Filipino chicken tamarind soup (sinampalukang manok)

We followed this recipe from Liza Agbanlog’s Quintessential Filipino Cooking cookbook, with some modifications. First, we cut 3 lbs chicken quarters (2 chicken quarters and 1 chicken thigh), skin removed. We left the skinned drumsticks intact, and we skinned and deboned the thighs, cutting them into bite-sized pieces. We lightly seasoned with salt, and we… Continue reading Filipino chicken tamarind soup (sinampalukang manok)

Filipino sauteed cellophane noodles with chicken and vegetable (sotanghon guisado)

We followed this recipe from Liza Agbanlog’s Quintessential Filipino Cooking cookbook, with modifications: first, cut two boneless, skinless chicken breasts into thin strips, mix with 1 tsp soy sauce, cover, and place in fridge. Second, cook 8 oz sweet potato cellophane noodles as directed (until al dente), then drain, rinse with cold water, and set… Continue reading Filipino sauteed cellophane noodles with chicken and vegetable (sotanghon guisado)

Vietnamese-style iced coffee

I figured out a shortcut recipe. It’s not authentic, but it tastes pretty close. Brew 12 oz of your strongest roast coffee (we use either Lavazza Classico or Trader Joe’s Laos Bolaven Plateau). Spoon 2 tsp to 1 Tbsp sweetened condensed milk (we recommend Longevity brand) into a 2-cup measuring cup. Pour the hot coffee… Continue reading Vietnamese-style iced coffee

Vegetarian dan dan noodles

We adapted our beloved meat-based dan dan noodle recipe to create a vegetarian version. We kept the noodle seasoning the same, but we changed the topping from minced pork (or minced turkey) to freeze-dried tofu crumbles and dried shiitake mushrooms. Here’s a breakdown of the topping and the noodles. 1) The topping: Inspired by Andrea… Continue reading Vegetarian dan dan noodles

Concord grape jam

Our friend Leah gifted us kyoho grapes, a type of Concord grape commonly found in Japan and Korea. We tried this recipe: https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/09/concord-grape-jam-recipe-grape-jelly.html Our modifications: because we had 3 ½ cups grapes (not 8 cups), we roughly halved the recipe. For the sugar, we reduced to 1 cup citrus-infused granulated sugar and 1 ¼ cups… Continue reading Concord grape jam

Frozen tofu chunks for later use

When defrosted, these will become tofu crumbles - and good vegetarian substitutes for ground pork - in recipes such as vegetarian ma po tofu or vegetarian dan dan noodles. We tried this method by Andrea Nguyen: https://www.thekitchn.com/leftover-tofu-freeze-it-for-later-167830 We used Whole Foods extra firm tofu. After handpressing the 14 oz tofu brick with paper towels, we… Continue reading Frozen tofu chunks for later use

Hawaiian loco moco

We tried to recreate this local favorite from a recent vacation. We loosely followed this recipe: http://cookingtheglobe.com/loco-moco-recipe/ Our modifications: first, for the meat mixture, we used ½ cup plain breadcrumbs and 1 tsp soy sauce instead of panko and salt, respectively. We also added ½ tsp dry mustard. Second, for the sauce we first sauteed… Continue reading Hawaiian loco moco

Chinese braised beancurd with shiitake mushrooms

My friend Dora recommended this recipe, and it was delicious: https://rasamalaysia.com/braised-bean-curd-with-mushrooms/ In lieu of sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), we used 1 Tbsp dark soy sauce plus 1/8 semisphere (about 1 tsp) of a small palm sugar mound (see Note below). For the meat, we used ½ lb minced bison. In addition to shiitake mushrooms,… Continue reading Chinese braised beancurd with shiitake mushrooms

Korean-style slow cooked mild chicken soup with daikon and cellophane noodles, pressure cooker version

Place two chicken quarters (bone-in, skin-on), 6 garlic cloves (bruised and peeked), 2 inches of fresh ginger (peeled, bruised, and cut into 3-4 chunks), and 3 scallions (trimmed and halved) in a large pressure cooker. Cover with water (about 10 cups), leaving at least one inch below the “max fill” line. Leaving the cover off,… Continue reading Korean-style slow cooked mild chicken soup with daikon and cellophane noodles, pressure cooker version