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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Turmeric Eggplant Rice (Meatless Recipe)

A very simple rice which is easy to be prepared and at the same time healthy and nutritious too.  I had no intention to cook this.  While looking through my fridge, I saw that I still had some brinjals/eggplants and lemongrass.  So, just took out the brinjal and beginning to wash it. As for the lemongrass, I had wanted to use it for a simple stewed chicken.  Oh gosh, I realised that the chicken meat was still in the freezer, ah....  At the spur of the moment, it crossed my mind that in order to make life easier for me, I decided to cook Fragrant Eggplant Rice , the one that I had posted earlier but wanted to have it different.  

So, this is the result of this simple one-pot rice meal!

Ingredients :

- 3 cups of rice (I used brown rice)

- water (the usual measurement  as per your rice cooker model, but less about 1/2" of water)

- 3 brinjals (washed and cut)

- 4 stalks of lemongrass (washed, slit and bruised)

- 1/2 tbsp of turmeric power

- 3 cloves garlic (crushed)

- 1 thumb size ginger (crushed)

- 1" cinnamon stick 

- 1 star anise

- 1 tbsp of ghee/butter (I used ghee)

- salt (to taste)

Method :

1)  Wash rice.  Add water but less about 1/2" of  water of  the usual measurement; depending on the model of your rice cooker.

2)  Add all the ingredients except brinjals and butter.  Stir and mix well and press the cook button; the usual way you cook your rice.

3)  When the rice is just about to cook (just before the cook button signal), add in the brinjals.  Continue cooking or keep warm for about half an hour.

4)  Then, add butter.  Stir and mix well.  Add extra salt if necessary.

5)  Serve warm.

This one-pot meal is great when you are busy but still prefer to have home-cooked food than take-away.

Quick, simple, healthy and nutritious meal

Have a wonderful day and cheers :)

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

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