Braised Pork Belly with Red Glutinous Wine Lees (紅糟,Ang Zhao)

Ang Zhao (紅糟) or Red Glutinous Wine Lees is beneficial to our health as it is believed to have cholesterol lowering function.  My family always have homemade red glutinous wine and after harvesting the red wine, we keep the lees in the fridge.  It stays good for many years.  I like to use the lees when cooking meat, mushrooms or use it to fry rice.  It is very delicious.

Using lees to braise pork or chicken is quite popular among my family members.  This is a homely dish and I am sure most local Chinese (Malaysia) know this dish especially those from Manjung, Perak.  It is easy and yummy.  

Ingredients :

- 2 strips of  pork belly with skin (washed, cut into big pieces and marinated )

(alternatively you can substitute pork belly with chicken too and add some woodears or dried mushrooms)

Seasonings for marinate (to taste)

- 2 tbsp red wine lees

- 2 whole garlic (washed but do not peel the skin)

- 1/2 tsp cumins

- 1 star anise

- 1 cinnamon stick

- salt

- soy sauce

- sugar

- pepper

- 2 cups of water

Method :

1)  Marinate pork belly with all the seasonings for at least 30 minutes.

2)  Place everything into a pot and add 2 cups of water.  Cover and bring to boil.

3)  Lower the heat to the smallest and braise for about 40 - 50 minutes until the meat is tender and the gravy is thickened.

4)  Remove from heat and serve with steamed rice.

Hope you like it and do give it a try.  If you do not have the lees, you can add some rice wine to it too.

If you are interested in any Red Glutinous Wine recipes, do have a look at the following links :

Sitiawan Ang Jiu Mee Suah 红糟面线 (Red Glutinous Wine Chicken Soup with Longevity Noodles) 

Braised Ang Zhao Chicken with Arrowhead (慈菇/ngaku)

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Natural Cure and Relief for Cough & Sore Throat

With the current heat wave and extreme hot weather in Malaysia, we are advised to reduce outdoor strenuous activities and stay indoor.  It is advisable to drink plenty of water to prevent any illnesses.  Besides water, any refreshing dessert is also recommended.  One of the desserts which I used to make for my family is Steamed Orange.  Besides refreshing and good for body heatiness, Steamed Orange is also a grandma home remedy for cough and sore throat which is quite well-known among the locals in Malaysia. It is delicious too!

For a start, you need a fresh orange.  I used Sunkist orange.  

 

Wash it thoroughly.

Cut off the top part of the orange.  Do not discard the top part.

Use a small knife to make a small hole enough for the salt.

 

Add 1/2 tsb of salt into the hole.  I used sea salt.

Cover the top part of the orange.  Use a toothpick to hold the orange together.  Place it in a small bowl.

Steam it for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the fire.  You will know that it is ready when the fragrant of the orange fills your kitchen.

The steamed orange is ready.

Look at the juice!  So tempting!

Eat the flesh and the juice.  You will love it!

 Serve this Steamed Orange to your family as a refreshing dessert.  You can serve it warm or chilled.  Refrigerate it if you like it chilled.

Hope you all like it.  Do give it a try!

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Spicy Onions Tomato Prawns

This is another simple prawns dish with onions and tomatoes.  Hope you all like it.

Ingredients :

- 750gm medium sized prawns (deveined and marinated with pepper and salt)

- 2 ripe tomatoes (washed and cut into wedges)

- 2 big onions (peeled, washed and sliced)

- 1 whole garlic (finely chopped)

- 1 thumb sized ginger (washed and crushed)

- 1 1/2 tbp cili paste (I used Homemade Chili Paste)

Seasonings : (to taste)

- salt

- pepper (for marinate)

- soy sauce

- sugar

- 1/2tsp apple cider vinegar

Method :

1)  Heat enough oil in a wok.  Lightly deep fry marinated prawns and set aside.

2)  Leave about 1 tbsp oil in the wok.  Saute ginger and garlic until aromatic.  

3)  Add onions and fry until soft.  

4)  Then add tomato wedges and chili paste.  Stir and mix well.

5)  Season with salt, soy sauce, sugar and apple cider vinegar depending on your taste.

6)  Return the fried prawns to the wok and mix well.

7) Serve hot with steamed rice.

Hope you enjoy this simple and yummy prawns :)

Have a nice day.... :)

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Steamed Chinese Pomfret with Fragrant Shallots

I love to steam fish with shallots.  So, usually I am the one and sometimes my hubby would finish all the shallots.  However, my children would not touch the shallots!  They only go for the fish and the sauce!  The sauce is great and my children like to mix it with steamed rice.

This is a very simple steamed fish with shallots and it's very yummy.

Ingredients :

- 1 Chinese Pomfret (marinated with salt and pepper)

- some shallots - (washed and peeled)

- 1thumb sized ginger (washed, finely sliced)

- Spring onions (washed and cut)

Seasonings : (to taste)

- salt

- pepper

- soy sauce

- 1tsp Chinese cooking wine (Hua Tiao Jiu)

- 1/2 tsp sugar

- 1/2 tsp sesame oil

Method :

1)  Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a wok.  Quickly fry shallots in high heat and dish out.  Turn off the heat. Put aside.

2)  Lightly fry the the ginger and spring onions without the heat as the balance oil from frying shallots is still hot.  Dish out.

3)  Boil water for steaming.

4)  Arrange some fried shallots, ginger and spring onions on the steaming plate.  Then, place the fish on top. 

5)  Add the remaining ingredients (fried shallots, ginger and spring onions) on top of the fish.  

6)  Mix the seasonings and pour onto the fish.

7) Steam at high heat for about 13 to 15 minutes depending on the fish.

8)  Serve immediately with steamed rice

The gravy is very yummy!

You might also like these simple steamed fish recipes:

Simple Steamed Chinese Pomfret with Soy Sauce

Steamed Chinese Pomfret (Tau Tai) with Shiitake Mushroom

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Healthy Aloe Vera and White Fungus Dessert

A very versatile plant, Aloe Vera, belonging to the lily family contains natural therapeutic and beautifying properties. Referred to as a ‘Miracle Plant’, Aloe Vera is widely used in the preparation of various herbal medicines, cosmetics and beauty products.

Aloe Vera comprises of more than seventy-five effective components, which includes the twenty amino acids and the eight essential amino acids indispensable for the human body. Besides these, they also contain certain enzymes effective for metabolic health, essential vitamins, minerals, poly-saccharides that render immune-stimulating properties along with its magical healing touch. The substances in Aloe Vera such as Salicylic Acid, Saponins and Sterols provide its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

(Adapted from Read and Digest).

Pls click Read and Digest to know more about the benefits of Aloe Vera and its uses.  

When my neighbour (also a good friend) gave me some Aloe Vera, I was in seventh heaven!  Immediately, I started cleaning and harvesting the aloe gel.  It is not an easy task to get the aloe gel if you are not familiar with the correct technique.  Unfortunately, I didn't capture any photos during the harvesting of the aloe gel as it's quite messy to do it all on my own.  

Steps to harvest the Aloe Gel :

1)  Clean the leaf thoroughly.  Then, cut away the serrated edges of both sides of the leaf.  Be careful , they are quite sharp!

2)  Using a sharp knife, run the knife just under the surface and peel it away.

3)  Flip the leave over and do the same to the other side.

4)  Transfer the aloe gel to a storage container with a lid.  Store it in the fridge or in the freezer.

Whenever you feel like preparing any recipe using aloe vera, you would have aloe gel ever ready waiting for you in the fridge!

Aloe Vera and White Fungus Dessert is a very healthy dessert as white fungus nourishes and moistens the lungs, as well as improves our skin complexion.

How to Prepare White Fungus:

1)  Rinse and soak the white fungus in cold water until it expand and soften. Rinse until clean.
2)  Trim and discard the hard bottom of the white fungus.

3)  Tear the florets into small pieces.  You can store the balance in the fridge or freezer for future use.

Recipe for Healthy Aloe Vera and White Fungus Dessert :

Ingredients :

- 1 cup of Aloe Vera gel (cubed)

- 1 cup of White Fungus (softened and torn into small pieces)

- Some red dates (washed)

- 1 tbsp Chinese Wolfberries/goji berries (washed)

- 1 pc sugar cane candy or sugar (to taste)

- Some pandan leaves/screwpine (washed and knotted) 

- water enough for the dessert

Method :

1)  Fill a medium sized pot with water enough for the dessert.

2)  Add white fungus and red dates.  Let it boil for about 15 minutes.

3)  Then, add aloe gel, Chinese Wolfberries and pandan leaves.  

4)  Continue to cook for about 5 to 10 minutes.

5) Add sugar.

6)  Serve hot or cold.

If you prefer cold, keep it in a fridge before serving.

A very healthy and nutritious dessert enjoy by all members of the family 

Do give it a try.  You would love it!

I'm linking this post to September 2013 Cooking With Herbs Blog Challenge hosted by Lavender and Lovage.

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