Easy Homemade Chili Paste

I always make sure I must have 1 or 2 tubs or bottles of  homemade chili paste in my fridge.  This is because I prefer homemade than those commercial chili boh.  It is so convenient if you have an ever ready homemade chili paste in your fridge.  You can serve it with noodles, as a dipping sauce, cooking, etc.  Moreover, it is so easy to prepare!

Ingredients :

- 300g dried chillies (soaked in hot water and seeded)

- 350g fresh red chillies (halved and seeded)
- 20 shallot (peeled)
- 20 cloves garlic (peeled )
- a pinch of salt
- 1 or2 tbsp cooking oil

Method: 

1. Put everything into a blender and blend until smooth.  If too dry, add 1 or 2 tbsp of water.

2.  Heat a wok and stir the paste over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
3. Transfer the paste into small containers and store it in the fridge. 

4.  It stays good for about 1 to 2 months in the fridge.  You can also store it in a freezer too.

Isn't it easy?  Try it and you will not regret.  Adjust the measurement of the ingredients according to your taste.  Sometimes I add some lemongrass into it and at times I just estimate with whatever is available.

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Easy Long Beans Sardine Curry (suitable for kids learning to take spicy food)

After my very first try of  Canned Sardine Curry, my children like it very much and have been urging me to cook canned sardine curry.  So, for this time, I used instant curry paste and guess what?  It's indeed very yummy; even better than the Canned Sardine Curry I cooked previously.  It is also suitable to train children to adapt to any spicy food or curry as it's not that spicy (you can adjust the curry paste according to your taste) and I am sure they will love the gravy.  My children love the gravy very much!  Besides, it is SO EASY to prepare and for those who are busy, this is just perfect as it's quick and easy!

You can add any of your preferred vegetables such as brinjals, long beans, lady's fingers, tofu puff, etc

Ingredients :

- 1 canned sardine

- 1 packet of Instant Fish Curry Paste

- 4 lemongrass (washed and crushed)

- some long beans (cut according to your preferred length)

- 2 tomatoes (cut)

- 2 onions (peeled and cut)

- salt (to taste)

- 1/2 cup water

Method :

1)  Saute curry paste, onions and lemongrass in a wok or pot. (However, that day I was in a hurry and wanted everything to be quick, what I did was put everything into a pot and let it cooked!)

2)  Then add canned sardine, tomatoes and water.

3) Cover and let it boil over medium high heat for about 3 minutes.

4)  Lastly add long beans and salt to taste.  Let it simmer for another 5 minutes over low heat.

5)  Serve with steamed rice or  bread

Isn't it easy peasy?

Also train your kids to get used to spicy food with this simple dish :)

I am submitting this dish to the Little Thumbs Up event hosted by Miss B of Everybody Eats Well in Flanders,(http://everybodyeatswell.blogspot.be/2013/06/little-thumbs-up-its-curry-time.html) organized by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids and Doreen of my little favourite D.I.Y and Carole's Chatter - Food on Friday: Anchovies and Sardines.I'm also linking this post to September 2013 Cooking With Herbs Blog Challenge hosted by Lavender and Lovage.

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Penang Nyonya Sweet and Sour Fish

I was goggling for a simple Penang fish recipe and I found this from Rasa Malaysia, Penang Nyonya Cooking.  Eh... to my surprise, this is a Penang dish and  this steamed sweet sour fish is not new to me and others too.  I used to prepare this steamed fish and sometimes I would just deep fry the fish but use the same sauce.  It is simple and very appetizing. Give this a try if you haven't and you would not regret.  

For deep fried, sometimes I added apples to the sauce and it's yummy.  Will post this fried sweet sour fish soon.

Ingredients :

- 1 whole fish (washed, marinated with salt and pepper)

Sauce (to taste) :

- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 tomato (chopped)

- 2 red chili (finely chopped/blended)
- 1 tsp preserved soy bean paste (tau cheong)

- 1/2 cup tomato sauce

- 4 tbsp chili sauce

- a dash of apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)

- a dash of ligh soy sauce

- salt

- a dash of sugar
- water
- 1/2 tsp cornstarch mix with 2 tbsp of water (to thicken the sauce)

Method :

1) Steam the fish until cooked, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove, discard the water and set aside.

2) To prepare the gravy, heat up 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok. Add onion and chili.  Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes or until soft.
3) Add preserved soy bean paste and stir-fry until fragrant over low heat.
4) Add tomato,chili sauce, tomato sauce, light soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, sugar and water. Bring to a slow boil.
5) Add cornstarch solution and stir quickly for a few more minutes.
6) Pour the gravy over the steamed fish.  Serve with steamed rice.

Guess what?  I had in fact prepared extra gravy as I know my children would love it.  True enough, we finished up all the gravy!

The gravy itself is so appetizing and yummy... :)

I am submitting this post to Malaysian Food Fest, Penang Month hosted by Alan of Travelling Foodies

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