Sweet Bitter Gourd Porridge (Meatless Recipe)

Have you ever heard or tried cooking porridge with bitter gourd? Sounds weird, isn't it? This dish is the result of my 'spur of the moment' recipe. I wasn't feeling well and wanted to eat something simple and refreshing and yet feeling lazy to do all the preparation, cooking, washing, mopping, etc. Then I realized that my homemade salted duck eggs are due for 'harvest' (exactly 21 days) and I was so excited to try it. Ahaa... let's have plain porridge with salted eggs... but...I doubt my children would like it just with salted eggs! So, while 'ransacking' my fridge, I found 1 miserable bitter gourd which had ripened! BUT... I don't want to do any frying..... So, my weird idea and 'lazy mode' is the result of this porridge. Guess what???? Surprisingly, it's quite delicious and not bitter at all but slightly sweet due to the Chinese Wolfberries (and the bitter gourd was fully ripened!) So, if you are curious how you are going to react to this weird porridge, just give this a try.

Get a ripe bitter gourd if you don't like the bitter taste.

Ingredients :

- 1.5 cup rice (I used brown rice)

- 1 bitter gourd - use a spoon to discard the seeds (washed and sliced thinly)

- 2 tbsp fresh wood ear mushroom (washed and sliced thinly) - you can use dried ones

- 1 tbsp Chinese Wolfberries (washed)

- 1 tbsp shredded ginger

Seasonings : (to taste)

- salt

- soy sauce

- miso

- sesame oil

Method :

1)  Wash rice and add water accordingly; as to your usual porridge requirement.  Cook porridge at medium high heat. 

2)  When the porridge is semi-cooked, add bitter gourd and wood ear.  I added hot water as my measurement of water was not accurate.  Cover.

3)  Let it boil for about 5 minutes and lower the heat to medium low. Add shredded ginger and slow cook for about 1/2 hour or until the porridge is ready.

4)  Add the Chinese Wolfberries and salt to taste.  Stir and mix well.  Turn off the heat.  Cover and let it stand for about 20 to 30 minutes before it's ready to be served.

Season it with soy sauce and some sesame oil.  Have it with homemade salted duck eggs.

Or if you don't like salted egg, then what about some miso?  It's yummy too :)

Or, like me, have it both; miso and homemade salted duck eggs and seasoned with a dash of soy sauce and sesame oil. You must be wondering how 'salty' am I!!! Well, NO, just nice as I added a bit of everything!

Do give this porridge a try if you DARE to be different! hahahaha...

I'm linking this post to Little Thumbs Up organised by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of My Little Favourite DIY and hosted by Alvin of Chef and Sommelier.

To receive new updates, do LIKE me on FACEBOOK.  Thanks!

Follow this blog with bloglovin   Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me comments.. I really appreciate all your visits and comments! Have a nice day :)

Fragrant Eggplant Rice (using Toshiba Rice Cooker)

I bought some eggplants the other day but still wondering how to prepare it in a different way.  I used to either pan-fried or stir-fried (click at the links for the full recipes) it.  

I remember seeing eggplant rice in one of my collection of YumYum recipe books.  So, this recipe is from YumYum (41) page 73.  It's a very simple and homey dish.  We had it with Chinese Mustard Chicken Soup and a simple stir-fried baby bok choy.

Recipe source : YumYum 41, pg 73, with some minor modification

Ingredients :

1.5 cups of rice (I used brown rice)

- 2 medium-sized eggplants (washed and cut)

- 1 bowl pork belly (sliced)

- 1 tbsp dried shrimps (washed and finely chopped)

- 4 cloves garlic (finely chopped) 

some oil (I used ghee)

Seasonings : (to taste)

- salt

- light soy sauce

- sweet caramel sauce (kicap manis)

Method :

1)  Cook rice in a rice cooker.

2)  Meanwhile, heat oil in a wok.  Saute garlic until fragrant.

3)  Then, add dried shrimps and stir fry until aromatic.

4)  Add in pork, eggplant and seasonings.  

5)  Stir fry until well  mixed.  Dish up and set aside.

6)  When the rice is almost cooked (before the beep sound), transfer the fried ingredients into rice.

7)  Close the lid and let it keep warm for about 1/2 hour.

8)  Stir and mix well.

9)  Close and continue to keep warm until it's ready to serve.

My hubby likes it with some chopped chilies + Chinese coriander + soy sauce

Do enjoy :)

I am linking this post to Cook-Your-Books # 2 organised by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours

I am also submitting this to Back 2 School Event by Kachuss Delights 

To receive new updates, do LIKE me on FACEBOOK. Thanks! http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/6015563 Follow this blog with bloglovin Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me comments.. I really appreciate all your visits and comments! Have a nice day :)

Yakon Kelp Soup - The Picnic Game 2013 (2)

I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing ....

A - Aloo Gobi
B - Blueberry-Cucumber Salsa

C - Crispy Curry Fried Chicken 

D - Dying for Chocolate Chocolate Cake

E - Eton Mess

F - Fish In Jar

G - Golden Pillow Hee Ban

H - Hummingbird Cake

I - Ice Cream Sandwiches

J - Jersey Style Hot Dogs

K - Kahlua Mocha Ice Cream

L - Light and Soft Japanese Cheese Cake

M - Ma'moul

N - Nettle Quinoa Tart

O - Oriental Pasta Salad

P - Pan de Mango

Q - Quinoa Pizza Balls

R - Rainbow Connection Cupcakes

S - Strawberry-Yogurt Ice Cream

T - Telosma Cordata Eucheuma Jelly

U - Uh Never Fail Cotton Soft Japanese Cheesecake

V - Vanilla and Cream Cheese Pound Cake

W - Watermelon Sorbet

X - Xtra Good Apple Walnut Bundt Cake

Y - Yakon Kelp Soup

Z - Zucchine in Padella con Aceto e Peperoncino

This is the 2nd dish I am bringing for the Picnic Game 2013 hosted by Louise of Months of Edible Celebrations.  Do hop over and have a look at her Picnic Basket.

Yakon tuber is a type of vegetable from South American. It can be eaten raw as a fruit or in salad or even cooked it.  It tastes sort of  a mix of pear, celery and apple and looks like a potato. 

Yakon is becoming popular for its health benefits which :

1) The tuber contain fructose that leave the human body undigested. Does not raise blood sugar.
2) Contains antioxidant.
3) Fights cancers.
4) High in fibers and probiotics.
5) Contains essential nutrients: iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, carotene, magnesium, Vitamin A, Vitamins B1, B2 and Vitamin C
6) Helps cure kidney problems, obesity, hypertension, constipation, hypertension, arthritis and insomia
7) It has 60% to 70% inulin responsible for maintaining blood glucose.

(source : http://www.foodrecap.net/health/yacon-benefits/)

Whereas Kelps are large seaweeds (algae) belonging to the brown algae (Phaeophyceae) in the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera.  I had mentioned its benefits in Kelp (Seaweed) Chicken Soup.  So, when yakon is combined with kelp, you can imagine how nutritious and healthy this soup is!

Ingredients :

- 1 free range chicken (cut and blanched)

- 1 yakon tuber (peeled and sliced)

- 1 bowl of kelp (washed, soaked, rinsed, cut)

- 2 thumb sized ginger (crushed)

- sea salt (to taste)

- water

Method :

1)  Put yakon, kelp and ginger into a pot of water and boil.

2)  Add chicken and boil over medium high heat for 10 to 15 minutes.

3)  Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 2 hours or until the kelp is soft.

4)  Season with sea salt and serve hot.

This is a very nutritious and healthy soup.  Moreover, it is so easy to prepare.

You can add any ingredients you like such as tomatoes, red dates, Chinese Wolfberries or basil.  This time I prefer just a simple soup as the yakon itself is already sweet!  Hope you like it :)

Follow this blog with bloglovin Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me comments.. I really appreciate all your visits and comments! Have a nice day :)

Simple Pan Fried Eggplant/Aubergine/Brinjal with Fermented Soy Beans (Taucu) - Meatless Recipe

This is a very simple pan fried dish using HappyCall Pan.

Ingredients :

- 2 medium sized brinjals (washed and cut.  Sprinkle some salt onto the pieces of eggplants and set aside)

- red chilies (washed and sliced)

- 3 pips garlic (crushed)

- 1 tbsp taucu 

Seasonings : (to taste)

- salt

- soy sauce

- sugar

Method :

1)  Heat some cooking oil in the Happy Call pan.  Pan fry both sides of all the brinjals until slightly brown.

2)  Dish out and set aside.  

3)  Saute garlic and chilies until aromatic.  

4)  Then, add taucu, sugar and some water.  Mix well and let it simmer for a while.  

5)  Return the brinjals to the pan.  Give it a quick stir.

6)  Dish up and serve hot.

Simple and yummy...

Follow this blog with bloglovin Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving me comments.. I really appreciate all your visits and comments! Have a nice day :)