Monday, November 8, 2010

Portuguese Pickled Vegetables

Quite a spicy power house pickle. The Portuguese style Vegetable Pickle (Salt Fish Pickle). Where did the recipe fly from? From my Eurasian friend. She making vegetable pickle for Christmas and me of course, not only I dive in, I also bring back a bottle home. Anything special about this Vegetable Pickle? Don't know if I should say special, but I can assure you that its quite a stand out. Especially the green chillies which would have soaked in the vinaigrette as the days goes by. In fact even the rest of the vegetables, my favorite is still green chillies. Making Vegetable Pickle. Like getting ready for two days earlier, or maybe when the sun is alive and kicking for drying the vegetables. Thereafter, we get moving to making. Sliced, dried vegetables tipped into the simmering vinaigrette and then, a quick toss or turn, before switching off the heat. Once, cooled down, bottle up vegetable pickle and store in the fridge and? Of course, anytime you need a bit of this vegetable pickle for your rice meals.  The choices to vegetables? Pretty much, I think you can consider other vegetables besides the ones I have listed below. 

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Chick Kut Teh (Chinese Herbal Soup)

Chick Kut Teh. The chicken version to a bak kut teh. What is bak kut teh by the way? Bak kut teh is a Chinese herbs soup, always and forever, if I am not mistaken, made with pork. For bak kut teh by itself, you need the herbs and what to the herbs? Two options. One is picking the individual herbs for a composite of herbs, the other is, the ready made in sachet/packet herbs. Mine is the store bought one which you buy literally anywhere these days. So easy actually for an uncomplicated bak kut teh making. To make, add herbs in sachet, garlic and chicken in a pot for slowest simmering or follow the instructions on the packet. Thereafter season, and you can add your choice of veggies and tofu will be good for a pot of satisfying and nourishing chick kut teh.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Mutton Kurma

  
My mutton man must be the most happiest man. Why shouldn't he be? I have been visiting him like almost once a week already (Mutton Dalca, Mutton Soup/Sup Kambing, Indian Mutton Meatball Soup & Mutton Parathal). This time though the intention was for a different food lingo. Not a pot of mutton kurma for us. but for family pot luck. Pot luck within the family is sincerely not my health supplement. Tell me about this whole thing about pot luck within the women in the family? God! Such a stressful thing for me. But as always, as the faithful and loyal Indian wife, you know right how important sisters and brothers are for your Indian husband? Tell me again? Not sure if its the same scenario within the Malay and Chinese families, but when an Indian big happy or not happy family is a concern, praising dishes is expected out of you. Even if you choose not to, there will be someone who literally will needle you out. Listen to me please. No matter what, do not be honest because honestly is not the best policy amongst family members. Instead, please try your level best to praise for the sake of keeping your marriage. Indian family, mind you, have you not heard of? Maybe mother in laws, father in laws, brother in laws are not too bad actually, but do not mess around with your sister in laws. Otherwise, you have to feel sorry for yourself. Don't ever, let me remain you again, shake the family tree because the leaves will fall nowhere else except on your husband who will conveniently sweep all of it on your head.  

Friday, May 21, 2010

Mutton Dalca (Dhal Mutton Curry)

When you have achieved your cooking milestone in making Mutton Soup, Indian Mutton Meatball Soup & Mutton Parathal, the next higher cooking step must be? Mutton Dalca. Yesss! Mutton Dalca. How do we make Mutton Dalca? Fear not what not ladies and gentlemen. Trust me and trust this recipe of mine, and you we do super fine. Super fine in making a pot of mouthwatering delicious Mutton Dalca. What is mutton dalca by the way? Mutton dalca is basically mutton in an Indian style dal curry (Spinach Sambar) and like I have already told you, an absolute deliciousness. 

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tom Yam Fried Mee Hoon

Tom Yam. I think, we all know what is tom yam? What is tom yam by the way? Tom yam is a Thai paste and not the name of any particular Thai dish mind you. Of course, with tom yam paste, you can coin various types of Thai dishes. Whether you make the paste or you use store-bought tom yam paste. Actually, come to think of it, ready made tom yam paste is quite good. I have tried a few types, of course between these, there are some of my favourites, and overall store bought tom paste is the way to cutting short your time in your kitchen. In fact, store bought tom yam paste showed me the way to this Tom Yam Fried Mee Hoon. Fantastic! Once mee hoon is fried alongside the ingredients listed below and tom yam paste, of course the scent of kaffir lime leaves is just so loved by your truly and Tom Yam Fried Mee Hoon. Lemme me repeat again. Fantastic. The Thai style to fried mee hoon

Monday, March 8, 2010

Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce

Cooking with Fried Kembung (Mackerel) and Assam Sauce evokes a journey of flavors and nostalgia. Have you ever wandered through the bustling wet markets or strolled the aisles of a hypermarket, catching glimpses of the humble boiled kembung? Perhaps you've even taken home this unassuming fish, its potential yet to be unlocked in your kitchen.

 

There's a certain beauty in the simplicity of this dish - a beauty that lies in its uncomplicated nature and the rich flavors it offers. Boiled kembung, or mackerel as Google kindly translates, is a fish steeped in saltwater, readily available at local markets and hypermarkets alike. But before diving into the cooking process, a gentle rinse and thorough pat-dry are essential to maintain the fish's integrity during frying. Careful attention to these details ensures a crisp exterior without sacrificing the tender flesh within.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Crab Curry - My Indian Malaysian Style

When crab claws and legs had made their way into Indian Crab Soup (Rasam), what must follow through? For crab body? Of course, Crab Curry, Nandu Curry, Nandu Kulumbu or Nandu Peratal. In my house, crab soup and crab curry must be side by side. Meaning? Both in tandem. Alongside each other for our meal. Crab curry after pouring crab soup on rice? Walla! This my Indian Malaysian Style Crab Curry? Including claws and legs. Imagine biting into claws and legs soaking in a spicy thick flavorful curry? Pretty much a crab curry which will shoot you right up to the stars Mutton Parathal).  

Zen Style Chronicles: The Serene Aura of Home Attire

In today's Zen Style spotlight, let's explore the serene world of home attire. Let's start with a simple question: What's yo...