Caldo Verde

Caldo Verde! What is Caldo Verde? Caldo Verde is a popular soup in Portuguese cuisine and if I am not mistaken, firstly making its presence known in Northern Portugal. How do I know about Portuguese dishes? Well, we in Malaysia have been exposed to the influence of Portuguese cooking and food from back then, back then ages ago. Says it all I suppose? Me and my Portuguese dishes  (Egg Vindaloo, Devilled Prawns, Pada Salt Fish Pickle & Chicken Devil Curry)?  Of course, I should also include the other types of soups I have invested my cooking time in? The various types, and my recipes, as usual, won't kill your money  and time (Thai Tomato Soup, Burdock Root Soup, Tomato Spinach Soup, Onion Soup, Tom Yum Goong & Salted Fish Bone Soup). This my version of Caldo Verde? A vegetarian version (Lentil Vegetable Soup). Thick, creamy and luscious (Creamy Mushroom Soup) as an utter satisfaction, and the key central ingredients are potatoes (Vegan Potato Curry & Potato Egg Curry) and kale. Slurrrppp!! 

Chilli Chicken

This Chilli Chicken is joining the rest. The rest of the Chinese or Indo-Chinese style chicken recipes I have already shared (Chinese Black Vinegar Chicken). More or less right? Chinese or Indo-Chinese style cooking? How different or what can be different for the ingredients, maybe some changes here and there, otherwise, its soy sauce, garlic, ginger, dried chillies (Honey Chilli Chicken, Sesame Chicken, Sweet Chilli Chicken & Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup) or those other required or sort of we tend to reach out to ingredients. Other than that? You tell me. Now, lets get going to making this Chilli Chicken. Chicken (Salted Egg Chicken, Chicken Kebab, Chicken Chop, Baked Cornflakes Chicken) and chillies (Chilli Lime Fish, Sichuan Chilli Prawns, Crispy Chilli Fish & Chilli Clams) obviously are the main highlight and we are going to use chicken fillet or only the meat or flesh. Plus cashew nuts for crunch and bite, oh, I also decided to add potatoes and like I have already told you earlier, the rest of the Chinese ingredients like ginger, garlic, shallots and soy sauce (Cashew Masala Chicken, Curried Roast Chicken, Chicken Varuval & Baked Lemon Chicken).

Tofu Manchurian

Guys, if you are asking me about the history of Tofu Manchurian or even Manchuria, I really can't say much. But I sure know that Manchuria was the puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Northeast China and inner Mongolia, and Manchurian cuisine seemingly has taken a strong influence in India (Indian Tofu Curry). Why, how and what, please don't ask me. Yet I am aware that somehow Manchurian recipes (Chicken Kebab & Hakka Noodles) have been tweeted to the local tastes in India and one of the most prominent is definitely Gobi Manchurian (Cauliflower Pakora) and I must include Tofu Manchurian as well. Regardless, my Tofu Manchurian is an outcome of my thinking, though I did refer to a couple of recipes which really confused me. Thus, to keep my Tofu Manchurian as my invention, I went ahead and cooked it as how we would appreciate a tofu dish to be (Tofu Green Beans Stir Fry, Tofu Scrambled Eggs & Spinach Tofu Stir Fry). Of course we must not discount spices and chillies for Manchurian dishes? Precisely the ingredients that were cooked alongside tofu and since I had some French beans, I added them as well. The outcome? This mouthwatering burst of Tofu Manchurian (Tofu Katsu & Chinese Tofu Soup).

Nasi Goreng Tom Yam (TomYam Fried Rice)

Guys, remember I have already told you that Fried Rice is already a trademark in my kitchen (Nasi Goreng Belacan Ikan Bilis)? That's right everyone and within the short span of time, I couldn't help but cook this Nasi Goreng Tom Yam. Not something utterly a new style because I have already showcased the other version to Tom Yam previously (Tom Yam Prawn Fried Rice)? Plus, the whole list of the rest of the fried rice. All sorts of styles cooked alongside different ingredients (Egg Fried Rice, Nasi Goreng Ikan Bilis, Lamb Fried Rice, Chinese Fried Rice & Malaysian Fried Rice) and looks like I have not pulled up the brakes yet. Still going strong with fried rice potentially (Cantonese Fried Rice, Kampung Fried Rice, Belacan Fried Rice & Anchovies Long Beans Fried Rice). Alright, let's get up, close and personal to today's fried rice. Nasi Goreng Tom Yam. Tom yam paste made from a stretch and cooked alongside rice, squids, prawns, long beans, fish sauce and kaffir lime leaves. Bang! The first spoonful I bet will pop wake your palates instantly. 

Bingka Pisang

Bingka Pisang, our Malaysian banana cake. Different, not the same as those banana cakes or even other cakes baked in the Western countries (Milo Cake, Traditional Butter Cake & Sujee Cake). In other words, our Malaysian banana cake is utterly a stand up by itself unique cake. Where did I pick up the recipe for Bingka Pisang? From my nutshell by reflecting back to back to my years when I was younger and when I used to make for my family. Baked in the round, just one switch and portable conventional oven. The oven by the way was like expensive purchase for a poor family like us. So, I really need to ensure I use it carefully because if it does not function anymore, there's no assurance we can afford to buy another. Of course now, it is a different story all together due to the quite a latest oven  (Eggless Orange Cheesecake) in my kitchen. Which by the way didn't fall from the sky, but saving and buying, and oven must be put to good use. Into the oven went the mixture for Bingka Pisang. A mix of mashed bananas, flour, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla essence. By right I should have added some coconut milk, but because I completely forgot to buy coconut, I made Bingka Pisang without coconut milk. Chewy, soft and somewhat dense, Bingka Pisang I must say is part and parcel of our kuih-muih/local delicacies (Malaysian Sago Pudding, Kuih Buah Melaka, Bubur Cha Cha, Bubur Kacang Hijau & Sago Gula Melaka) and a wondrous sugar delight and treat. Absolutely mouth lovable, wouldn't you agree? 

Hu Tieu Nam Vang

Hu Tieu Nam Vang, aka Phnom Penh Noodle Soup. How do I know about this Cambodian Noodle Soup? Remember, I did my tour to Vietnam and Cambodia (Ho Chi Minh City, Siem Reap & Hanoi)? Though I didn't explore till Phnom Penh, but pretty much those Vietnamese and Cambodian food I tucked into did justice to my palates (Vietnamese Steamed Fish, Shrimp Pho, Vietnamese Fish Soup & Vietnamese Noodle Soup) and the noodles dishes in these two countries? Of course their origin must be highly regarded, yet, don't you think we do have the liberty to modifying and tweeting recipes without compromising on the much needed quintessential tastes (Ikan Balado, Singapore Laksa & Nyonya Lam Mee) no matter where they originate from? We can right? Depending on country specific ingredients and also, considering the type of meat we eat? Sure, why not? That's why I had to align and adjust Hu Tieu Nam Vang to our preference and like I have already told you before, pork and chicken are a taboo for my other half-half (Prawn Noodle Soup, Penang Assam Laksa & Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup)? So, between between seafood and lamb, I thought lamb should be a good run for Hu Tieu Nam Vang. My version of Hu Tieu Nam Vang? Lamb broth generously ladled over rice noodles assembled alongside crispy fried lamb, fresh herbs and beansprouts, paired with a dipping sauce made from chillies, garlic, soy sauce, sugar and lime.

Restoran Syed Kadir - Seksyen 3, Shah Alam

Back again to Restaurant Syed Kadir (Restaurant Syed, Seksyen 9, Shah Alam), more for a light meal at about 3.30 pm and for the three of us, we ordered Tosai, Maggi goreng, Sup Ayam/Chicken, Mutton Chops Curry and Teh Tarik (3x).  Service was pretty much efficient as food and drinks arrived so soon. Flavourful and piping hot, chicken soup a little spicy and peppery, garnished with spring onion and with tender chicken,  this soup I loved till the last scoop.