Thai Steamed Fish

Honestly, I actually am appreciating the steaming style to cooking (Hong Kong Style Steamed Fish, Teowchew Steamed Fish & Nyonya Steam Fish). I won't say quick and easy, but potentially, don't you think the healthiness and can be quite a basic cooking technic? I reckon. And when Thai dishes are a concern, us being the Malaysians who love Thai food (Tom Yum Fried Rice, Thai Green Fish Curry, Seafood Tom Yum Soup & Thai Fish Noodle Soup)? Pretty much nothing much should I say? Moreover, most of the staples already at home when you cook Thai food every now and then? I believe so (Thai Chicken Green Curry, Thai Carrot Soup, Thai Vegetable Curry & Shrimp Pad Thai). So, how do we go about making this Thai Steamed Fish? Not as straightforward as those simplified versions because there's two levels. Firstly steaming the fish alongside eggplant and then making the sauce before tipping onto fish. Still, I believe Thai Steamed Fish is rather achievable. I mean not a brain cracker if you follow this nava-k's recipe. Thai Steamed Fish. Steamed to a perfect texture seabass and seated in a spicy, tangy and aromatic sauce/gravy, garnished with coriander leaves and chilli curls.

Burdock Root Soup

To tell you the truth, I have never cooked burdock root before. Honestly, never ever. Not even once though I have seen this long stick kinda thick root in supermarkets. There's been moments I was so close in buying, then again, I didn't have any clue whatsoever what I should do with it or how to go about cooking it. On this particular day, I asked the Chinese lady (Hakka Noodles, Teochew Steamed Fish, Hong Kong Style Steamed Fish, Egg Foo Young, Sichuan Chilli Prawns & Yong Tau Foo) who was standing beside me at the hypermarket and picking one of the roots. Some exchange of good ideas, she telling me I can use it for making soups. Alright. Game on. Back home, I got down to cooking and I actually made a vegetarian (Chinese Vegetarian Winter Melon Soup, Chinese Tofu Soup, Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup & Vegetarian Chow Mein), and nutritious Burdock Root Soup. Not bad. In fact I must say a winner. All about showcasing those other Chinese ingredients I already had at home for the birth of this delicious Burdock Root Soup. Ohlalala!! Burdock root, wolfberries/kei chi, black fungus, fucuk/dried soy sheets, vegetable stock and garlic, garnished with spring onion (Tea Eggs, Chick Kut Teh, Chap Chai & Wanton Soup).

Chocolate Cheesecake

What an emptiness to desserts in this precious space of mine. In fact, when was the last time I shared a dessert recipe? Oh my godness! Been quite a while (Watermelon Sorbet). Well, you can't blame me. Basically, there are no takers for desserts in my house. Between the two of us, we don't desire sweetness and also, shall I say the focus is mostly our daily meals instead of sweet rush or sweet crush (Saffron Poached Pears, Citrus Poached Pears, Fried Apple Fritters & Bake Rice Pudding). When I bake, whatever I bake is given away to friends, colleagues or neighbours (Lemon Buttermilk Cake, Lemon Cream Pie & Coconut Panna Cotta). Anyway, time was in hand and I decided I should bake. Not those major rocker kinda desserts, but the familiarity I have done before (Pandan Cheesecake & Mango Cheesecake). I mean what can be different for a cheesecake if you are considering simplicity? Biscuit bottom layer and for this latest version cheesecake, I did the cocoa powder chocolate and of course, the top must be the creamy and sweet cheesy layer? Of course.

Vegetarian Nasi Lemak

Options. We like options, we prefer options, we want options and I of course must agree. I must give you options as well. Nasi Lemak Sambal Udang, Nasi Lemak or this Vegetarian Nasi Lemak (Thai Green Vegetable Curry). Precisely. We definitely need options and I won't deprive you. What is this whole thing to this Vegetarian Nasi Lemak? Remember my previous recipe - Vegetarian Mutton Stir Fry? Yes. The same mushroom stalks vegetarian mutton. Nasi lemak on the other hand? Our Malaysian coconut rice. Rice (Vegetarian Rice Pilaf, Vegetable Briyani & Turmeric Rice) basically cooked alongside coconut milk. Henceforth, I am not, no, not attaching the recipe for coconut rice because? You tell me why? How many different types of coconut rice are there? Not as far as I know. Neither was I interested in testing or coining. Basically, lemme repeat myself again. You can grabbed the recipes from my previous two nasi lemak recipes I have already linked above. Rice matter (Coriander Rice, Lemon Cashew Rice & Dhal Rice) sorted out, time now we speak about vegetarian rendang. In fact, almost the same style as Chicken Rendang  but I reduced the amount of ingredients. Why? Cooking is not always about using hundreds of ingredients remember? Making do with what we already have instead of spending on ingredients? Right. Condiments for this Vegetarian Nasi Lemak? The standard of course? Cucumber and instead of fried anchovies or fried peanuts, I opted for really thinly sliced fried shallots. Why not right?

Masak Lemak Ikan Masin Nenas

Ikan Masin. Salted Fish. Oh my goodness! My all time, anytime favourite. In fact, I won't mind every day and for every meal. Then again, too much of saltiness (Dried Shrimp Sambal, Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis Petai & Ikan Bilis Fried Rice) has been said as not good for our health (Kangkung Belacan)? I know. Yet, I can't resist salted fish and if you really give it a good soak and rinse, I think salted fish should be okay right? I think so. Masak Lemak on the other hand is the typical Malay style dish (Ikan Assam Pedas, Ayam Goreng Berempah & Petai Prawn Sambal), or can be said as the non-vegetarian version of our Indian sodhi. Both basically showcasing coconut milk as the core or one of the primary ingredients (Nasi Lemak Prawn Sambal & Coconut Grapefruit Jelly). Alright, let's now get down to the business of cooking Masak Lemak Ikan Masin Nenas (Salted Fish Pickle, Pada Salt Fish Pickle & Salted Fish Mango Sambal). Salted fish/ikan masin, coconut milk, pineapple/nenas and a grounded/blended paste made from chilies, fresh turmeric, onion, garlic, belacan and lemongrass/serai, and garnished with turmeric leaves (Sambal Kentang Ikan Asin, Pumpkin Salt fish Curry, Pineapple Salted Fish Curry & Bean Sprouts Salted Fish).  

Belanga - Empire Shopping Gallery (Subang Jaya)

Belanga? How familiar!! Day in day out noisily I roll the belanga/pots in my kitchen, and this Belanga in Empire Shopping Gallery I have been told rolls our wonderful selection of Kelantanese cuisine. I didn't stumble upon Belanga only on this day, in fact, I have passed by a number of times while shopping in this quite a popular mall. On this day, I made it a point to step foot into Belanga for an early lunch, just when they were just getting ready after opening the front door. The staff didn't look happy when I walked in, they didn't greet me either, nope, not even a faint smile. I actually felt uncomfortable, yet I sat at the far end corner elegant corner near the glass window. Service came crawling in tortoise speed, I ordered Mee Bandung Prawns and "Java Fantacy”, and when I started clicking pictures, sigh!, I am not sure why I was stared at.   

Hakka Noodles

Hakka Noodles my version. Basically nava-k's version. So, say nothing more please. To each our own right and like I always say (Lamb Pho, Ikan Bilis Fried Mee Hoon & Vegetarian Chow Mein), there is no right and wrong formula to cooking. Basically, it's our style to our cooking right? Unless, you have a different opinion (Char Kway Teow, Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup & Spicy Thai Noodles)? For me personally, I like to cook as I like. Whatever ingredients and however and not necessarily we must follow recipes step by step, line by line or ingredients by ingredients (Thai Mee Hoon Kerabu & Lamb Spaghetti). Not for home cooking though. As long as we are satisfied and its a fulfilling tasty dish, we should be proud right? I know. So, whats the story to this my style Hakka Noodles. Actually, to tell you the truth, there is no story. Hakka Noodles or thick yellow egg noodles stir fried alongside seafood, kai lan, dark soy sauce and light soy sauce, of course we need the customary ingredients like garlic, ginger and pepper, and paired alongside my all time favorite Sambal Belacan. My Hakka Noodles my Malaysian Chinese style (Malaysian Fried Mee, Penang Mee Yoke, Malaysian Spicy Sour Fish Soup Noodles & Nyonya Curry Laksa).