17 Chinese Herbal Soup (Chap Qi Bi)

I used to boil Chinese herbal soup for my family.  One of the herbal soups that we used to take is 'Chap Qi Bi' (in Hokkien).  It means, seventeen herbs of herbal soup.  It is very nutritious and for those who used to have backache, this soup is also very good.  It is suitable for adults and children.

Ingredients :

- A pack of 17 types of herbs (washed) 

 (For those who can read Chinese, you can just copy the above prescription and buy it at any Chinese Medical Hall.  However, I am sorry I can't translate this into English as my knowledge of chinese herbs is quite limited).  

- 1 whole kampung chicken (cut and blanched)

- Few slices of liquorice or 'kam cho'(I prefer to add this even though it is already in the prescription as adding extra of this makes the soup tastes sweeter, better and less bitter).

- salt (to taste)

- water 

Method :

1)  Fill a big pot with water and boil the herbs over medium high heat for about 20 minutes.

2)  Then, add the chicken and boil at high heat for a while.  

3)  Lower the heat to low and let it simmer for an average of about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  

4)  Add salt and serve hot.

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Simple Pan Fried Turmeric Fish

I like to eat fried fish but not deep fried.  As such, whenever I want to fry fish, I usually use Happy Call pan to pan fry it.  Besides, it is so easy and convenient to use; it's non-stick and healthy as I use very little oil to pan fry.  Most of all, it is easy to clean, smoke free and no oily kitchen stove and floor!!

For this post, I have pan fried turmeric fish using Happy Call pan.

Ingredients :

- 3 ikan selar or Scad (cleaned and marinate with salt and turmeric powder)

- 3 sprigs of curry leaf

- 2 tbsp of turmeric powder (to marinate the fish) to taste

- salt (for marinate) to taste

- 1 thumb sized ginger (cleaned and crushed)

- Soy sauce

- Oil

Method :

1)  Grease oil in the pan.  Then, place fish, ginger and curry leaves into the pan.

2)  Close the lid and pan fry on both sides until cooked and brown.  Add soy sauce on both sides of the fish and pan fry for while.

3)  Dish out and serve with sambal kicap.

It is simple and yet delicious!!
I'm linking this post to September 2013 Cooking With Herbs Blog Challenge hosted by Lavender and Lovage.

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Braised Chicken with Eggs (Kay Hong Minus the Pork Belly)

The first time when I saw Phong Hong's post on Kay Hong (Terengganu Braised Chicken) at Terengganu Food Fest 2012 , I told myself I must try this dish. Too bad, I only tried last week and unfortunately without the pork belly as I have forgotten that day happened to be 'No Pork' day at the wet market. So, I just made do with just the chicken. On the other hand, I think this dish is also suitable for those who don't take pork.

I adapted this recipe from Phong Hong and at the same time from Daphne Hwee Lan Chua with some slight modification.

Ingredients :

 

 

- 1 whole chicken (cut into bite sized pieces)
- 10 hardboiled eggs (shelled)
- 10 shallots (finely sliced)
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2tbs preserved bean paste (tau cheong) to taste

- dark soya sauce (to taste)
- Palm sugar (gula Melaka) to taste
- Salt (to taste)
- Oil
- Water (enough to cover the chicken. Add more if you like to have extra gravy)
Method :

1) Heat oil in a wok or pot and fry the shallots until half brown. Then add in minced garlic. Fry until aromatic
2) Then, add tau cheong. Keep stirring over low-medium fire until fragrant.

3) Add in gula Melaka. Keep stirring until all the gula melaka is melted and started to caramelize.

4) Add the chicken and dark soya sauce. Stir well.

5) Add water, salt and hard boiled eggs.
6) Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer until the chicken is cooked and tender.

 

I have no regrets to cook this dish even though it is without the pork belly as it is indeed very delicious. I believe with the pork belly, it will be even better. Will cook it again but this time it will be with the pork belly.

Cook extra so that you can keep it overnight as it tastes even better. Yummy yummy!!

Serve it with steamed rice.

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