Braised Soft Tofu (Bean curd) with Thai Basil (Meatless Recipe)

Tofu (Japanese: 豆腐 or とうふ; Chinese: 豆腐), also called bean curd, is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is a component in many East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu that has been processed in some way. Tofu has a subtle flavor and can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish.  Please click  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu for more info on tofu.

 My family likes to eat tofu and I used to cook it regularly.  As for this braised tofu, the recipe just created out of what I can find in my fridge! You can add any ingredients that you like and it's still yummy.

Ingredients :

- 4 blocks of soft tofu (cut)

- 2 tomatoes (cut into wedges)

- a handful of shredded preserved mustard head/Spicy Szechuan Mustard (soaked)

- a handful of fresh Thai Basil

- 3 cloves garlic (crushed)

- oil

- water (add more water if you want extra sauce)

Seasonings : (to taste)

- 1 tbsp miso

- salt
- a dash of sugar

Method :

1)  Heat oil in a pan and lightly pan fry tofu.  

2)  Add garlic, tomatoes and shredded preserved mustard head.

3)  Lightly stir and mix well.  Then, add miso.

4)  Add water and braise over medium high heat.

5)  When it is almost done, add salt to taste, sugar and fresh Thai basil.

6)  Stir and mix well.

7)  Serve with steamed rice.

This dish is suitable for vegetarians and you can just omit the garlic for religious purposes

Or if you are just going for a meatless meal, this is just a perfect dish

Hope you like this simple yet healthy tofu dish

This post is linked to the event, Little Thumbs up organised by Doreen from my little favourite DIY and Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, hosted by Mich of Piece of Cake at this post.

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Steamed Pork Belly with Salted Fish (咸鱼蒸猪肉)

This is a very simple and yet appetizing dish which is popular among Chinese.  I have been preparing this particular dish on and off but didn't realize that I have in fact missed out one particular important seasoning.  This important ingredient is TAPIOCA FLOUR!!!! See how ignorant I am!!!  Well, I should thank Y3K when I chanced upon this in the Y3K issue no. 31, page 8.

Recipe source : Y3K(31) page 8 by Ms Catherine Chia

Frankly speaking, previously it never cross my mind to marinate meat with tapioca flour for steaming dish.  I do use tapioca flour for other methods of cooking but why not in steaming? Still scratching my head!!!  From here, you should know how good I am in cooking, right? Well, it's still  better late than never!

Meat marinated in corn starch or tapioca flour is tenderer and softer and since then, corn flour plays one of the important ingredients in my kitchen!

Ingredients :

- 2 strips of pork belly (skinned and sliced)

- 50g mui heong salted fish (rinsed, diced)

- 2 tbsps young shredded ginger

- 1 red chili (sliced)

Seasonings :

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp sugar

- 1 tsp oyster sauce (I omitted this)

- 1/4 tsp pepper

- 1/2  chicken granules stock (I omitted this too)

- 1/2 tbsp tapioca flour

Garnishing :

Diced spring onions

Some fried minced garlic

Method :

1)  Marinate sliced pork belly with seasonings.  I let it marinated for about 20 minutes.

2)  Meanwhile, boil water in a steamer.

3)  Add shredded diced salted fish, ginger and chili on top of the marinated pork belly.

4)  Steam for 10 minutes. (I steamed it for 15 minutes over high heat).

5)  Remove and garnish it with diced spring onions and fried onions.

4)  Serve it hot with  steamed rice.

Simple, quick and easy

Be advised to cook extra rice if you are serving this for your family

I'm linking this post with :Cook-Your-Books #4 hosted by Kitchen Flavours

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Simple Stir Fried Chayote Shoots/Dragon Beard or Dragon Whiskers (龍鬚菜) with Dried Shrimps

Chayote shoots and fruits are believed to have diuretic, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory properties. It's also said that tea made from the leaves has been used in the treatment of arteriosclerosis and hypertension, and to dissolve kidney stones.

My family eat  chayote  and its shoots from time to time.  Chayote shoots also known as 龍鬚菜 in Chinese and it means dragon's beard or dragon's whiskers.  

It's very delicious even with just simple stir fried.  I usually stir fried it with chili paste, sambal belacan and at times just a simple stir fried with dried shrimps or anchovies.  It's very yummy and my children who don't really fancy vegetables, love it.  Besides, it's very healthy and delicious too.

Ingredients :

- 1 bunch of chayote shoots (cut according to your desired length)

- 1 tbsp of dried shrimps (washed)

- 1 red chili (sliced)

- 3 cloves garlic (crushed)

- oil

-salt (to taste)

Method :

1)  Heat oil in a wok and saute garlic and dried shrimps until aromatic.

2)  Add chayote shoots and stir fry until cook.  Add water if too dry.

3)  Dish up and serve.

This simple stir fried is so healthy and nutritious

Yummy and healthy for the whole family :)

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Fragrant Golden Fried Pearl White Rice (Meatless Recipe)

I have wanted to cook golden fried rice for the past few days but if I am to use brown rice for this, the outcome may not be that great.  You see, we have been consuming brown rice for more than 15 years and occasionally I would buy white rice if there's any recipe that need it or give better result if used white rice. Then, I remember I still have a packet of Sekinchan pearl white rice and decided to use it.  The rice is pearl white and I know if I would to fry it with egg yolks, the colour would be great.

This rice is very yummy if used it to cook porridge :)

Look at the rice; oblong shape and glossy white

This golden fried rice is adapted from Y3K Recipe 73 pg 24

This is a very simple, quick and yummy fried rice.  It's my first time trying out this golden fried rice and we love it.  We had it with simple stir fried bok choy and chicken soup.  A very simple but satisfying meal :)

Ingredients :

- 4 bowls of cold cooked rice

- 2 hard boiled salted duck egg yolks (I used homemade salted duck eggs)
- 4 egg yolks

- cooking oil (I used ghee oil)

Seasonings : (to taste) I omitted the seasonings as my homemade salted duck eggs is already quite salty

- pepper

- salt

Method :

1)  Mashed the salted duck egg yolks.
2)  Add egg yolks to the  cold rice.

3)  Mix well the egg yolks with the rice.

4)  Heat oil in a wok and add mixed egg yolk rice.  Stir fry and mix well until aromatic.

5)  Add mashed salted duck egg yolk.  Stir and mix well until aromatic.

6)  Add seasonings if necessary and serve.

Here's a bowl of aromatic Golden Fried Rice on me :)

Isn't this golden yellow rice look great?

You can do it too.  It's easy peasy and fuss free~

I am submitting this to the Little Thumbs Up "Egg" event organized by Bake for Happy Kids, my little favourite DIY and hosted by Baby Sumo of Eat Your Heart Out.

This post is also linked to Cook-Your-Books #3 hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavours.

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