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Food

Red Braised Pork (红烧肉)

红烧肉 (Hong Shao Rou) is a very famous Chinese dish. It is usually cooked for special occasions and always a crowd pleaser. Using belly pork, this dish has slight variations throughout Asia. Here’s my version of the infamous Red Braised Pork and it is definitely one that my family enjoys! Ingredients (serves 4) Pork Belly 800g 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp light soy sauce 3 tbsp dark soy sauce…

Food

Chinese Herbal Paper Wrapped Chicken 纸包鸡 (Zi Bao Ji)

Paper Wrapped Chicken is a dish much loved by the Chinese. This method of cooking is a sure way to ensure the meat is moist and beautifully tender. There are many different styles and ingredients. Today, I have chosen to use Chinese Herbs or Chinese Tonics, these are often used to nourish the body. The most well known ingredient is probably Dang Gui 當歸 (Angelica Root). I love the smell…

Food

Silky Egg Rice Noodle (Wat Tan Hor) 滑蛋河

This is one of those dishes that really reminds me of home and a good hawker stall. Fond memories of warmth and family as we share a fresh Wat Tan Hor, the smell of that delicious noodle and burning wok, and the clanging of the wok as the chef cooks, ah bliss. I can almost feel the humidity of the nights in Asia. Wat Tan Hor 滑蛋河 is made from…

Food

Wanton Noodle Soup

Wanton Mee or Wanton Noodles are very popular in South East Asia and I would say it is one of the most popular noodles. You can either make Wanton Noodles dry or in a soup. I like both – simply cannot decide. The wanton dumplings are very easy to make and you can either fry them or cook them with the broth. I sometimes add Char Siu pork to my…

Food

Braised Pork Knuckle Rice Noodles 豬腳麵線

In Taiwan, this is a very popular dish. Taiwanese would usually eat Pork Knuckle Noodles for Lunar New Year and birthdays, but as well as when you have misfortune and need to get some good fortune back. Pork Knuckle Noodles is the symbol of ironing out bad luck and bringing good fortune. This dish also has many healthy benefits such as the abundance of collagen in those trotters! In Asia,…

Food

Claypot Rice 砂锅饭 (Sha Po Fan) or 煲仔飯 (Bow Zai Fan)

Another of my childhood favourite. This however, is a version in a London home kitchen without the claypot! The principle is the same and the taste is almost as authentic, very close I must say. This is a very popular Chinese rice casserole dish in Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Southern China mainly. It’s a one pot wonder as long as you prepare everything in advance. There are a few…

Food

Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage (腊肠炒饭)

Chinese Sausage or Lap Cheong (腊肠) are cured smoked and sweet sausages made with pork seasoned with soy sauce, rose water and rice wine originally from China. You can get them from Chinatown quite easily and one of my favourite brands is Wing Wah from Hong Kong. This is one of the under 15 minutes meal I love to cook and my boys love. They can never get enough of…

Food

Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is a special recipe passed down from my father. My cousin sister uses the exact recipe passed down by her mother. So, it’s fair to say this is our family’s recipe passed down from my grandmother. I have changed it a little only because I like to make sure the chicken is fully cooked, though still moist and tender. Ingredients (serves 6) 1 large whole chicken (Organic ideally) A…

Food

Cantonese Roast Duck

This is one of our family’s favourites. My boys love my Cantonese roast duck. I usually prepare it the night before so the duck is marinated for at least 24 hours. There are many recipes out there, but I find that this is one of the easy ones and it’s of course tried, tested, tweaked and tasted. Ingredients (serves 6) 1 duck 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1…