Almond Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel with Potato Salad and Caramel Asparagus

One of my friend Alice has set up a weekly cooking theme on facebook for those who loves to cook to share their dishes base on the weekly specify ingredient. And for this week we have "Asparagus" as the key ingredient to challenge our cooking skill on how we incorporate it into our dish. Since Asparagus is one of my favourite ingredients I decided to give it a try and come out with this set of Quick and Easy Western Dish.

Asparagus is high in vitamins B6 and C plus fiber, folate and glutathione as well as with anti-carcinogen and antioxidant. Although asparagus comes in three different colours such as: white, green or purple but the the green variety is the most common to be found. You can eat asparagus with nothing more than a drizzle of good-quality olive oil or use them in different dishes like: in soups, salads, stir-fries, scrambled eggs, pasta and etc.(read more HERE)

Here we have two side dishes to go with the Almond Crumbed Chicken Schnitzel which are the quick and easy boiled potato salad plus Caramel Asparagus. The potatoes act as a source of Carbo intake the accompany Asparagus are crisp and flavoursome with the dressing.

POTATO SALAD
Ingredients: (serves 2 - 3)
4 Medium Size Potatoes, about 250g
1.5 Tablespoon of Mayonnaise Cream
Freshly Ground Black Pepper


CARAMEL OLIVE ASPARAGUS
Ingredients: (serves 2 - 3)
1 Bundle of Baby Asparagus
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

Method:-

1. Cook potatoes in a large saucepan of boiling, salted water for 15 minutes or until tender.

2. Drain. Cool. Peel and cut the cooked potatoes into chunks and place it in a large bowl.

3. Scoop mayonnaise onto potatoes, season with salt and pepper then toss using a chopsticks to combine.

4. Set aside in the fridge while preparing the chicken schnitzel.

Method:-

1. Cook asparagus in a frying pan filled with boiling water(with 1/4 Teaspoon of salt added) for about 1 - 2 minutes until tender but still bright green.

2. Drain and refresh in cold water. Set aside.

3. Using the same frying pan, pour away the water, dried it and preheat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

4. Next add in 1/2 Tablespoon of brown sugar and stir continuously till almost caramelize.

5. Remove and dress asparagus with olive oil dressing.

The crispy crumbs coating together with the nutty fragrance from the flaked almond makes it a very addicting finger food/appetiser to go with icy cold beer too.

ALMOND CRUMBED CHICKEN SCHNITZEL
Ingredients: (serves 2 - 3)
6 - 8 Pieces of Chicken Fillets
1 Egg
1 Cup Breadcrumbs
1/4 Cup Flaked Almonds
Oil for Shallow Frying

Seasonings:
1 Teaspoon cornflour
1/4 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
1/2 Tablespoon Cooking Wine
1/2 Tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
1/4 Teaspoon Dark Soy Sauce
Dash of Pepper

Method:-

1. Marinate chicken fillets with seasonings and egg and set aside for about 5 minutes.

2. Pour cooking oil into a frying pan till about 1cm in depth and heat it up.

3. At the meantime roll the marinated chicken in breadcrumbs which combined with flaked almonds, pressing firmly.

4. Cooked chicken for 2 - 3 minutes on each side until golden brown or cooked through on medium low heat. (do not use high heat or it will burnt the breadcrumbs and almonds)

5. Drain on absorbent paper and serve with prepared side dishes.

Finalist Of Singapore Blog Award 2011

Time flies, this is the 3rd year "Cuisine Paradise" being shortlisted in the Top 10 Finalists of the Singapore Blog Awards category under - "Best Food Blog" host by "OMY.sg". This year we have 10 fabulous food blogs from different categories(written in English and Chinese) with good contents of information from "tested and tried recipes", "local and overseas food reviews", latest food trend, mouth drooling food photographs and etc where you can take a look at all the finalists from their blog URL HERE)

So friends and readers, please help to cast your precious Vote(s) for this event. Voting starts from 06 June 2011 - 03 July 2011, you can starts your "DAILY Vote(s)" today with only ONE vote per day for each category. Below are the steps on how to start your voting:-

Click the link for FOOD BLOG CATEGORY @ http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2011/category/?cat=food. Scroll down the page you will see Cuisine Paradise/Ellena Guan which is 3rd in sequence.You can help to click "Tweet", "Facebook Share" or "Like" in order to share this voting link. And most important thing is to click on the pink colour "VOTE NOW!" icon on the avatar.

You need to "Login" before casting your vote(s) so if you are a registered member login with your ID and Password if not proceed to the "Register Now" link.

To vote you have to register for an Omy.sg user account which similar to this format. For overseas voter, the NRIC/Fin No can be passport number.

When you have done with the login or the new member registration. Click on VOTE NOW! to vote for Cuisine Paradise. (please help to tweet, Facebook share or Facebook like too!)

For this year, Voters also stands a chance to win any of these fabulous goodies when you cast your valuable vote(s) for the finalists. So starts your daily vote today till 03 July 2011. Your votes and supports are the most precious encouragement and acknowledgement for this Cuisine Paradise. Thanks everyone! Have fun voting and good luck for all the Voters and the rest of the 9 Finalists together with me in the Best Food Blog Category!!!

Once again, the voting link for Best Food Blog Award is http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/2011/category/?cat=food

[Must Try] Shunfu Mart Food Centre

Upon stepping into Shunfu Mart a few days ago, we spotted "Chocolat N’ Spice" outlet near the entrance,  facing the bus-stop. As when you walk nearer to the stall you will be perfumed by the fragrant of those freshly baked muffins. Over at the stall they have around 13 different kinds of muffins(such as Double Chocolate, Cheese, Carrot, Orange Peel, Mocha, Blueberry and etc) ranging from S$1.20 to S$1.50 depending on your choice. For a chocolate lover I definitely cannot resists on getting their popular double chocolate muffin and walnut brownie. Their brownie is so soft, moist and delicious that my boy finished it off even before I could take a photo of it. 
Price: Chocolate Brownie @ S$1.40 per slice, Double Chocolate @ S$1.40 each; Banana Walnut @ S$1.20 each and Pumpkin @ S$1.20 each

The muffins from Chocolat N’ Spice’s are incredibly moist, soft, fragrant and most importantly it is not too sweet which makes it a healthy choice for everyone in the family.

Chocolat N' Spice

Blk 320, #02-12
Shunfu Mart (Shunfu Market)
Singapore 570320
Website: http://www.chocnspice.com/

Phone Orders (No delivery)
Mobile No.: 9383 0413 (Every Tuesday and Thursday; 4.00pm - 8.00pm)

Opening Hours:

Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am – 2.30pm;
Saturday: 10.00am – 2.30pm
* Closed on Monday and Sunday

Apart from those delicious muffins that we bought home, our mission at Shunfu Mart is to try out some of those delicious hidden gem that we are not aware of. First we spotted Hakka Suan Pan Zi(abacus seeds) from Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies(美珍客家美食) which is also recommended by a few local TV food programmes, Newspapers and Food Magazines. So without hesitate, we order a plate and try. Overall the texture of the abacus seeds was soft and fragrant but on the down side it was slightly toward the salty side and was quite oily which makes it a bit greasy for our liking.
Price: Hakka Abacus Seeds (Yam Balls) @ S$3.50/S$5.00/S$6.00 per plate

Other than Abacus Seeds, this stall also sells Hakka Style Mushroom Soon Kueh, Steamed Yam Cake, Glutinous Rice, Yam Porridge, Chee Cheong Fun and etc. Perhaps next round can their yam cake and soon kueh. For your information, they also have a outlet at 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-04C ION Orchard too.

Mei Zhen Hakka Delicacies(美珍客家美食)

Blk 320, #02-26
Shunfu Mart (Shunfu Market)
Singapore 570320

Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday: 7.30am to 2.00pm
* Closed on Monday and Tuesday closed

Next we also tried LEONG, Hainanese Chicken Rice which is recommended some patrons next to our table. Indeed the rice was very fragrant, well cooked, fluffy and infuse with trace of minced ginger together with garlic and chicken broth that makes it so delicious. Secondly the rice itself is not oily like those served in some other chicken rice stalls that sometime even drizzle of extra sesame oil or light sauce sauce.
Price: Chicken Rice with random parts @ S$2.80 per plate
Price: Chicken Rice with Drumstick @ S$3.50 per plate

The chicken at this stall is so smooth and tender with juicy meat and springy bite that makes you keep eating it. Somehow the few of us who tried the chicken also agreed that it has indeed being cooked and properly chilled to achieve the firm and yet not oily skin. Other than our favourite drumstick portion, we also tried their skinless chicken breast, which I thought it might be just another plate of tough and tasteless chicken breast meat. But I was wrong, after trying a piece of it I was surprised on how soft and fragrant it taste. And it  was till then I get to know the name of this traditional Hainanese home cooked dish that most Hainanese woman prepared at home was known as “妈妈的味道” translate as “Mum’s flavour”.

Leong Hainanese Chicken Rice

Blk 320, #02-22
Shunfu Mart (Shunfu Market)
Singapore 570320

Lastly let's look at this so called "Must Try" dish in Shunfu Mart from this stall known as "Fu Shi (Traditional) Roasted.Wanton Mee - 富市（传统）烧腊.云吞面" which is managed by an ex-taxi driver who loves food and decided  open a Char Siew and Sio Bak(Roasted Pork) stall for his passion  and love on eating  his favourite Char Siew and Sio Bak. The Char Siew at this stall is not those usual "Reddish Brown" coloured but rather light and natural in with a layer of honey glaze and tender and juicy meat. For me, I prefer their Sio Bak over Char Siew as I love it's crispy skin(on top) with the soft texture from the meat that infuse with a light fragrant of spices which makes it that goes well with white steamed rice.

Other than their famous Char Siew and Sio Bak, this stall also have roasted duck, dark soy sauce chicken, wanton noodles and etc. From the ieatishootipost forum, on and off the boss will come out with some new products or improvise the version of his char siew with new ingredients or even having some hearty soup such as Salted Duck and etc.

Fu Shi (Traditional) Roasted.Wanton Mee - 富市（传统）烧腊.云吞面
Blk 320, #02-25
Shunfu Mart (Shunfu Market)
Singapore 570320

Opening Hours:
Wednesday to Sunday: 8.30am to 1.30pm
* Closed on Monday and Tuesday


If you have being to Shunfu Mart or as a regular patron(s) over at those stalls, do share with us your dining experience and what are some of the "MUST TRY" items that we have miss out.