Mi Laksa Goreng Ala Thai (2) - (Fried noodle laksa with Tom Yum paste )

Came back from my USA and Canada tour just a few days ago. After 2 weeks of western cuisine, you have no idea how much I have been craving for spicy food.
Still feeling the effects of time jag, I felt rather lazy so I decided to cook this tom yam paste noodles with prawns since I have some prawns freezing in the fridge and also it is very easy to prepare.. Actually this is a revised version from my older post.

Recipe: Serves 5 to 6 persons

Ingredients:
600g laksa noodle
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 shallots, chopped
15 shelled medium size prawns
1 piece of fish cake, sliced
10 fish balls, cut into half
2 eggs, beaten
100g bean sprouts
some shredded lime leaves

Seasoning:
2 to 2.5 tablespoon Tom Yum paste ( I used  hollyFARMS brand)
2 teaspoon lime juice
2 teaspoon fish sauce
2 teaspoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
Dash of white pepper
1 cup water

Method:
1)  Heat up oil, saute chopped garlic and shallot until fragrant.  Add in prawns, fish ball, fish cake, and beaten egg, stir-fry for few minutes till the raw ingredients are  just cooked.

2)Add in laksa noodle, seasoning and stir-fry for few minutes.  Pour in water and continue to stir fry till the gravy has absorbed by the noodle. Add in bean-sprouts, mix well,  Dish up onto a serving plate, sprinkle with shredded kafir lime leaves, serve.

Garam Masala Chicken

This is my third attempt at cooking masala chicken.  I've always had a liking for Indian curry and am constantly on the lookout for authentic recipes. Ideally, they should taste like what my family has at our favourite Indian restaurant - Shari Maharani in Raffles City. 

The other day I passed by a newly open Indian grocery shop in my neighbourhood. The lady boss strongly introduced and recommend me the House Brand garam masala powder mix. Though still not the standard I want, it's the closest yet and I am quite happy with the end products.

Recipe:

Ingredients A:

1 medium size chicken (about 1.2 kg), cut into about 20 to 22 pieces

80 g garam masala powder

1  large onions, chopped

2 tomatoes, cut into small cubes

4 red chilli, cut into half

50 g ginger paste

50 g garlic paste

500 ml water

100 ml plain yoghurt

50 ml lime juice 

salt to taste

 Ingredients B:

 150 ml ghee or cooking oil

1 stick cinnamon

3 cloves

3 cardamom

2 star anise

1 piece bay leaf

Garnishing:

2 stalks coriander leaves, chopped

4 strands curry leaves, chopped

Method:

1) Heat oil in a wok or large pan, and add  ingredients B for stir-frying.   Fry for 1 minutes.  Add in onion and saute the mixture until onion turns brown.

2) Add tomato, chilli and continue to fry till the tomato is soft.

3)  Add ginger paste follow by garlic paste and cook for 1 minute over medium heat.  Add chicken and stir-fry and mix well. Cover the lid and cook for few minutes. over low heat.

4) Add in the Garam Masala Powder, follow by yoghurt.  Mix well till the spices are blended with the chicken.

5)  Add water, cover and cook over low heat till the meat is tender. Keep stirring occasionally.

6)  Add lime juice, salt, chopped coriander and curry leaves.  Stir the thick garam masala gravy slowly till chicken is well coated with the mixture.  Serve with rice.

Braised Winter Melon with Dried Scallop

I have forgotten to soak the dried scallops earlier and was also in the hurry so did not cook them well... else, you would see them in tiny shreds.

Most of the time I use winter melon to make soup or dessert.  This time I gave it a change. I had a bowl of chicken stock which I collected from my steamed chicken last week. Thinking of how to use it before I go for my long holiday this Friday.

I have seen this recipe before, but I have never tried cooking it... Decided to give it a try today since I have all the ingredients ready.

I liked the final dish because the taste consists of a heavy chicken stock yet with a light hint of winter melon. As it is boiled, this is a really healthy dish and will suit all ages.

Recipe:

Ingredients: 
- 1 big rim of winter melon
- Some dried scallop  (soaked in water, drained)
- Chicken stock (one bowl)
- Salt to taste
- Dash of pepper
- 1 tablespoon of goji berry also known as wolf berry, washed and drained
- Some corn flour for thickening the sauce

Method:
1) Wash winter melon, discard seeds, with skin on, cut into pieces as the picture shown below. Do not slice through completely.
2) In a pot, cook winter melon, chicken stock and dried scallop together (cover lid) over low heat for 10- 15 minutes until melon is soft.
3) Dish up winter melon on a serving plate.
4) Add salt to the sauce to taste. Add corn starch water to thicken. Then throw in wolfberries. Pour the sauce over the winter melon. Serve.

Oops...forget to cook the dried scallop together.