Chicken Tempra (Nyonya Dish)

This is the best dish and loved by all; adults and children during our Mid-autumn festival family gathering! The gravy is especially yummy yummy! I can just eat the rice with the gravy alone! Thanks Cindy for your recipe. I have modified the recipe according to our taste.

Ingredients :

- 1 whole chicken (washed and cut into pieces and marinated with jintan manis)

- 1 big onions (washed and sliced)
- 1 bombay onion (washed and sliced)
- garlic (finely chopped)
- ginger (washed and crushed)
- 2 bird's eye chilies (cili padi - chopped) I only used 1 chili as some of the children couldn't take too spicy
- cooking oil

Seasonings : (to taste)
- Fennel powder (jintan manis) - I used it to marinate the chicken

- Caramel sauce
- Soy sauce
- Salt
- Brown sugar (I used 5 tablespoons)
- Water (mixed with brown sugar, add enough water to cover the chicken and you would not regret cos' the gravy is very yummy)
- 1/2 cup of lime juice

Method :

1) Heat oil in a wok or pan. Fry onions till fragrant. Then, add ginger, garlic and chili. Fry until aromatic.

2) Add in marinated chicken and fry for a while.

3) Add in seasonings and water except lime juice. Cover and let it simmer over medium low heat until the chicken is cooked and tender.

4) Lastly, add lime juice. Stir and mix well.

5) Dish out and serve.

Steamed Egg Tofu with Minced Meat

My nieces and my children like this dish very much during our Mid-autumn family gathering. It is easy to prepare.

Ingredients :

- 1 soft tofu (mashed)
- 8 eggs (beat)
- 2 tablespoons of water
- salt and pepper (to taste)

Toppings : (measurement depending on individual's preferences)
- Minced meat (marinated with preserved tung choy, vegetarian oyster sauce and sugar)
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped preserved radish (tung choy)
- vegetarian oyster sauce
- sugar
- garlic (finely chopped)
- soy sauce

Method :

1) Boil water in a steamer.

2) Beat eggs with salt, pepper and water with mashed tofu.

3) Transfer the mixture to a deep plate or bowl.

4) Place the plate (the mixture) in a steamer when the water in the steamer has come to a boil.

5) Reduce heat to low and steam for about 15 to 20 minutes.

6) Meanwhile, heat oil in a wok. Add garlic and saute until aromatic. Then, add marinated minced meat and stir fry until aromatic. If too dry, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of water and give it a quick stir. Dish out and set aside.

7) When the egg mixture is ready, remove from the steamer.

8) Pour the stir fried minced meat over the steamed egg tofu.

9) If you like, add soy sauce (to taste) on top and serve.

Mixed Vegetables with Enoki Mushrooms

A very simple mixed vegetables dish for our recent Mid-autumn family gathering.

Ingredients : (no exact measurement as it depends on individual preferences)

- Shrimps (shelled and washed)
- Cauliflower (washed and cut)
- Carrot (washed and cut)
- Baby corns (wash and cut)
- Snow peas (washed and cut)
- Red capsicum (washed and cut)
- Enoki mushrooms
- Garlic (washed and finely chopped)

Seasonings : (to taste)
- Salt
- Chinese cooking wine

Method :
1) Heat oil in a pan or wok. Saute garlic until aromatic. Then, add shrimps and stir.

2) Add all the ingredients except mushrooms and capsicum. Stir fry until the vegetables are cooked. If too dry, add some water.

3) Add salt, capsicum and mushrooms. Stir and mix well.

4) Add cooking wine and give it a quick stir.

5) Dish out.