon water
° pepper to taste
° 1 tablespoon cooking rice wine (optional)
° dash sesame oil (optional)
° salt (optional)
° a small handful fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
Method
1. Combine the Chinese cabbage, mushrooms, ginger, black fungus and water/vegetable stock into a claypot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
2. Add in the carrot, vegetarian ham/sweet beancurd wafer and tofu. Season to taste with vegetarian oyster sauce, light soy sauce, salt, pepper, sesame oil and cooking rice wine.
3. Stir in the tapioca flour mixture and bring a boil.
4. Garnish with coriander leaves and red chilli. Serves hot.
Stir-Fried Chinese Arrowhead with Small Black Fungus
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 2-3)
° 300g Chinese arrowhead or arrowroot, peeled and thinly sliced
° 1 small handful some black fungus, soaked and trimmed
° 1 thin slice ginger
° 1 piece red fermented bean curd (2cm x 2cm cube), mashed finely
° 1-2 tablespoons red fermented bean curd sauce, or to taste
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° 125ml water
Method
1. Heat oil in a wok. Add the ginger and fry till fragrant.
2. Add the red fermented bean curb and stir-fry briskly until aromatic.
3. Add the Chinese arrowhead, black fungus and stir-fry briskly for a moment. Add water, red fermented bean curd sauce and simmer until the sauce is slightly dry.
4. Dish up, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
Vegetarian Assam Sambal Fish
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 4 (100g) vegetarian fish slices, pan-fried or toasted or baked
° 2 tablespoons oil
° 2 (100g) tomatoes, peeled and blended
° ¾ tablespoon assam/tamarind paste, knead with 100ml hot water and strained
° ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
° black sugar or sugar, or to taste
° 2 kalamansi limes
Sambal Paste
° 2 lemongrass and 25g ginger or 15 shallots, chopped
° 6-8 dried chilli, soaked and chopped
° 4 candle nuts, chopped
° 1 teaspoon vegetarian belacan
Method
1. Grind the sambal paste ingredients until fine and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the sambal paste and fry over low heat for 3 minutes or until thickened and fragrant. Add the tamarind juice, tomatoes puree, salt, sugar and stir fry for 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the vegetarian fish slices and stir well to ensure the vegetarian fish slices are coated with the sambal paste.
4. Dribble lime juice and serve immediately.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Millet Congee
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 30 mins, plus 30 mins standing time
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g rice, washed and drained
° 50g millet, washed and drained
° 1.2 litres water
° salt and pepper, to taste
° sesame oil (optional), to taste
° a small handful fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
Method
1. Put the rice, millet and water in a claypot or pot. Let it stands for 1 hour or more, if desired.
2. Bring the congee to a boil for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid and leave it to stands for 30 minutes or more. Re-boil the congee for 10 minutes prior to serving. Season with salt, pepper and sesame oil.
3. Ladle the congee into individual serving bowls, garnish with corianders leaves and serve hot.
Soy Milk Macaroni
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 150g Macaroni , rinsed and drained
° 100g king oyster mushroom, diced
° 750-800ml unsweetened soy milk
° 25g ginger, peeled and bruised
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° salt and ground black pepper or to taste
° 25g coriander leaves, finely chopped
Method
1. Throw in the macaroni, mushroom, ginger, soy milk and olive in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until the macaroni is softened. Remember to stir occasionally.
2. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Mix in the coriander.
3. Ladle into individual serving bowl and serves hot.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Stuffed Toff Puff with Stir-Fried China Dou Miao
Preparation: 15 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g china dou miao/snow pea shoots
° 1 slice ginger or 2 clove garlic, finely chopped
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° salt and pepper to taste
° 6 big tofu puffs, make an incision on 2 sides and toasted
Sauce
° 1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce
° 125ml water
° 1 teaspoon tapioca flour
° pepper to taste
° dash sesame oil
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the ginger or garlic and fry till fragrant.
2. Throw in the china dou miao and stir-fry briskly for 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Divide the dou miao equally into 6 portion and stuff into the beancurd puff pocket.. Arrange the tofu puff on a serving plate.
4. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and mix well. Stir in the sauce mixture in a heated wok. Stirring constantly until the sauce thicken.
5. Drizzle the sauce over the tofu puff and serve immediately.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Tricoloured Fried Rice
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g rice, cooked or steamed and divided into 3 portions
° 100g carrot, peeled, chopped and blended
° 100g shiitake mushrooms, chopped and blended
° 200g celery, trimmed, chopped and blended
° 3 slices ginger or cloves garlic (optional), finely chopped
° 1½ -3 tablespoons olive oil
° salt and pepper, to taste
° roasted sesame seeds (optional), for garnish
° 1-2 roasted nori sheet (optional), shredded for garnish
Method
Green Coloured Rice
1. Heat ½-1 tablespoon oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Stir fry the ginger or garlic until fragrant.
2. Throw in the celery and stir fry for 1 minute. Stir in the cooked rice and season with salt and pepper. Fry about 1-2 minutes or until rice is heated through. Sprinkle with some water if it is too dry. Set aside.
Orange Coloured Rice
3. Heat ½-1 tablespoon oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Stir fry the ginger or garlic until fragrant.
4. Throw in the carrot and stir fry for 1 minute. Stir in the cooked rice and season with salt and pepper. Fry about 1-2 minutes or until rice is heated through. Sprinkle with some water if it is too dry. Set aside.
Dark Brown Coloured Rice
5. Heat ½-1 tablespoon oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Stir fry the ginger or garlic until fragrant.
6. Throw in the mushroom and stir fry for 1 minute. Stir in the cooked rice and season with salt and pepper. Fry about 1-2 minutes or until rice is heated through. Sprinkle with some water if it is too dry. Set aside
7. Place some toasted nori on each individual serving plate. Mix the tricoloured rice well, if desired. Scoop the different coloured rice onto the plate. Sprinkle some sesame seeds and serve hot.
Tip
1. Rice for frying must be cooked at least 2 hours in advance or the night before.
Stir-Fried Watercress with Vegetarian Sambal Chilli
Preparation: 3 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g watercress
° ¾ tablespoon vegetable oil
° 1 tablespoon vegetarian sambal chilli, or to taste
° salt (optional) to taste
Method
1. Heat oil in a wok. Add the sambal chilli and fry till fragrant.
2. Throw in the watercress and stir-fry briskly for a moment or 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
3. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Crispy Chinese Cruller with Sesame Seeds
Preparation: 13 mins, Cooking time: 7 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 1 chinese cruller, halved and cut into 4 portions
° 150g-200g iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
° 50g carrot, peeled and finely shredded
° 40g maple syrup
° 4-5 tablespoons roasted sesame seeds
° 1 tablespoon vegetarian salad cream (optional), or to taste
Method
1. Dip the Chinese cruller in the maple syrup and then coat with sesame seeds. Repeat for the rest. Alternatively, brush the Chinese cruller with maple syrup and sprinkle sesame seeds on it.
2. Place the coated Chinese cruller in the over toaster and toast for 5-7 minutes.
3. To serve, place the shredded lettuce and carrot on a serving plate. Arrange the toasted Chinese cruller on top. Squeeze some vegetarian salad cream on top and around, if desired.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Watercress and Soy Milk Soup with Button Mushroom
Preparation: 8 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g watercress
° 4 white button mushrooms, sliced
° 300ml water or vegetable stock
° 250ml unsweetened soy milk
° 8-10 slices ginger, peeled
° salt, to taste
° pepper, to taste
Method
1. Place the button mushrooms, ginger slices and water in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
2. Add in soy milk and bring to a boil. Throw in the watercress and let it boils. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Ladle the soup into individual serving bowls and serve immediately.
Watercress and Soy Milk Soup
Preparation: 8 mins, Cooking time: 8 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g watercress
° 500ml unsweetened soy milk
° 150g silken tofu (optional), diced
° 8-10 slices ginger, peeled
° salt, to taste
° pepper, to taste
Method
1. Place the ginger, soymilk in a pot and bring to a boil.
2. Add in watercress, tofu and turn off the heat when it boils. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Ladle the soup into individual serving bowls and serve immediately.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Pickled Cabbage
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 300g round cabbage/white cabbage, shredded
° 50g carrot, peeled and shredded
° 1 tablespoon salt
° 100ml-125ml white rice vinegar or distilled white vinegar
° 4 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
Method
1. Sprinkle the salt on the shredded cabbage, carrot and mix well. Let it sweat for 2-3 hours.
2. Drain and squeeze the shredded cabbage and carrot to remove the moisture as much as possible.
3. Combine the shredded cabbage, carrot, vinegar and sugar in a glass container, mix well and leave to stand for 24 hours prior to serving.
Stir-Fried Endive with Deep-fried Beancurd Stick
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 250g endive, cut into 5 cm lengths
° 25g deep-fried beancurd sheet or beancurd stick
° 10 carrot slices
° 5 slices young ginger
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° salt and pepper to taste
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the ginger and fry till fragrant.
2. Throw in the endive and stir-fry briskly for 1 minute.
3. Add in the deep-fried beancurd sheet, carrot slices and stir-fry for another minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Dhal
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 35 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 25g chickpeas, soak for 12 hours or more
° 50g chana dhal, soak for 2 hours
° 50g carrot, cut into small chunks
° 100g potatoes, cut into small chunks
° 1 slice ginger
° ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
° 500ml water
Seasoning
° ¾ tablespoon olive oil
° 10 curry leaves
° ½ -¾ teaspoon mustard seeds
° 2-4 dried chilli, soaked
Method
1. Place all the ingredients except the seasoning in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for at least 30 minutes or until tender. Stirring occasionally.
2. Heat the oil in the wok. Add in the curry leaves, mustard seeds, chilli and stir-fry until the chilli is crispy and mustard seeds start to pop.
3. Add into the cooked dhal and let it simmer for another 1 minutes and serve immediately.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Guava and Red Jumbu
Using Lemon Ring and Mandarin Orange Peel/Tangerine Peel, where you can get them from Traditional Chinese Medicine Store. Just snip them into little tiny bits and sprinkle on top of the fruit, it gives it a different flavour.
Red Bean Paste with Mini Glutinous Rice Ball
Preparation: 20 mins, Cooking time: 30 mins
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 200g red beans
° 1 litre water
° 4 pandan leaves (screwpine), tied into a knot
° sugar to taste
Glutinous Rice Ball
° 100g glutinous rice flour
° 90-100ml water
° 750ml water, for cooking the glutinous rice balls
Method
1. Soak the red bean with 750ml of water for 12 hours or more or overnight. Drain and rinse well.
2. Put all red bean, water and pandan leaves in a pot. Bring to boil and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
3. Place the cooked red bean in a blender with a little cooking water and blend until it is smooth. Add in all the cooking water and blend to mix well. Pour into a pot and add sugar. Bring to a boil and set aside.
4. To make dough, combine the flour and water in a mixing bowl. Mix well, knead into dough and divide into small equal portions. Add some water if the dough is too dry or some flour if it is too watery. Shape it into a ball using your hand.
5. Bring 750ml of water to boil. Add in glutinous rice balls and return to boil. Remove water the glutinous rice balls with a slotted spoon as soon as they float to the surface. Transfer to the red bean paste.
6. To serve, ladle the glutinous rice balls and red bean paste into individual serving bowls. Serve hot.
Vegetarian Fish with 'Chilli Crab' Sauce
Same recipe as posted earlier. This time, I decided to chop the ginger, garlic and chilli, plus I added 30ml of water. As you can see from the picture, the ginger and garlic can be chopped a little bit finer, if desired. Garlic can be reduced, as some garlic has a much stronger content. The amount of chilli and chilli sauce can be adjusted for the spicy of your liking.
Pasta with 'Chilli Crab' Sauce is another dish you can have.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Vegetarian Fish with “Chilli Crab” Sauce
Oh yeah, I added tomatoes puree to replace the usage of corn starch. Egg is omitted for a vegan version. I cannot remember whether the chilli crab sauce thick or thin. Therefore, I didn’t add any water in the recipe. If you find that it is too thick, just add some water or stock a little bit at a time to get the desired consistency, before you turn off the heat. It is better to mince or finely chopped the garlic, ginger and chilli rather than blended (I blended it, so you can't see little lumpy garlic, ginger and chilli in the picture). Don’t forget the hot buns which is crispy outside and fluffy inside that you can use to mop up the sauce with.
Preparation: 15 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2-4)
° 2-4 slices vegetarian fish, pan-fried or bake or not at all
° 1 tablespoon oil
° few sprigs fresh coriander or spring onion, for garnish
Sauce
° 25g ginger, finely minced or blended
° 15g-20g garlic, finely minced or blended
° 2 red chilli padi or 1-2 red chilli, seeded and finely minced or blended
° 100g tomatoes (weight after peeling), peeled and blended
° 1½ tablespoons chilli sauce, or to taste
° 1 tablespoon salted soybean paste
° 1 tablespoon cooking rice wine
° 1 teaspoon sugar, or to taste
° pepper to taste
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add in the ginger, garlic and chilli and fry till fragrant.
2. Add in the salted soy bean paste and stir-fry for a moment. Stir in the tomatoes puree, chilli sauce, tomatoes sauce, cooking rice wine, sugar and pepper.
3. Bring to a boil. If the sauce is too thick, add in some water or stock. Throw in the vegetarian fish slices.
4. Dish up, garnish with coriander and serve immediately.
Millet Rice
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 150g rice, washed and drained
° 50g millet, washed and drained
° 400ml water
Method
1. Combine all the ingredients into an electric rice cooker, mix well and turn it on.
2. When done, leave the cooked rice to rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas with Baby Corn
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 150g sugar snap peas/sweet peas, trimmed
° 8 (50g) baby corns, halved
° 5 slices ginger
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° 1 tablespoon cooking rice wine (optional)
° salt and pepper to taste
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the ginger and fry till fragrant.
2. Throw in the sugar snap peas, corn and stir-fry briskly for 1 minute. Drizzle with cooking rice wine. Stir fry for another ½ a minute or until tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Traditional Glutinous Rice Balls
Here is the basic recipe for making the dough, it is real simple and fast. Get the little ones involved in the process, they will love it and make different colours and sizes (BIG and small) of glutinous rice balls. For fun, I added basil seeds in the sugar syrup which is never present in the traditional version.
Preparation: 15 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
Dough
° 100g glutinous rice flour
° 90-100ml water
° red food colouring
Syrup
° 500ml water
° 4 pandan leaves (screwpine), tied into a knot
° 1 slice ginger (optional)
° sugar to taste
° 750ml water, for cooking the glutinous rice balls
Method
1. To make syrup, add the water, pandan leaves, ginger and sugar to a pot. Bring to boil over medium heat and set aside.
2. To make dough, combine the flour and water in a mixing bowl. Mix well, knead into dough and divide into 2 equal portions. Add some red food colouring to one portion and knead well. Add some water if the dough is too dry or some flour if it is too watery. Divide the dough into smaller portions and shape it into a ball using your hand.
3. Bring 750ml of water to boil. Add in glutinous rice balls and return to boil. Remove water the glutinous rice balls with a slotted spoon as soon as they float to the surface. Transfer to the sugar syrup.
4. To serve, ladle the glutinous rice balls and syrup into individual serving bowls. Serve hot.
Spicy Stir-Fried Yard Bean
Preparation: 8 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g yard bean/long bean, trimmed and cut into 3cm lengths
° 50g tempeh, chopped or cut into small cubes
° 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
° ½ tablespoon curry powder, mix with 1-2 tablespoons water
° salt to taste
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok or non-stick pan. Add the tempeh and pan-fry till crispy or golden yellow.
2. Throw in the yard bean and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the curry powder mixture and stir fry briskly or until the yard bean is tender. Sprinkle with a little bit of water if it is too dry. Season to taste with salt.
4. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Oriental Spaghetti
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g spaghetti, cook according to the instruction on the packet
° 150g-200g iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
° 50g carrot, peeled and finely shredded
° 2 vegetarian fishballs (optional), blanched
° a small handful fresh spring onion or fresh coriander leaves, for garnish
° 2 tablespoons olive oil
° 4 tablespoons ketchup or tomatoes sauce
° 2 tablespoons chilli sauce
° salt to taste (optional)
Method
1. Divide the lettuce and carrot into individual serving plates.
2. Place the spaghetti, oil, ketchup/tomatoes sauce, chilli sauce and salt in a big bowl. Toss evenly. To serve, divide the spaghetti between serving plates. Garnish with some spring onion, coriander and vegetarian fishball.
3. Serve immediately.
Soy Milk Rice
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g rice, washed and drained
° 400ml unsweetened soy milk
° 1 slice ginger (1 cm thick)
° ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Method
1. Combine all the ingredients into an electric rice cooker, mix well and turn it on.
2. When done, leave the cooked rice to rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Black Glutinous Rice Dessert
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g black glutinous rice
° 8 dried longans
° 900ml water
° 4 pandan leaves (screwpine), tied into a knot
° sugar to taste
° 2-4 tablespoons thick coconut milk (optional)
Method
1. Wash the black glutinous rice and place in a bowl with enough water to cover. Leave to soak for 3 hours or more. Drain thoroughly.
2. Place the black glutinous rice, longan, water and pandan leaves in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 45-60 minutes or until the glutinous rice is soften. Add in sugar.
3. Ladle the dessert into individual serving bowl, drizzle 1 or 2 tablespoons coconut milk over it and serve.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Stuffed Cucumber with Vegetarian Crab Meat Stick
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into 4 or 8 sections
° 2 vegetarian crab meat sticks, cut into 4 or 8 sections
° ¾ tablespoon olive oil
° few buna shimeji (optional)
° few coriander leaves (optional), for garnish
° few slices red chilli (optional), for garnish
Sauce
° 180ml – 200ml water
° 1 tablespoon tapioca flour
° 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
° 1.2 teaspoon salt
° 1 teaspoon sugar
° pepper to taste
° dash sesame oil (optional)
Method
1. Cut a small square in the centre of the cucumber using a small sharp knife and removed the fresh. Stuff one section of vegetarian crab meat stick in it.
2. Arrange the cucumber in a heatproof serving plate. Stream for 10-15 mins or until tender.
3. Mix the all the sauce ingredient in a bowl and set aside.
4. Heat the oil in a wok. Add in the sauce mixture and stirring constantly until it thickens.
5. Drizzle the sauce over the cucumber.
6. Garnish with chilli and serve immediately.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Deep-Fried Spring Rolls with Banana
Preparation: 8 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 1 (200g) ripe banana, peeled, halved and cut 6 sections
° 6 pieces spring roll pastry skin, 125 x 125mm
° vegetable oil, for deep-frying
Method
1. Place a piece of spring roll pastry skin on a chopping board or plate. Place a section of banana on it and roll up. Repeat for the rest.
2. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or wok over high heat or until a cube of bread dropped into the oil brown in few seconds. Drop the spring roll into the hot oil and fry in batches until lightly golden brown.
3. Remove the spring roll with a slotted spoon. Drain well on kitchen paper.
4. Arrange on a serving plate and serve immediately.
Mini Cocktail Rolls
Ingredients (makes 20)
° 20 pieces wonton wrappers
° 1 small firm tofu/beancurd, cut into 20 small rectangles and pan-fried
or
° 2 small bananas, peeled and cut into 20 small rectangles
° vegetable oil, for deep-frying
Method
1. Place a piece of spring roll wrapper on a chopping board or plate. Place a piece of tofu or banana on it and roll up. Repeat for the rest.
2. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or wok over high heat or until a cube of bread dropped into the oil brown in few seconds. Drop the mini roll into the hot oil and fry in batches until lightly golden brown.
3. Remove the mini roll with a slotted spoon. Drain well on kitchen paper.
4. Arrange on a serving plate and serve immediately
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Spicy Kacang Puteh (Chickpeas)
Preparation: 3 mins, Cooking time: 15 mins
Ingredients (serves 1)
° 50g chickpeas
° 200ml water
° ¾ teaspoon curry powder, or to taste
° sea salt to taste
° 1-1½ teaspoons olive oil
Method
1. Soak the chickpeas with 400ml of water for 12 hours or more or overnight. Drain and rinse well.
2. Place the chickpeas, curry powder, salt and oil in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Spread out on a baking tray and toast for 15 minutes.
4. Serve immediately.
Yasai Udon with Dashi Sauce
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 50g enoki mushroom/golden mushroom, trimmed and blanched or raw
° 75g buna shimeji, trimmed and blanched
° 2-4 vegetarian crab meat sticks, blanched
° 1 stalk china leek (optional), sliced diagonally and blanched
° 1 (300g) pack silken tofu, cut into cube or deep-fried as agedashi tofu
° 2 packs (400g) udon noodle
° 750ml water, for cooking udon
° few slices fresh red chilli (optional), for garnish
Dashi Sauce
° 8 dried kelps in knot
° 2 thin slices ginger
° 600ml water, for soup base
° 50g carrot, cut into 2 chunks
° 2 shiitake mushrooms
° 1 teaspoon sugar
° ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
° 30ml shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) or light soy sauce, or to taste
° 20ml mirin or 10ml cooking rice wine
° 1-1½ tablespoons tapioca flour, mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Method
1. Place the udon in a pot or wok of lightly salted boiling water and cook for 5 minutes or until tender. Drain the noodle thoroughly and divide among 2 individual serving bowls.
2. Place the dried kelps, shiitake mushroom, ginger, carrot and water in a pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove all the ingredients with a slotted spoon. Ensure that there is 500ml of stock, if not add in some water. Season to taste with sugar, salt, shoyu, and mirin. Add in the tapioca flour mixture, stirring constantly and bring to a boil.
3. Top the udon with enoki mushroom, buna shimeji, shiitake mushroom, china leek, tofu, carrot, vegetarian crab meat sticks and chilli.
4. Ladle the gravy into individual serving bowls and serve immediately.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Red and Green Curry Fried Rice
Ingredients (serves 2)
Red Curry Fried Rice
° 100g rice, cooked
° 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
° ½ tablespoon vegetable curry powder
° ½ teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
° 1 tablespoon coconut milk (optional)
° 1 sprig curry leaves
° 150g yarn beans/long beans, finely chopped
° salt, to taste
Green Curry Fried Rice
° 100g rice, cooked
° 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
° ½ tablespoon “Earthen Pot” green curry paste
° 1 tablespoon coconut milk (optional)
° 2-3 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
° 100g bamboo shoot, diced
° 6 slices carrot, diced
° salt, to taste
Method
1. Red curry fried rice: Mix the curry powder and chilli powder with a tad of water to form curry paste.
2. Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan, fry the curry leaves for half a minute. Stir in the curry paste and fry until fragrant over medium heat. Add in the coconut milk.
3. Throw in the yard bean and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice and season with salt. If it is too dry, sprinkle some water on it. Fry about 2-3 minutes or until rice is heated through. Set aside.
4. Green curry fried rice: Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan. Stir in the green curry paste, lime leaves and fry until fragrant over medium heat. Add in the coconut milk.
5. Throw in the bamboo shoot, carrot and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice and season with salt. If it is too dry, sprinkle some water on it. Fry about 2-3 minutes or until rice is heated through.
6. Serve both type of fried rice on individual serving plate or bowl.
Tip
1. Rice for frying must be cooked at least 2 hours in advance or the night before.
2. Oil for frying the curry paste should be heated to the right temperature and maintained at a steady heat until the curry spices have release their flavour, without burning.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Stir-Fried Vegetarian Squid
Preparation: 5 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 150g vegetarian squids
° 10 snow peas, trimmed
° 4 slices ginger, finely shredded
° 1 tablespoons olive oil
° 1 teaspoon cooking rice wine (optional)
° ground black pepper to taste
Sauce
° 1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce
° 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
° 2 tablespoons water
Method
1. Mix the vegetarian oyster sauce, light soy sauce, water in a bowl and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the ginger and fry till fragrant.
3. Throw in the vegetarian squids, snow peas and stir-fry briskly for 1 minute. Drizzle with cooking rice wine. Stir in the sauce mixture and do a last stir fry. Season to taste with pepper.
4. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Chinese Potatoes Chips
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 6 Chinese arrowheads, peeled, thinly sliced and pat dry
° oil, for deep-frying
Method
1. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or wok. Place the Chinese arrowhead in and then fry until golden brown. Drain well on kitchen paper and set aside.
2. Serve immediately.
Asparagus with Golden Roasted Vegetarian Duck
Preparation: 15 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (makes 8)
° 24 young asparagus, end trimmed
° 8 slices golden roasted vegetarian duck
° 16 slices carrot
° 500ml water
° pinch of salt
° few toothpicks
Method
1. Bring the water in a pot to a boil. Blanch the asparagus for 30 seconds and removed. Drain well and cut into halve.
2. Place a slice of golden roasted vegetarian duck on a plate. Place 6 asparagus stalks and roll up. Decorate with carrot slice and secure with a toothpick.
3. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Spring Rolls (Popiahs)
I bought a packet of plain Fried Been Hoon (rice vermicelli) from a vegetarian stall for S$0.80 (around 300g) which is enough to make 50 pieces. With some salad sprouts, mint leaves and shredded carrot, I started making the spring rolls. After which, I deep-fried them and they go well with chilli sauce.
If you prefer it not to be deep-fried, just roll up and dip with some sauce (plum sauce mixed with lime juice, sugar, chopped chilli and sesame seeds or some other sauces) ,it tastes good too !
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Simplified Vegetarian Peking Duck
Preparation: 20 mins
Ingredients (makes 12)
° 12 pieces spring roll wrappers
° 12 slices golden roasted vegetarian duck
° 50g cucumber, cut into batons
° 50g carrot, peeled, shredded and soaked in water
° 1 stalk spring onion (optional), shredded
° 3-4 tablespoons plum sauce
° 2 chinese lettuces leaves (optional), for garnish
Method
1. Place 1 piece of spring roll wrapper on a chopping board or plate. Spread some plum sauce in the centre and around.
2. Fold in one of the corner to the centre. Arrange the golden roasted vegetarian duck, cucumber, carrot and spring onion on it. Fold in the opposite end corner and roll up. Alternatively, just wrap and roll as you desired.
3. Arrange on a serving plate and garnish with lettuce. Serve immediately.
Soy Dessert with Fruits
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Mango with Glutinous Rice
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 4)
° 1 (200g) ripe mango, peeled, sliced or diced
° 200g glutinous rice
° 200ml water
° 2 pandan leaves (screwpine), tied into a knot
° 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds (optional)
° 4 longans (optional)
° few mint leaves (optional), for garnish
Coconut Sauce
° 75ml coconut milk
° ¾ teaspoon sugar, or to taste
° a little pinch of salt
Method
1. Wash the glutinous rice and place in a bowl with enough water to cover. Leave to soak for 3 hours or more. Drain thoroughly.
2. Place the glutinous rice, water and pandan leaves into an electric rice cooker, mix well and turn it on.
3. Meanwhile, to make the coconut sauce: combine the coconut milk, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well and set aside.
4. When the glutinous rice is done, scoop into a little bowl or teacup and turn over on a serving plate. Pour few teaspoons of coconut sauce over the rice. Top with mango, longan, mint leaves and sprinkle with some sesame seeds. Finally, drizzle over a teaspoon of coconut sauce. Repeat for the rest.
5. Serve.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Stir-Fried Snow Peas with Fresh Lily Bulb
Preparation: 10 mins, Cooking time: 5 mins
Ingredients (serves 2)
° 100g snow peas, trimmed
° 20g-25g fresh lily bulbs, trimmed and peeled
° 10 carrot slices
° 1 slice ginger, finely chopped
° 1 tablespoon olive oil
° salt and pepper to taste
Method
1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the ginger and fry till fragrant.
2. Throw in the snow peas and stir-fry briskly for 30 seconds.
3. Add in the lily bulbs, carrot slices and stir-fry for another 30 seconds. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Avocado and Vegetarian Noodle Prawn
Preparation: 10 mins
Ingredients (makes 6)
° ½ (75g) ripe avocado, diced
° 6 vegetarian noodle prawns, deep-fried or pan-fried
° 6-12 slices carrot
° 6 bamboo skewers
Sauce
° 3 tablespoons plum sauce, or to taste
° 3 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
° 6 tablespoons warm water
° 6 tablespoons (6 limes) freshly squeezed kalamansi lime juice, or to taste
° ¼ fresh red chilli, finely chopped
° ¼ teaspoon roasted sesame seeds (optional)
Method
1. To make the sauce: Dissolve the sugar with water in a bowl. Add in the plum sauce, chilli and lime juice. Mix well and sprinkle some sesame seeds. Set aside.
2. Arrange a slice of carrot, vegetarian noodle prawn and avocado dice on a bamboo skewer. Repeat for the rest.
3. Serve with the sauce.
Avocado and Mango with Plum Sauce
Preparation: 10 mins
Ingredients (serves 2-4)
° 1 (150g) ripe avocado, diced
° 1 (150g) mango, peeled and diced
° 1 teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
° 30g salad sprouts (optional)
Sauce
° 1 tablespoon plum sauce, or to taste
° 1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
° 2 tablespoons warm water
° 1 tablespoon (2 limes) freshly squeezed kalamansi lime juice, or to taste
Method
1. To make the sauce: Dissolve the sugar with water in a bowl. Add in the plum sauce and lime juice. Mix well and set aside.
2. Arrange the salad sprout, avocado and mango in a serving plate.
3. Drizzle the sauce over the salad. Sprinkle with some sesame seeds and serve immediately.