Sichuan Water-Cooked Fish in Oil, Dried Chilli and Peppercorn 四川水煮鱼

Winter is coming, it's perfect to eat hot and spicy dish. Here is one of the dish that you can cook - Sichuan representative dish: Sichuan water-cooked fish, or shuizhuyu, which mainly use dried chilli and peppercorn for hot, spicy and tingly numbing flavours.

Ingredients:

1. Fish, fillet yourself. Leave the fish head/tail/bones aside

2. Sichuan Peppercorn

3. Dried chillies

4. Garlic paste, Ginger paste (or chopped finely)

5. Pepper, salt, flour, cooking wine, egg 

6. Bean chilli paste (I used Korean brand bean chilli paste) 

7. Almost cooked Bean sprout (70-80% cooked, you can boil the water to cook it or use microwave oven). Since the dish is hot, this is served as cooling effect. So do prepare enough.

 

Instructions:

1. Marinated fish fillets with pepper, salt, egg, flour and cooking wine.

2. Heat the wok with oil, put in dried chilli, pepper corn and bean chilli paste. Fried it until you smell the spicy fragrance. Add in garlic and ginger. Fried them together.

3.  Then add in water (this will be soup base, add enough to cover all the fish fillets later). Also add in salt, cooking wine, pepper, some sugar, light soya sauce, fish head/tail and fish bones. Cook and simmering it until the soup base is ready.

4. When the soup is ready, add in the fish fillet and cover the wok. The fish will be cooked in 1 minutes or less. Turn off the heat. 

5. Now, switch to use another pan. Heat the pan with oil (3-4 times more than you usually used for vegetables cooking), add in dried chilli, peppercorn. Fried until it's fragance, add in ginger and garlic. Fried them until you can smell the spicy fragance.

6. Prepare a big bowl (which the dish will be served with), put the bean sprout at the bottom of the big bowl, pour in the fish fillet and the soup. Then pour in the Oil from Step 5. And then, serve it hot!

Tasting:

It's a success! It's kind of sweet, spicy and numbing. Indeed it's very appetizing. The fish fillets are prefect because the fish meat is kept juicy with great flavours. But beware, you need to prepare a packet of tissues just in case you need this for the "juice" coming out from your nose.

Reference:

1. 水煮鱼的做法

2. 水煮鱼的简单做法2种

Chocolate Mud Cake 巧克力蛋糕

Requested by K, I am tasked to bake a chocolate mud cake. I adopted the recipe here chocolate mud cake recipe or chocolate mud cake. I don't know why the cake does not have nice shape and easily break as quite crispy or fragile. But the taste is quite great, perhaps will be good chocolate cookies. The skin is crispy but it really looks awful because out of shape.  Mmm...

Tasty Roast Butternut Pumpkin with Onion 烤洋葱金瓜

I bought half butternut pumpking at AU$1.10 today and not sure what to do with it. After surfing the recipes for a while, I decided to bake them in oven. This recipe is adopted from Tasty Roast Pumpkin . If you have oven, then this recipe is really handy.

Ingredients:

1. 1xOnion, slice it

2. Half butternut pumpkin (Skin off, cut into dices, you can leave the skin if you wish)

3. 1 to 1.5 tablespoon of salt

4. 0.5 to 1 tablespoon of chilli powder (Original recipe was with chilli flake)

5. 2 tablespoon of honey

6. 2 tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar (or any vinegar)

Instructions:

1. Mix 1, 2, 3, 4

2. Bake with 140 degree for 50 minutes

3. Before serving, mix with 5, 6

4. Heat for further 5 minutes.

Tasting:

Little bit of hot (because of the chilli powder) with full of sweetness. The onion is perfect as it's spicy flavour, just nice to eat with the sweet pumpkin. I'd think if having better vinegar, or more vinegar would be better as it will brings out the sour taste to complement the sweetness. 

Simple Chinese Rice Dumpling (Zong Zi or Bak Chang) 包粽子

Duanwu Festival or Dragon Boat Festival is coming. It falls into 28th of May in year 2009, which is next week! We miss the Rice Dumpling made by our grandmothers, which contain succulent pork. So we decided to try it ourselves.

Ingredients:

For 10 rice dumplings.

1. Sticky (glutinous) rice 500g

2. Bamboo leaves 20 pieces (2 pieces per dumpling)

3. Chinese five spice powder, dark/light soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, salt.

4. Pork belly (must be fatty) 300g - 400g

5. 10x dried chestnuts

6. 10x dried mushroom

Instructions:

1. Cut pork belly into small cubes and mixed with ingredient 3 to taste, marinate overnight.

2. Soak dried chestnut & lotus leaves overnight. Soak sticky rice for 2 hours, mushroom 30 minutes.

3. Made the leaves into a funnel shape, put 1 spoon of rice into leave, then put meat, mushroom and chestnut, put 2 spoon of rice to cover it, and made it into dumpling, this is hard to learn, but try watching and learning from those experience in doing so. Some general tricks are: don't fill too full (to avoid breaking the leaves once expanded), don't fill too lose (breaking apart), and dozens other rules.

4. Boil with water fully covered for 1.5-2 hours.

Results:

1. Out of 12 dumplings, 1 is breaking apart, another has rice coming out from the leaves, so it's achieving success rate of 83%, not bad for first try. :)

2. The meat part taste very good, but the rice part is not salty enough, probably put more salt into rice next time or mixed rice with soy sauce.

Hope that Qu Yuan will like it in heaven. :p

Reference:

http://eatfirstthinklater.blogspot.com/2006/05/making-chinese-rice-dumpling-bak-chang.html

Chinese Chilli Sauce 酸甜辣椒酱

This is quick self-made chilli sauce. You can prepare this in 5 minutes. Normally, it would be better to use electronic grater machine to grate the ingredients, but I opted not to today because I'm preparing a small amount only. 

Ingredients:

1. 2x Red Chilli

2. 1-3 Garlic gloves

3. Small amount of Ginger

4. Sugar, Sesame oil, Vinegar, Lemon Juice

Instructions:

1. Chop everything thinly and finely, grate them if you have grater. Then mix everything together.

2. Add in the sugar, some vinegar and sesame oil. Then mix in lemon Juice. Adjust the flavours to suit your preferred tastes.

3. Finally, keep them in fridge. I think this can be kept for few days in fridge.

Different chinese sauces 各种酱的做法

清油酱 

材料：盐、红辣椒末、糖1/2茶匙，生抽2大匙、蒜末1茶匙、鱼露1茶匙 
做法：将所有材料混合，加入红辣椒末、蒜末即可。 
用法：非常适合各种蔬菜的凉拌，如圆白菜、四季豆、海带均可，只要将蔬菜焯熟淋上酱汁即可食用。 

麻椒酱 
材料：花椒粉1/3茶匙、老抽1大匙、辣椒油1大匙、白醋1/3茶匙、糖1茶匙、香油1茶匙、盐少许。 
估法：将以上所有材料搅拌均匀，即可凉拌使用。 
用法：这道凉拌酱可以用于海鲜、牛、羊肉凉拌入味。 

鱼露酱 
材料：鱼露1大匙、米酒1大匙、生抽1茶匙、蚝油1/3茶匙、鲜鸡粉1/2茶匙、冰糖1/2茶匙、甘草粉少许（可不加）、清水1/2杯。 
用法：这就是很多饭店清蒸鱼如此美味的秘诀了。 

乌梅酱 
材料：乌梅汁2大匙、白醋1大匙、白兰地酒1茶匙、糖2大匙 
做法：将所有材料放在容器内加热，以小火煮滚至糖完全融化，晾凉后即可食用。 
用法：适用于凉抖番茄、炸蔬菜等菜肴的沾取，味道非常特殊、酸甜适中，风味独特。 

红酒甜醋酱 
材料：红酒1/2杯、苹果醋2大匙、糖1大匙 
做法：将所有材料混合调匀即可。 
用法：这款酱带有红酒的甘醇美味，沾食新鲜蔬菜、白灼的海鲜都有一级棒的味道。 

姜母沾酱 
材料：辣豆瓣酱1茶匙、豆腐乳1块、糖2茶匙、水1/3杯、酱油1/2茶匙、罗勒18克 
做法：将所有材料放在搅拌机里打成均匀的糊状即可食用。 
用法：适合各种肉类的沾食。 

蒜香鱿鱼酱 
材料：蚝油2茶匙、芝麻酱1大匙、糖1大匙、鲜鸡精1茶匙、剁椒1茶匙、蒜苗1/3根、香菜10克、大蒜2瓣 
做法：蒜苗、香菜、大蒜切末与其他材料一起搅拌均匀即可。 
用法：可以用来淋在炸酥的鱿鱼上，还可以搭配其它的海鲜食用，味道非常浓厚鲜美。 

白米酱 
材料：糯米粉2大匙、白胡椒粉2茶匙、水2大匙、糖2大匙、盐1茶匙 
做法：将糯米粉和其它材料一起煮沸至粘稠即可。 
用法：肉丸、油炸食品都可以沾取食用。如果喜欢吃辣的人还可以加一茶匙辣椒粉在里面。 


意大利番茄肉酱 
材料：牛肉末200克、番茄3个、番茄酱3大匙、洋葱300克、黄油30克、黑胡椒适量、盐1茶匙 
做法：1、黄油化开，将切成丁的洋葱炒香 
2、放入牛肉末，变色后放入切碎的番茄和番茄酱 
3、炒制成酱后调味即可 
用法：用做意大利面条的酱料。 

自制沙茶酱 
材料：A：平鱼干70克、干虾仁30克 
B：油炸过的蒜2瓣、花生粉1茶匙、油炸过的葱末1/2茶匙、盐、白胡椒粉少许 
C：麻油1茶匙、花生油2茶匙 
做法：将鱼干、干虾仁放入烤箱中烤干、取出，与材料B一起研成细粉状，倒入大碗中，加入C即可。 
用法：用途广泛，可沾、炒或煮汤均可。 

味增渍酱 
材料：味增1/4杯、味淋2大匙、糖2大匙、香油1大匙 
做法：将味增倒入容器中，和其它的调味料混合均匀即可。 
用法：可以用来腌渍经盐软化的食材，腌渍如大蒜、蒜苗、小黄瓜、萝卜、圆白菜、菜心等。经过腌渍的蔬菜就是非常正宗的日式腌菜。 

韩式辣味烤肉酱 
材料：洋葱末2大匙、蒜末1/2大匙、芥末酱1/2大匙、酱油1/3茶匙、粗黑胡椒粒1/2茶3匙，糖、乌醋、橄榄油1茶匙，辣椒酱1/3大匙、韩式辣椒酱1大匙。 
做法：将所有材料放在碗中调匀即可。 
用法：适合作为牛、羊、猪及海鲜的烤肉蘸酱，味道非常鲜美。 

烤肉酱 
配料：酱油2大茶匙，白糖、米酒、冰糖各1茶匙，柴鱼精、干海带、姜粉各2茶匙。 
做法：将所有材料混合均匀，即可。 

麻辣酱 
配料：柠檬汁1∕4杯，西红柿酱2大茶匙，辣椒油、辣椒酱、黑胡椒粉各1小匙，蚝油、辣椒末、黄酒、红糖各1大茶匙，蒜末1∕2茶匙。 
做法：将所有材料混合均匀，即可。 

酸梅酱 
配料：酸梅3颗，酸梅蜜饯、砂糖各2茶匙，白醋1茶匙。 
做法：将所有材料混合均匀，即可。 


五味酱 
配料：酱油、香油、黑醋、白醋各2茶匙，西红柿酱3茶匙，姜末、蒜泥、辣椒末各1茶匙。做法：将所有材料混合均匀，即可。 

蒜泥酱 
配料：蒜泥2茶匙，酱油3茶匙，味精、米酒、白醋各1小茶匙，细砂糖1茶匙，胡椒粉适量。 
做法：将所有材料混合均匀，即可。

Source：http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/8639402.html

Special Fish Taste Pork Slice with Cabbage 简单鱼香肉丝和包菜

"Fish Taste Pork Slice" is a traditional Sichuan dish. I adapted the Recipe with simplified steps as I do not have all the required ingredients. It doesn't really taste like the traditional dish (the traditional version is oily, and the meat is very soft liked fish meat) but honestly it's quite appetizing.

Adding cabbage to it creates a miracle, due to the crunchy & sweet taste, it blends well with the ingredients.

Simple Chicken Fried Rice 鸡肉炒饭

Ingredients:

1. Chicken dices, marinated with salt and light soya sauce

2. 1x Capsicum

3. 1x Red chilli

4. Rice for two persons (kept in fridge for 2 hours at least)

Instructions:

1. Heat the pan with chopped garlic with vegetable oil, then add in dice capsicum and red chilli. Fry and cover it to steam a bit.

2. Then add in chicken dices, fry and cover it to steam a bit. (Taste it to adjust salt/soya sauce).

3. Optional: Up to you if you want to add in dark soya sauce.

4. Until the chicken is about 70% cook, add in rice, cover it to steam for few minutes.

5. Then fry them to mix them altogether until the chicken is cooked and the rice is mixed with all flavours equally.

Tasting:

The flavour of this dish is not really strong, it taste a bit salty, sweet (by light saya sauce and chicken's sweetness), and little bit of hot because of the chilli. It might be good to add in some onion as well.

Apple Tart 苹果挞

I copied the Simplest Apple Tart Recipe and cook one today. This recipe looked simple to follow but I think I have made some mistakes. I didn't put enough butter I guess as the dought come out as biscuits instead of crispy tart. Need to try again next time.

Korean Instant Ramen with 60 Ingredients

I'm down with flu this week. It's cold to be precise as I do not have fever. Nevertheless, I feel really tired and annoyed by the running nose. So I declared to K that, the Kitchen is shutdown this week. Mind your own meals (and my meals). Hehe...

Well, luckily I have the Korean instant Ramen to accompany me. It's amazing to have 60 ingredients in this small packet. The first criteria for me to buy instant noodle is "No MSG". Then I'll look at the flavours. In any case, I discovered this Korean instant Ramen by accidence. Yet it taste OK. The brand is "Samyang Food".

But instant food is processed food. If having options, don't eat too much. =) 

Ginger Chicken Stir Fry with Soy Sauce

This is one of the first five dish I learnt during my childhood. The ingredients are simple and yet this dish is delicious to eat with rice.

Ingredients:

1. Chicken dice

2. Red chilli slice (optional)

3. Ginger slice

4. Salt, Dark Soy Sauce

Instructions:

1. Heat the pan with vegetable oil

2. Add in ginger slice and fry until brown

3. Add in salt and chilli

4. Then add in Chicken dice, fry a bit

5. Add in dark soy sauce and water

6. Fry and cover it to steam until chicken is cooked. If not cook and water is not enough then add in more water.

Roast Tomato, Capsicum and Mushroom

I prepare this dish without oil.

Ingredients:

1. 2x Capsicum

2. 2x Tomato

3. Mushroom (about 15 cup mushroom)

Instructions:

1. Half cut the Tomato, half cut mushroom and slice Capsicum.

2. Lightly add in salt, pepper and mix well.

3. Put in oven for about 20 minutes at > 200 degree.

For me, I fry them mushroom in pan with low heat and cover it for about 5-10 minutes, The mushroom will be tender and soft then. I didn't add in water or oil because mushroom itself contains water. Afterthat, add in capsicum and cover it for few minutes. Then serve with the roasted Tomato.

This is just another simple and healty veg dish.

Sweet and Sour Tiger Prawn With Chilli 酸甜虾

This dish is tasty and good to serve with rice.

Ingredients:

1. Tiger prawn

2. Kechup, or Tomato sauce

3. Garlic finely grated

4. Chilli, sliced

5. Lemon 

6. Salt and Sugar

Instructions:

1. Heat the pan with oil

2. Add in garlic, red chilli

3. Until garlic is almost brown, add in kechup

4. Add in 1-2 tsp of water, also add in salt. Mix everything and taste it. If it's too sour, add in sugar.

5. When the sauce mixture is boiling, add in prawns. Cook them lightly until prawns are cooked, then serve hot.

Note: Prawns must be cleaned.

Banana Pancakes 香蕉薄烤饼

Delicious home-made banana pancakes for breakfast. It tasted naturally sweet and rich in mashed banana.

Ingredients:

1. 125g self-raising flour

2. 10g brown sugar or less

3. 2g salt

4. 1gg beaten

5. 220ml milk

6. 5 teaspoon vegetable oil

7. 3 ripe banana (small-medium size)

8. 1-2 teaspoon almond powder

9. 1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla 

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt in bowl A.

2. Beat egg, then mix with milk, vegetable oil, valina, almond powder, and mashed banana.

3. Mix 1. and 2. together well.

4. Heat the griddle with little oil and medium heat. Scope the mixture in 3. into the griddle. Cook until it's brown on both side. Tips: It shouldn't stick on the griddle if it's ready. I used a fork to lift the pancake to check.

Banana Cake 香蕉蛋糕

I bake this less oily, less sweetness Banana Cake yesterday for today BBQ. It taste nice in warm and cold.

Ingredients:

1. 100g butter

2. 2 eggs

3. 2 ripe banana

4. 1 tsp vanilla extract

5. 1 tsp bicarb soda

6. 50ml milk

7. 100g brown sugar

8. 220g self-raising flour

Instructions:

1. Cream the butter, brown sugar and vanilla.

2. Add eggs, beat them well with electrical beater.

3. Mash banana finely. Then add them into the mixture.

4. Dissolve soda in milk. Then add the flour and milk into the mixture slowly. Mix them well.

5. Best to bake in 2 smaller tin together, else just one larger tin (but need to check if it's under cook). Preheat the oven with with 180 ºC, bake for 35 minutes, or until it's ready. (If the middle is not ready, you can continue to bake or just cut it half then continue to bake.)

Slice Pork with Turmeric Powder 黄姜猪

Recently, Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy and his colleagues from Michigan reveal that, curcumin, or the main ingredient in turmeric powder has the arrays of healing capabilities, such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, antibiotic, antiviral and many others.

It's not a news to most of the people, especially Indians because they have applied this 'holy powder' for centuries. As refer to WHFoods, turmeric powder contains mainly manganese, iron, vitamin B6, dietary fibre and potassium. It is indicated as excellent source for manganese and iron. The health benefits are tremendous. Learning how to cook with turmeric powder will be interesting and benefitial.

Ingredients:

1. pork slices

2. 2-3 tbsp of tumeric powder, salt, sugar, black pepper, light soya sauce, sesame oil

3. Onion slices

Instructions:

1. Marinate the pork slices with Ingredient 2. for more than 30 minutes or longer.

2. Heat the pan with oil, and fry onion slices until brown.

3. Pour in all the marinated pork slices

4. Fry them until brown, cooked. (Adjust the salt, light soya sauce, sugar to suit your taste preference)