First, place 2 Tbsp Chinese tiny dried shrimp in small bowl and add room-temperature water to reconstitute the shrimp. Let sit for 15 minutes, then strain out the water and place the reconstituted shrimp on a large cutting board. Gently mince the shrimp or crush it in a mortar and pestle. Second, using a large… Continue reading Chinese braised daikon radish with minced pork and dried shrimp
Tag: 2014
Burmese chicken with bottle gourd (kyet tha boothee hin)
In a blender (we use a handheld chopper), roughly chop 1 large onion, 4 garlic cloves, 1 tsp (about ½ inch penny slice) fresh ginger, and 8 Thai chili peppers (or 3 medium Korean hot peppers), and set aside. Marinate 2 lbs of chicken (here, skinned chicken thighs cut into large chunks) in 2 Tbsp… Continue reading Burmese chicken with bottle gourd (kyet tha boothee hin)
Chinese dan-dan noodles
Mix 1 Tbsp chili oil (note: I reduced to 1 tsp of chili in soya oil, which includes hot chili flakes, plus I added 2 tsp roasted sesame oil), 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp Chinese black vinegar, and ½ tsp Sichuan pepper powder in a large mixing bowl, and set aside. Separately, heat oil… Continue reading Chinese dan-dan noodles
Chickpea, cucumber, and carrot salad
I learned this recipe from my friend Abby many years ago in London. Over time, I determined that cutting the cucumber and carrot into ½ inch dice, mimicking the size of the chickpeas, works best for flavor. Drain three 14.5 oz canned chickpeas (for a total of 43.5 oz) and place in a large mixing… Continue reading Chickpea, cucumber, and carrot salad
Waimar’s whole cranberry sauce
We made this following Ocean Spray’s recipe: http://www.oceanspray.com/Recipes/Corporate/Sauces,-Sides-Salads/Homemade-Whole-Berry-Cranberry-Sauce.aspx. Bring 1 cup each sugar and water to a boil, then add 12 oz of cranberries (washed and drained). Once the mixture boils, reduce to a simmer and let cook for 10 minutes. We added the zest of an orange and 1-2 inch of fresh ginger… Continue reading Waimar’s whole cranberry sauce
Banana french toast
Using a blender, mix 2 eggs, ½ cup milk, ¾ tsp cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 ½ ripe bananas (reserve the remaining half-banana for garnish). Pour mixture into a shallow dish, then dip a slice of bread (here, thinly sliced ciabatta) into the mixture, coating each side (the recipe calls for 6 slices, but… Continue reading Banana french toast
Simply dressed tomatoes
Slice tomatoes (any type will do), drizzle with Marukan seasoned rice vinegar or balsamic vinegar (here, pomegranate and quince-infused white balsamic) and olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Garnish with sliced, seeded jalapeños, if desired. Recipe inspired by my friend Amy. (Nov. 2014)
Vietnamese garlicky roast chicken (ga ro-ti)
Marinate 4 lb of bone-in, skin-on chicken parts (I prefer a mix of bone-in breast, thighs, and drumsticks) in 3 ½ Tbsp Maggi seasoning (we reduced to 2 ½ Tbsp), 4-5 large minced garlic cloves, ½ tsp sugar, ¼ tsp salt (we reduced to 1/8 tsp), ¾ tsp black pepper, and 2 ½ Tbsp neutral… Continue reading Vietnamese garlicky roast chicken (ga ro-ti)
Japanese grapefruit jello
During my childhood, a Japanese family friend, Mrs. Otsuka, made grapefruit jello, which she served in grapefruit shells (similar to lemon sorbet being served in a hollowed-out lemon). A few years ago, I finally tracked down a Japanese recipe for this dish, which turns out to be quite simple. First, lightly spray the inside of the gelatin mold(s)… Continue reading Japanese grapefruit jello
Korean zucchini fritters (hobak jun)
Slice 2 zucchini into ½ inch penny slices. Set up two small bowls on the stove: one with 3 Tbsp flour, the other with 3 eggs mixed with 1 tsp water and a dash of Korean beef bouillon (sogogi dashida); if you use a vegetarian bouillon powder, this can be vegetarian. Dip a few zucchini… Continue reading Korean zucchini fritters (hobak jun)
Cooking Adventures 