Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Fried Prawn Wontons

eight pieces of wonton skins, with seasoned prawn filling, crispy fried.
Just out of the hot oil and wok, these fried prawn wontons have a sensational crispy skin with a seasoned prawn filling inside. They crunch and crumble delightfully in your mouth, leaving every bite utterly satisfying.

Though maybe not exactly the same as traditional dim sum, this crispy snack can easily be part of a dim sum meal. There are also steamed wontons, filled with pork or chicken (HONG KONG WONTON NOODLE SOUP). 

Monday, November 4, 2024

Spicy Thai-Style Eggplant Recipe

Sliced and fried eggplant, in a spicy, tangy and aromatic kaffir leaves Thai style.
Thai food is a balance of spiciness, tanginess, and the aroma of kaffir lime leaves. The signature tastes of a homemade Thai sauce. Fried eggplant soaks in the sauce, absorbing all those flavors.

Thai flavors are bold and well-known, but they are not limited to non-vegetarian dishes. Many Thai vegetable dishes use the same fragrant sauces, including Spicy Thai-Style Eggplant. Non-vegetarian recipes often include roasted shrimp paste, dried shrimps, minced pork, or minced chicken (COCONUT MILK FISH TOM YUM).

Friday, November 1, 2024

Fish Pickle Recipe

Fish pickle, made with fried sardines, in a spicy, turmeric powder, chilli powder, vinegar, and curry leaves vinaigrette.
Spices, chilli powder, and turmeric powder make tasty Indian fish pickle. Fried fish is soaked in a tangy vinaigrette with crispy fried curry leaves for extra aroma. Depending on the region, it may be known as fish pickle or fish achar.

 

In Kerala, it’s known as Mathi Achar, made with sardine fish (mathi). While there is also a Western-style fish pickle, the spicy taste of the Indian fish pickle stands out.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Betong, Thailand: What to See and Do

Cutting through mountain ancient Betong Mongkollit Tunnel, Thailand.
Not the sleepy town it once was, Betong has grown into one of Thailand’s popular tourist destinations. The town is lively, especially on weekends and public holidays, attracting foreign visitors, including Malaysians. Even on weekdays, Betong is not short of visitors, from all walks of life (PULAU KETAM/CRAM ISLAND SELANGOR). 

Located in Yala Province, southern Thailand, right on the Malaysian border, Betong is easy to reach for Malaysians. Unlike famous Thai destinations like Phuket or Krabi, known for their beaches, Betong attracts visitors for strolling through town, tasting authentic Thai street food, shopping, and relaxing with traditional Thai massages.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Steamed Fish (Chinese Style)

Steamed seabass, with no cook sauce, made with chillies, scallions, coriander leaves, ginger, and lime juice.
Tender fish is topped with a no-cook chili, scallions, coriander, and ginger sauce, creating a delicious Chinese-style steamed fish. Steamed fish is naturally healthy, and the spicy no-cook sauce adds even more benefits. Steaming is simple, making this an easy recipe to try at home (THAI STYLE STEAMED FISH). 

Various types of fish can be used, but some of the best are red snapper (ikan merah), white pomfret (bawal putih), grouper (kerapu), mackerel (tenggiri), and tilapia. For this recipe, seabass (kurau) is used, with tender, flaky flesh that takes on the sauce beautifully.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Payasam Recipe

Indian sweet dessert, made with yellow peas, saffron strands, sugar, coconut milk, ghee, cashew nuts and dark raisins.
Green peas in coconut milk, and plumped-up black raisins and cashew nuts fried in ghee, make this a delicious Indian sweet porridge. A South Indian Payasam. In North India, it is widely known as Kheer. There is also the South Indian Kerala Pradhaman / Pal Payasam.

Various styles and types of Payasam are possible. Each one depends on which Indian ingredients are preferred, between the legumes, lentils, sago (PALM SUGAR SAGO PUDDING), nuts, and seeds. There is the simple Payasam, to the top-notch restaurant-style Payasam.

Sago Pudding with Palm Sugar (Sago Gula Melaka)

Cooked till translucent sago pearls, with coconut milk and palm sugar syrup.
Translucent sago pearls in creamy coconut milk and palm sugar syrup make this dessert a soft, slightly sticky indulgence. Sago pudding with palm sugar, or Sago Gula Melaka, is a cherished part of Malaysia’s traditional kuih-muih desserts (CEMPEDAK GORENG).

Visually appealing and irresistibly tempting, this sago dessert is surprisingly simple to make. Just simmer rinsed sago, locally known as sagu in Malaysia, in boiling water until translucent, rinse again, and set in a large mould or individual cups.

Friday, October 25, 2024

Molten Lava Cake: Eggless

Molten Lava cake, made with cocoa powder, flour, sugar, butter, baking powder and a piece of chocolate.
Oozy, gooey chocolate in the middle of a soft, melting-in-the-mouth cake. This is the eggless Molten Lava Cake. A no-fuss, chocolaty dessert chocolate cake (MARBLE CAKE), ideal when you crave a portion of cake, even for one person.

It can be made as mug cake, or in small Pyrex dishes, or any microwave-friendly container. Yes, it’s also the microwave Molten Lava Cake, ready in minutes. You can also make a steamed version if preferred.

 

The method is simple: sift the dry ingredients, mix in the wet ingredients, place a piece of chocolate in the center, and cook. The result is a warm, gooey chocolate center every time.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Chettinad Mutton Curry Recipe

Mutton curry, made with spicy curry paste, mutton, potatoes, yogurt, red chilies, and dried fenugreek leaves.
Karaikudi food is about South Indian cooking, and within this category, there is also the Chettinad food. Spices play a role in Chettinad cooking, and that’s what makes a Mutton Curry Chettinad style simply mouthwatering (KARAIKUDI CHICKEN CURRY). 

There is the typical version, or authentic version, and there is also a Malaysian-style Chettinad Mutton Curry. Which means Indian mutton curry recipe can be tweeted.

Tandoori Salmon

Pan Grilled Salmon, with ginger garlic paste, turmeric powder and chilli powder, paired with no cook yogurt mint dip.
It’s all worth it for the no-smell, omega-packed salmon. While salmon is rather pricey in Malaysia compared to our local catch, a simple pan-grilled salmon with lemon juice, crushed pepper, and salt is one of the best ways to have it.

 

Tandoor-style salmon, on the other hand, brings in Indian spices, making it a tasty, healthy dish (STEAMED FISH THAI STYLE). 

 

Traditionally, North-Indian Tandoori Salmon is cooked in a tandoor oven, or oven-baked for a home version. But the pan-grilled version is just as satisfying. Served with a no-cook mint dip, also known as mint chutney, and a crisp salad, it becomes a complete, restaurant-style salmon meal at home.

Sawtooth Coriander: Culantro or Ketumbar Jawa

Sawtooth coriander, or culantro, scientifically known as Eryngium foetidum, is a tropical herb that goes by many names around the world. In ...