Friday, September 6, 2024

Jelly Recipe: Chrysanthemum Goji Berry Jelly

Round Jellies, made from chrysanthemum tea, dried goji berries, lump sugar, agar agar and water.
Herbal jelly with loads of health benefits. It’s indeed a Chinese jelly recipe, as chrysanthemum tea and dried goji berries are part of their cooking. Imagine the refreshing and cooling chrysanthemum tea and also the natural sweetness of goji berries (THAI RED RUBIES). 

In a mildly crunchy, yet wobbly jelly, made with lump sugar. Let alone only 4 ingredients (excluding water) for this not a common jelly. But it’s truly a sweet dessert pleasure, whether preferred at room temperature or after chilling in the fridge (ONDEH-ONDEH/KUIH BUAH MELAKA). 

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Indian Crab Rasam (Crab Soup)

Indian crab soup, made from crab claws, spices, curry leaves, tamarind, tomato, and chili flakes.
Among the versions of Indian Crab Rasam (Nandu Rasam), from rustic village-style to modern twists, this spiced South Indian Crab Soup stands out as both nourishing and tasty. Whether you cook with the meaty claws of mud crabs or the smaller legs of blue crabs, the choice is yours (EASY CRAB CURRY).

You can prepare the rasam paste from scratch with fresh spices or use a ready-made spice powder.

 

From a quick, simple crab rasam to a more elaborate version, the heart of the dish lies in a blend of Indian spices. Simmered with crab claws, tamarind juice, tomato, and curry leaves, it carries a bold, spiced taste.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Sri Lankan Mango Fish Curry: Miris Malu:

Village cooking, traditional cooking,  also Kerala style and Sri Lankan style heritage cooking (SRI LANKAN COCONUT MILK FISH). Cooking in clay pot is not only truly meaningful, but considered healthier because it preserves nutrients, requires less oil, and allows slow, even cooking.

This fish curry takes the Sri Lankan fish curry recipe, known as Miris Mallu, cooked in clay pot, but with its own tweet and twist. Still, featuring from a stratch, homemade curry paste. Pan roasted spices to release their aromas, and traditionally pounded, but for easy cooking, blended (KEEMA RECIPE). 

Chilli Chicken Recipe: Chinese Style

A popular order during Chinese meals, or as one of the dishes in a Chinese mix rice (chap fun) eatery, Chilli Chicken features dried red chilies, spring onions, and soy sauce with tender chicken pieces. Its simplicity makes it a sincerely appetizing dish (BEANS STIR-FRY CHINESE STYLE). 

This recipe follows the same high-fire stir-frying (woi hei) style found in eateries. It also includes crispy fried cashew nuts. This gives it the name Cashew Nut Chilli Chicken or Chilli Chicken Cashew Nut, depending on which you prefer to put first.

 

Get your plate of rice ready. The pairing does not have to be elaborate for this classic Chinese-style chilli chicken (CHILLI PRAWNS CHINESE STYLE). 

Monday, September 2, 2024

Kuih Buah Melaka/Ondeh-Ondeh

Sticky glutinous rice balls, rolled over grated coconut, filled with palm sugar.
Whether known as Kuih Buah Melaka, or spelled as onde-onde or ondeh-ondeh, it’s one of Malaysia’s beloved traditional desserts, or kuih-muih (WAJIK PULUT/GLUTINOUS RICE CAKE). 

Taking a bite into the chewy, pandan-scented glutinous rice balls coated with palm sugar (Gula Melaka), bursting in your mouth, is a true Malaysian treat.

 

Back then, white glutinous rice (pulut putih) was soaked overnight, rinsed, and pounded into flour. These days, making ondeh-ondeh is easier with store-bought glutinous flour, making the process convenient and time-saving.

Crispy Fried Cauliflower Recipe: Gobi 65

Cauliflower dipped in a spiced, curry leaves and turmeric powder batter, and crispy fried.
Crispy fried cauliflower florets, also known as Gobi 65, are coated in a spiced batter and fried to a golden crisp. Each floret puffs up with a vibrant yellow hue from turmeric, with curry leaves in the batter adding fragrance and visual appeal (POTATO CURRY VEGETARIAN).

This batter-fried cauliflower is a vegetarian take on the famous Chicken 65, offering a crunchy, aromatic snack or appetizer.

 

To make this Gobi 65 recipe, start with the batter. The consistency is key. Too thick, and it overpowers the cauliflower; too thin, and the florets won’t hold together. The right balance seals in each floret for a crispy exterior and a tender bite inside.

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Orange Cake Recipe: Eggless

Orange cake, baked with flour, baking powder, orange juice and zest,  oil and condensed milk.
The scent of orange cake, both while baking and after, is uplifting to the tastebuds. A fresh citrus burst in every bite makes this cake simply delicious. That’s exactly what this recipe is about, an eggless and vegetarian orange cake. It uses fresh orange juice and zest from Mandarin oranges.

If Mandarin is not available, any type of orange or even store-bought juice will do. Just ensure store-bought juice is sugar-free, as condensed milk already adds sweetness (NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE). 

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Asam Laksa Recipe: Nyonya Style

Spicy sour noodle soup, made with herbs fish soup, rice noodles, and garnished with pineapple, salad leaves, onion, red chilies, and fermented shrimp paste.
What makes this Asam Laksa unique and outstanding? It’s a bowl of colorful fish broth, noodles, and fresh toppings. This is the Nyonya Style Asam Laksa, known for its aromatic fresh herbs, which form the base of the fish soup (TOM YUM FISH).

Unlike the typical reddish or dark brown fish soups, this recipe features a yellow hue from fresh turmeric.

 

The rest is mostly about making the fish soup and choosing toppings. Common choices include pineapple for natural sweet and sour notes. There’s no compromising on spiciness, add red chillies or even bird’s eye chillies to taste (HONGKONG WONTON NOODLE SOUP). Garnish with fresh mint leaves for an extra aromatic touch.

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Chilli Prawns Recipe: Chinese Style

Tiger prawns, stir fried with garlic, ginger, red chilies, soy sauce and kaffir lime leaves.
Succulent, juicy prawns stir-fried in soy sauce, spiced with red chilies, and lifted by the aroma of kaffir lime leaves. This is not your usual chili prawns, and not even the typical Chinese-style chilli prawns. It’s a tweaked version.

Made with common Chinese ingredients but infused with kaffir lime leaves instead of spring onions or coriander (PORK CHOPS RECIPE). 

 

Think of it as a touch of fusion Chinese cooking. Tiger prawns as the star, cooked skin-on for maximum tastiness.

Red Rubies with Coconut Milk

red rubies, coconut milk and sugar syrup in separate containers, and all three in a serving bowl, Thai Red Rubies with Coconut Milk Dessert.
Looking for the best Thai dessert to make at home? It has to be Thai Red Rubies with Coconut Milk, also known as Tub Tim Grob in Thai. This popular dessert is refreshing, chewy, and coconut-creamy, perfect for hot days.

Red Rubies are water chestnuts (or turnips as a substitute) coated in tapioca flour, boiled until translucent, and served in sweetened coconut milk, often with a touch of pandan (screwpine) leaves for fragrance, just like in many Malaysian desserts.

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Obesity in Indian Women in Malaysia: Yoga as Holistic Wellness

Author

Ms. Krishnan N, a Zen entrepreneur in her 60s, founded Nava's Zen at 58. With 22 years as a lecturer, including 13 years in the Curtin University of Technology Perth, Australia Degree Twinning Program, she is now a certified yoga instructor, coach, and counselor. Her expertise enriches her current work.

Abstract
This article explores the complex relationship between social media, weight perception, and weight management among Indian women. It examines how social media celebrates body diversity and sometimes downplays the health risks of obesity. The article focuses on the significant role of yoga in promoting mindful weight management and addressing challenges such as self-esteem issues, eating habits, and societal pressures faced by overweight women.

The article underscores yoga’s holistic benefits for weight loss, mental clarity, and overall well-being, advocating for a balanced approach to health that integrates physical exercise with mindful eating practices. The findings suggest that while social media plays a significant role in shaping body image and weight management behaviors, a nuanced understanding of its impact and a comprehensive approach to wellness are crucial for achieving sustainable health outcomes.

Sunday, August 25, 2024

Hong Kong-Style Wonton Noodle Soup

A bowl of wonton noodles in prawn-based soup - bouncy prawn wontons, leafy Chinese kale, and a sprinkle of spring onion. Hong Kong–Style Wonton Noodle Soup recipe: sumptuous and satisfying (CANTONESE YEE MEE). 

 

The prawn broth is effortless to make. The wontons, however, take some work. It’s less about how pretty they look. It’s more about preparing the prawn filling and wrapping them in store-bought skins. This can take some time.

 

Once that’s done, and the prawn broth is seasoned, its about assembling a hearty bowl of homemade wonton noodle goodness.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

No-Cook Carrot Coconut Salad: Sri Lankan Style

No-cook salad, made with carrot, cucumber, grated coconut, chilies, coriander leaves and lime juice.
Fresh, crunchy, with a hint of mild spice and tang, and fragrant with coriander leaves. This no-cook carrot coconut salad is sheer pleasure. Its vibrant color immediately catches the eye.

While not exactly a classic Carrot Mallum (since cucumber isn’t included) and comparable to Carrot Kosambari without the split yellow moong dal and curry leaves, it remains a beloved raw salad featuring fresh coconut (SRI LANKAN COCONUT MILK FISH).

Wajik Pulut: Glutinous Rice Cake Recipe

Sticky rice cakes, made with steamed white glutinous rice, palm sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves.
Wajik Pulut is a traditional Malay dessert made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, palm sugar, and pandan leaves. This sticky rice cake is part of Malay kuih-muih, or sweet treats (PULUT INTI/GLUTINOUS SWEET COCONUT), often served during celebrations. Traditionally, making Wajik Pulut takes hours, as the rice needs constant stirring.

This easy homemade Wajik Pulut recipe is lighter and faster. You can reduce sugar and coconut milk for a healthier version. The rice is steamed until soft, then stirred into a thick coconut palm sugar mixture, cutting down on cooking time. 


Basically, stirring a couple of times until it becomes a sticky rice dough. 

Friday, August 23, 2024

What to Eat in Penang, Malaysia: Chinese Food

Bowl of shaved ice, with corn, green jelly, red sugar syrup, coconut milk and red beans.
One of the best things to do in Penang? Eat. Food is a major draw for tourists, locals, and visitors alike. In fact, foodies even travel to Penang (BEST THINGS TO DO IN PENANG) just for the food. Among the many food options, Chinese food is one of the top picks. From high-end restaurants and family-run eateries to food courts and hawker stalls, Chinese food pulls in the crowds.

Why Chinese Food is a Must in Penang

Chinese food is rooted in Penang due to early Chinese settlers, mainly Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, and Hainanese. They brought their food traditions and modified them using local ingredients and methods. Over time, their dishes became distinct to Penang while still preserving the original cooking heritage. Passed down through generations, these foods continue to attract food lovers from around the world.

 

It’s literally impossible to list every single dish, as each stands out in its own right. Still, there are those regarded as top picks, though, as always, taste is subjective (SEBERANG PERAI FOOD GUIDE).

Asam Pedas Ikan Bawal

Fish gravy, made with blended red chilies and Malay herbs, cherry tomatoes, tamarind, and ginger torch flower.
Asam Pedas, absolutely fragrant and reddish in hue, oozes with popular Malaysian Malay herbs. This is the Malay-style spicy gravy, cooked with a variety of local herbs and the tang of tamarind pieces.

 

The herbs blended as a rempah (spice paste) are packed with numerous health benefits, adding nutrients to the dish. Fish, such as black pomfret (ikan bawal hitam), provides protein, making Asam Pedas one of the healthiest Malay foods (EGG SAMBAL/SAMBAL TELUR). 

 

You can also choose not to fry the spice paste, which is then called Asam Pedas Rebus, but frying enhances the fragrance and flavour profile of the herbs.

Pandan Leaves: Screwpine Leaves

Sweet, grassy, slightly nutty with a hint of coconut, that’s the essence of pandan leaves, also known as screwpine leaves or pandanus leaves...