Creme Caramel (Custard Caramel)

Creme Caramel (Custard Caramel) into our dessert food picture. Where did the recipe come from? My chef friend. He being quite a dessert food hero and me without doubting his recipe making creme caramel. Creme Caramel, aka Custard Caramel by the way is one of my favourites. Not for pigging out, but like a small piece or a portion into this velvety, wobbly and such a melting moment custard in amber sugar. Yum.   

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.  

Sodhi (Coconut Milk Kulambu)

Sodhi. You are right. Indian coconut milk kulambu, gravy or stew.  And sodhi as far as I know, is a must in most Indian households and if you are marrying an Indian guy who has been brought up with lotsa of food love by his mother, you better learn or you must know how to make Sodhi. Otherwise, all hell can break loose. No sodhi, your marriage love can become a question mark over time or your husband will most probably have his sodhi fix in his mum's house before returning home. Maybe even his mutton fix as well (Mutton Kurma & Mutton Peratal). Sodhi in fact will bind our marriage love forever together. Unless of course, you marry an Indian guy who somehow had outgrown his Indian food love or considers himself as a black backside Westerner. Otherwise, sodhi like Rasam (Nandu Rasam & Instant Rasam) is the crucial food fact for Indians on the whole and anyone for the matter can be an acclaimed sodhi chef. So easy. Add all the ingredients and simmer for the pot of yellowish, creamy and tangy sodhi. My this version of sodhi however is a twist. I added cabbage. Why? Because I decided not to cook a veggie. Instead cabbage in sodhi together.  

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. 

Mutton Soup/Sup Kambing

Another round of mutton in soup (Indian Mutton Meatball Soup)? Yes. Obviously right? Why, are you asking me? Honestly, I myself don't have the answer. I just felt like. I just wanted to make an Indian style mutton soup (Mutton Parathal, Indian Crab Soup & Crab Curry) and when we speak about Indian style mutton soup on the whole, it must be spices and all things nice, and, also some vegetables swimming alongside tender mutton? Conclusively. Basically, like a curried version (Home Made Curry Mee) and the better the taste once you make a day or two days ahead prior to warming up, even the balance for another meal. Mutton Soup/Sup Kambing! The Indian pride to a delicious hearty mutton soup.  

Home Made Curry Mee

Home Made is always the best. Don't you think so? Of course. Anything home made is always the biggest food pleasure. Then again, these days, there are food outside claimed or maybe really, is home made style. I am rather confused actually on how far further should we discuss or take up the food matter about homemade food sold outside. Home made in our house on the other hand is pure, clean and cooked by pouring lotsa love. Basically because, we cook meals for our love ones by considering who eats what, or who don't eat what not. In my house. noodles are our food happiness. We simply adore a piping bowl of mostly soupy noodles. Like this Home Made Curry Mee. A halal version, due to my other half-half does not eat pork. See, I told you? We cook by considering our love ones and what they eat or not? Home Made Curry Mee. Broth a produce of prawn shells and head, and curry paste an amalgamation of our Malaysian ingredients. Power rocker curry (Mutton Parathal & Crab Curry) generously poured over yellow noodles and a fact to a seafood curry mee, garnished with spring onion. Sounds sincerely appetizing right?

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

Assam Fish Curry

Most probably, if I am not mistaken or as far as I know and according to my Malaysian palates, Assam Fish Curry must be branded as our Malay dish. Of course, there is also the Chinese style to Assam Fish Curry, but this my version, definitely is how the Malays will cook. My favourite. I don't only love saltiness (Kangkung Belacan), I also love sourness (Fried Kembung with Assam Sauce). And within the food context of this Assam Fish Curry, sourness from assam keping (dried tamarind pieces). Of course, you can use any other tamarind, no harm done. As long as sourness, you will do fine. Assam Fish Curry? Cooked to the right texture fish in a spicy, sour and Malaysian herbs scented curry, alongside brinjal.

Indian Mutton Meatball Soup

Mutton meatballs in soup. Quite a nice food thing actually. The soupy version to a mutton dish for a change (Mutton Parathal)? But not the kinda just a plain soup as an appetizer or starter before your main course. Instead, its a hearty and tummy filling soup. In fact, a one pot dish. Vegetables and meat in soup obviously. Ample enough by itself or for dipping toast while slurping in. We Indians on the other hand treat our soups as a main dish. Even this Indian Mutton Meatball Soup is poured over our rice (Indian Crab Soup) before? Our fingers are most of the time our fork and spoon to food tucking in and if your concern is, what if mutton meatball is going to have a strong mutton smell, fear not what not. Mutton meatballs mixed with ginger juice and dried rosemary I vouch will get rid of the smell. Indian Mutton Meatball Soup. Our Indian style soup delight. 

Kampung Fried Rice/Nasi Goreng Kampung

Kampung Fried Rice. Nasi Goreng Kampung. From the land of Malaysia and from my kitchen village style fried rice. In fact, an authentic style and if you are asking me, I am not wrong in saying that the key ingredient is ikan bilis/anchovies. We Malaysians, especially this Malaysian woman, she just can't leave anchovies alone. Saltiness I think should have been my middle name. Jokes aside, the how to Kampung Fried Rice? An uncomplicated cooking matter. Leftover cooked white rice fried alongside ingredients as listed below. Of course, my style to my Kampung Fried Rice which I know will be your one complete wholesome, delightful meal. 

Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce

Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce. For a matter of fact, nothing much is expected in terms of cooking or making, and the type of fish? Boiled kembung. Boiled kembung? You should know if you are a Malaysian? Unless you don't eat fish. Boiled kembung, aka, mackerel according to google translation, basically is kembung boiled in salt you can buy in wet market. As well as in hypermarkets. Now, to the recipe. Frying of kembung (Chilli Soy Fish) after rinsing. Just a light rinse. Otherwise, fish will break up and make sure you pat dry to prevent oil from massively splattering or close with a lid while frying. Done. The curious case to fish frying over and done. Thereafter or while fish is being fried, we shall make the raw dip. Chop or slice ginger, onion, birds eye chillies or red chillies and kaffir lime leaves, and season with salt and palm sugar. Mix all the ingredients together. Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce. Really appetizing, fish simplicity in the simplest form and an undisputed Malaysian fish hero dish. Oh, you must also try Fried Kembung (Mackerel) With Assam Sauce alongside Rasam. Try and you will know what I mean. 

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).  

Indian Crab Soup/Nandu Rasam

Indian Crab Soup, aka Nandu Rasam. Yes, crab claws or legs into this Indian soup. Remember the humble plain and simple Rasam I have already shared with all of you? That's right. Of course, we shouldn't doubt the humbleness and simplicity of plain rasam, but trust me, crab claws or legs, no matter how big or small they are, they do pretty much elevate rasam to a higher above level. The double doze of double packing healthy power as a remedy for cold and flu or maybe even other benefits as well maybe. Anything else should I say? I guess not. Except, you should give a go this my version of Indian Crab Soup/Nandu Rasam.

Spinach (bayam) Sambar/Dhal Curry

The sambar story. Like a standard food story in most Indian households. In my house too. Though I must tell you that I am really quite tired of sambar/Indian dal curry. What do you expect? Almost so often until sometimes you can't take it anymore. Then again, if your husband is an Indian husband, you better continue making sambar. Otherwise? These Indian husbands, they never get tired of sambar. Must be because sambar is already embedded in their genes. Most probably. The sambar style today? Spinach Sambar. Leafy veggie sambar. Laced with coconut milk and wondrous aroma of spices Spinach Sambar.

Mutton Peratal

Mutton Peratal? Tell me about it? Always a pleasure right? I know. In my house, such a mutton dish is always a fancy frilly food diviners. Mutton by itself is a favourite, and when elevated alongside spices and all things nice and aromatic ingredients? Mouth packing, tummy filling and hand licking deliciousness. Of course a good heapful of potatoes is also like a must for mutton dishes? Say all you want, I personally believe that there's something about adding potatoes into mutton curries. These two ingredients, mutton and potatoes do bond and jive with each other for building Indian curry magical connection. And Mutton Peratal, trust me, tastes pretty much tastier when warmed up for next day's meal. Oh, if you like mutton peratal to be really dry, cook longer till gravy really thickens up. We on the other hand? We still prefer some gravy soaking up mutton.