Quick Recipes On 3 Dishes 1 Soup

Last Friday I shared a post on "4 Quick Recipes On Soup And Dishes" and some of the readers are delighted to pick up new ideas on their weekend cooking. So this Friday, I am sharing another post with consists of "3 Dishes 1 Soup" which I hope it would be useful for busy mum or parents who wish to cook something nourishes for their family and yet easy to start with.

STEAMED PORK FILLET WITH SHA CHA SAUCE
(沙茶酱蒸腰梅肉)

Pork Fillet also known as "tenderloin" or "腰梅肉 / 里肌肉” in Chinese is the eye fillet that comes from within the loin. It is lean and very tender which is popular among elderly who always bought it for cooking porridge for kiddy as well as using them in cooking during confinement. Here we are using pork fillet together with Sha Cha Sauce (沙茶酱) which is one of the condiment used in Taiwan cuisines. Sha Cha Sauce is made from soybean oil, garlic, shallots, chilis, brill fish, and dried shrimp which has a savory and slightly spicy taste.

Recipe adapted from 小小米桶的零油烟厨房 recipe book.

(Serves: 4  | Preparation: 5 minutes + 30 minutes (marinate) | Cooking: 10 minutes)

Ingredients:
200g Pork Fillet (腰梅肉), cut into thin slices
50g Fresh Black Fungus (黑木耳)
2 Slices Ginger, shredded
2 Garlic Cloves, finely minced

Seasoning:
1 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1 Tablespoon Glutinous Rice Wine
1 Teaspoon Cornflour
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1.5 Tablespoon Sha Cha Jiang (沙茶酱)

Method:-
1. Rinse the fresh black fungus, cut into bite size and blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove, drained and set aside.

2. Marinate pork fillet with shredded ginger, minced garlic and seasoning for 30 minutes before adding the Sha Cha Sauce and give it a quick stir till combined.

3. Arrange blanched black fungus in deep steaming plate, scatter the marinated pork fillet on top.

4. When the water in the steamer boils, place the plate on the steaming rack. Steam it over medium high heat for about 10 minutes or until the meat is cooked.

5. Turn off the heat. Remove pork fillet, garnish it with some chopped spring onion and extra Sha Cha Sauce(optional) and serve immediately. (we love to give the dish a quick toss before eating so that all ingredients would be evenly coated with the gravy)

STEAMED GARLIC PRAWNS

Steaming seafood with minimum ingredients helps to retain it's freshness as well as sweetness. Here is another steamed prawns dish which used minced garlic and ginger. The amount of minced garlic used could be adjusted according to individual preference. And for extra flavour, you could also add in some cut chilli for spiciness. If you like steamed prawns, do check up my Steamed Drunken Prawns recipe.

(Serves: 2 - 3   | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 5 minutes)

Ingredients:
9 Big Prawns
1 Teaspoon Minced Ginger
5 Cloves of Garlic, finely minced
Some Chopped Spring Onion
1 Tablespoon Cooking / Rice Wine
1 Stall of Spring Onion (extra), cut into sections
2 Slices Of Ginger, shredded

Method:-
1. Mix 1 tablespoon of soy sauce with 1 teaspoon of sesame oil and pinch of sugar together and set aside.

2. Trim the feelers off from the prawns, using either a sharp knife or kitchen scissors butterfly the prawns with a deeper cut to make a cavity for the garlic stuffing.

3. Line steaming plate with spring onion and ginger, arrange prepared prawns on top of the spring onion and drizzle some cooking/rice wine over it.

4. Generously filled the cavity of the prawns with minced garlic. Scatter some chopping spring onion and mined ginger.

5. When the water in the steamer boils, place the plate on the steaming rack. Steam it over medium high heat for about 5 minutes or until the prawns are cooked.

6. Turn off the heat, remove prawns, drizzle the prepared soy sauce mixture and serve immediately.

TEOCHEW STYLE STEAMED RED GROUPER

Growing up in a Teochew family, we simply love steamed fish especial White/Sliver Pomfret (白鲳), Threadfin (午鱼), White Spotted Rabbitfish (白肚鱼) and Mackerel (鲭鱼). Usually for Teochew style, our fish is steamed with tomatoes, salted plums / salted vegetables, cut chilli, ginger and spring onions. Sometime shiitake mushrooms are also added for flavour too.

(Serves: 2-3  | Preparation: 10 minutes   | Cooking: 10 - 12 minutes)

Ingredients:
400g Red Grouper Fillet, halved
2 Salted Plum (咸水梅)
1 Tomato, quarters
4 Slices Ginger, shredded
1 Stalk of Spring Onion, cut into sections

Method:-
1. Rinse and pat dry the fillet with kitchen paper towel. Lightly marinate it with some cooking / rice wine together with 1 teaspoon of cornflour.

2. Arrange the spring onion and some shredded ginger on a steaming plate. Place the fish fillet on top and scatter salted plum, tomato wedges and the remaining ginger on it.

3. When the water in the steamer boils, place the prepared fish on the steaming rack and steam it over medium heat for about 10 - 12 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fillet) or until fish is cooked through.

4. Turn off the heat, remove the plate. Drizzle some sesame oil/shallot oil over the fish , garnish with extra cut chilli and serve immediately.

LIU WEI TANG OR LOK MEI TONG
(六味汤)

The ingredients of Liu Wei Tang (六味汤) are quite similar to Si Shen Tang (四神汤) where it consists of Xiang Lian (湘莲), Qian Shi (芡实), Huai Shan (淮山), Yu Zhu (玉竹), Bai He (百合), Dried Longan (龙眼肉). Drinking this soup helps in improving digestion, appetite and also nourish the lungs.

You could used either pork ribs or chicken to cook with the herbs above for savoury version or leave it meatless and sweeten it with rock sugar as dessert.

(Serves: 4  | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 1 Hour)

Ingredients:
2 - 3 Chicken Drumstick, skin removed
4 Pieces Pork Ribs, optional
5 Pieces Dry Huai Shan (淮山
15 Pieces Yu Zhu (玉竹)
15g Bai He (百合)
20g Xiang Lian (湘莲)
20g Qian Shi (芡实)
15g Dried Longan (龙眼肉)
1.5 Litres of Water

Method:-
1. Blanch chicken and pork ribs in boiling water for a about 1 minute, remove, rinse and set aside.

2. Bring 1.5 Litres of water to boil, add in all the herbs (rinse them with water before using) together with the blanched meat.

3. When the mixture comes to boil again, lower the heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours. Turn off the heat and season with salt(optional) and serve warm.

4. ALTERNATIVELY transfer the mixture to slow-cooker and cook it on AUTO mode for about 3 hours.

Tip:
~ You could use half portion of chicken for this recipe instead of both chicken and pork ribs.

~ Prepacked Liu Wei Tang herbs could be easily found in major supermarkets or Chinese Medical Hall.

I might be sharing some "1 Dish Meal" recipes next week as I received some emails regarding on this topic. Till then have a great weekend ahead, hope you would like the above recipes.

Pan-fried White Spotted Rabbitfish With Leeks

Chinese New Year is just a few days away and I believe every household is busying with preparing the food, beverage, clothing and etc before the coming New Year. Or perhaps some of you are having reunion dinner this weekend while everyone is off work and available at home. For Teochew family like us, our Chinese New Year reunion dinner can never go without this “Pan-fried White Spotted Rabbitfish With Leeks” when my dad was still around.

If you often frequent those Teochew Porridge stalls in food centre or coffee shop, I am sure you will be familiar with their signature Steam White Spotted Rabbitfish(清蒸白肚鱼) which goes well with their traditional dipping sauce make with "salted bean paste(豆豉), minced garlic and cut chilies".

As you know Leeks belong to the same category as onion family where you will link to those thick stalked European leeks that are commonly found in supermarkets which have a mild sweet flavor that is suitable for making soup or pie. But as for Chinese leeks on the other hand they are smaller and thinner which resemble thick scallion that has strong flavor, which makes them a staple ingredient in most Chinese cooking. Also most of the Chinese believe that by storing more LEEKS(蒜)at home it means you will have more money to COUNT(算)as both have the same pronunciation in Mandarin.

  Every year during Chinese New Year these “White Spotted Rabbitfish(白肚鱼)” will be highly in demand at both the wet and local supermarkets. And for your information the price of these fish can go as high as up to S$35.00 – S$40.00 per kilogram. These fish also has another name known as “Pei Tor” and by eating it most of the Chinese believe it brings good luck and prosper during the year. Also during this breeding period of the year, these fish are big in size and they do comes with roes that are particularly relished too.

Here is a photo of  the steps on preparing this dish.

Ingredients: (serves 2)

3 - 4 Medium Size (350g) White Spotted Rabbitfish
3 Stalks of Chinese Leeks, cut into diagonal sections
2 Slices of Ginger
1 Teaspoon of Minced Garlic
1 Teaspoon Chicken Stock Powder
80ml Hot Water

Method:

1. Clean and rinse the fish, pat dry with kitchen paper towel and set side.
2. Preheat a frying pan with 1 tablespoon of oil, pan-fry the fish on both side for about 3 minutes under medium heat or till slightly golden brown. Dish up.
3. Using the same pan add in ginger and minced garlic, sauté till fragrant before adding the sliced leeks.
4. Continue to stir-fry the leeks for another 2 – 3 minutes until soften add in 80ml of hot water and chicken stock powder to taste.
5. Place the cooked fish on top of the leeks and simmer for another 1 minute on medium low heat, carefully give it a quick stir in between to let the fish absorb the flavour from the leeks mixture.
6. When done dish up and serve with hot steamed rice.


If you do cooked this white spotted rabbitfish at home, it would be great if you would like to share with us how you prepared them. Because for us, we only cooked it with leeks or steam and eat it fresh with light soy sauce.

Fish Slice & Bitter Gourd Porridge

In Singapore do you know where to eat the best fish soup or fish porridge? I believe for those who loves fish soup, you must have tried those stalls located at Amoy Street (厦门街) food centre, level 2 such as "Piao Ji Fish Porridge - 標記鱼粥" and "Han Kee Fish Porridge - 漢記鱼粥". But have you thought of cooking your very own version of Fish Soup with your desire ingredients. Today let's take a look on how easy we can prepared a homecook fish soup within 30 minutes by using some bitter gourd and fresh fish slices to cook teochew style fish porridge.

Bitter gourd clearing and refreshing which helps nourishing Qi, kidney and spleen, liver and improve eyesight effectiveness. It also has certain treatment effect on sores, heat stroke, fever, and other diseases. On the other hand, bitter gourd has high content of vitamin C, with prevention of scurvy, protect cell membrane and prevent atherosclerosis, improve stress ability such as the role to protect the heart. You can even use this as beauty products to achieve fairer skin with its moisture, calm and moisturizing the skin, especially in hot summer, apply it icy cold bitter gourd slices on the face can immediately lift the skin irritation.

Ingredients: (serves 2)
250g of Fresh Fish Slices
100g of Bitter Gourd, cut into thin slices
2 rice bowl of cooked rice
1 Tomato, cut into wedge
2 stalks of Spring Onion, cut into section
2 slices of Ginger
4 Stalks of Lettuce
800ml Water
Salt or Chicken cube for seasonings
Chopped Spring Onion and Parsley, garnish
Dry Shallot and Shallot Oil

Tips:

• You can use any kind of fish slices that are suitable for making soup such as: sheng yu, grouper, red snapper, mackerel and etc.
• If you buying the fish in the wet market you can also seek advice from the stall helper to get some good choice.
• f you are hesitated to eat bitter gourd due to it taste, you can rubbed some salt on the cut slices give is some squeeze, rinse it in water so as to reduce the bitterness taste.

From the steps below, you will notice that this is a very simple and nutritious soup which can be easily done in less than 30 minutes. And if you have time, you can prepared a pot of fish stock using fish bone and anchovies as main ingredients which will gives the stock an even more flavorful taste.

Method:
1. Prepared all the ingredients, preheat the soup pot with 1 teaspoon of oil, add spring onions and ginger and saute it until fragrant then add in bitter gourd and continue to fry for another 10 seconds, pour in 800ml of water.
2. Bring the mixture to boil again, add in fish slices and tomato cook for another 1 minute on medium high heat.
3. Turn off the heat, season with salt to taste.
4. Place each bowl of rice in a big soup bowl, scoop the hot soup mixture over the rice.
5. To serve garnish with some spring onion, coriander, shallot oil for extra flavour.

But if you prefer to have the soup and rice separately like normal fish soup with rice, you can always go ahead without adding the rice into the soup. For more information if you wish to read the Chinese version of the fish soup recipe, please click here. (Click HERE for recipe)

Teochew Steamed Yam & Sweet Potato With Coconut

As a kid, I grew up with most of my favourite Teochew Dialect cuisines and desserts as such Ngoh Hiang, Braised Soya Duck Yam Cake and Yam Paste (or nee) that my dad used to prepare during festive seasons like Chinese New Year. Today mum and I decided to replicate one of my dad’s signature Teochew dessert which is something cross between “Yam Paste” and “Bo Bo Char Char”.

This is a pretty easy to prepare dessert where you just need to get some good quality of Yam - 芋头 (taro) and Orange Sweet Potato - 番薯. When choosing yam try to get those that look moist and heavy when lifted so that the high water content in it will make the yam taste soft.

Ingredients: (serves 4)
200g Yam
200g Orange Sweet Potato
6 Tablespoons Castor Sugar
100ml Coconut Milk
50ml Water
5 -8 Pandan Leaves
Shallot Flakes Oil

Shallot Flakes & Oil is a must for this dessert, as it will give a special touch of aroma to perfect the taste. To prepare you will need the following:-

Ingredients:
5-8 shallots (小葱头)
100ml of cooking oil
Pinch of Salt

Method:
1. Removed the outer skin of the shallots then thinly sliced.
2. Preheat a small pan or pot with cooking oil, add in the sliced shallot and saute them on medium low heat (stirring on and off to prevent burning) till slightly golden in colour.
3. Remove the pan from heat, add in pinch of salt(this will make the flakes more crispy) and give it a quick stir.
4. Set aside to cool and later use.

The preparation methods might be a bit tedious if you do not have a big steamer or wok that allows you to steam all the items at one go. So for our case, we choose to steam the yam and sweet potato separately so that either one of them will not be over cooked.

Method:
1. Rinse both yam and sweet potato, removed the outer skin, cut into cubes/chunks depending on your preference.
2. Wash the Pandan leaves, divide into two bunches and tie a knot on each bunch.
3. Place the yam cubes on a plate and top with 1 bunch of pandan leave, steam it over medium heat for about 10 minutes or till the yam is slightly soften. (the timing will varies on the size of the yam cubes/chunks)
4. Repeat the same procedure for sweet potato.
5. While waiting for the sweet potato to be cooked, stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar to the hot yam cubes and give it a good stir then set aside.
6. When the sweet potato is done, add it into the yam cubes with the remaining sugar stir well and set aside.
7. Preheat the frying pan with about 1 tablespoon of shallot oil, add in the yam and sweet potato mixture, give it a quick stir, then slowly stir in the coconut milk and water.
8. Simmer the mixture under low heat for about 5 minutes. Dish up top with extra shallot flakes and served either warm or cold.


Finally after all the cut, steam and simmer process here we present you with our all time Teochew favourite dessert which you get to have the mixture of yam and sweet potato drown in mild coconut gravy and top with a small exotic bit of shallot oil and flakes. Hope you will like this Teochew style homemade dessert, "Steamed Yam & Sweet Potato with Coconut Milk - 芋薯甜心块".

If you are interested in other recipe that used Yam as one of the ingredient, do hop over to my new Omy blog to view on how to make some yummy Steamed Yam Cake - 芋头糕. (click HERE)

Teochew Ngoh Hiang

In the past, making "Ngoh Hiang - 五香" is always one of my Dad specialty dish. During festive occasion such as Chinese New Year he and mum would make a huge quantity to distribute to our relatives or served it to those who visit us during New Year. But now when he is no long around, we don’t really get to eat this special treat as often as we do.

Yam Paste With Pumpkin & Ginkgo Nuts

Or Nee(Yam Paste With Gingko Nuts) is a must dessert for Teochew People during the Chinese New Year. So this year I decided to make some of this to share with my friends who came over for New Year gathering.


I cook and mashed the yam then stir-fry it with oil and top with Mashed Pumpkin, grated water chestnut, sugar ginkgo nuts and drizzle with some coconut cream.

Ingredients:
500g Skinned Yam, cubed
50-60g Caster Sugar
30ml Vegetable/Fried Shallot Oil

Methods:
1. Steam yam for 30 minutes or until soften before mashing.
2. Heat oil in a wok, then add mashed yam and sugar.
3. Stir well and cook over low heat until not sticky.

Topping:
20-25 Vacuum Pack Gingko Nuts
1 Tablespoon Caster Sugar
2 Water Chestnuts, grated
100g - 150g Skinned Pumpkin, cubes
1 1/2 Tablespoons Coconut Cream

Methods:
1. Wash and pat dry the gingko nuts then marinate it with 1 tablespoon of caster sugar for about 10 minutes.
2. Steam the pumpkin cubes over medium heat for about 15 - 20 minutes until soft then mash it using a fork and set aside.
3. Scoop cooked yam paste into a bowl or plate with depth then arrange the sugar gingko nut around it and place the mashed pumpkin in the middle and top with grated water chestnut.
4. Steam it for 15 minutes then drizzle the coconut cream on top and steam for another 5 minutes on medium heat.
5. Serve either hot or warm.

Notes:
a) If you prefer sweet taste then add more sugar or else you can reduce the sugar amount.
b) You can either used those vacuum pack gingko nuts found in leading supermarket or you can used those dried type one.
c) You can omit the pumpkin and water chestnut if you don't prefer them.