Half boiled eggs on toast   Soft, runny, comfort food with a hint of crunch! Half boiled eggs for breakfast with the perfect slice of toast is how I like to eat my breakfast on a lazy day. This is also a very popular breakfast dish amongst Malaysians besides the usual laksa or nasi lemak, which I consider a tad too heavy to have for breakfast. As your body has had a good 8 hour rest the night before, it would be wise to eat something more Read More

Indonesian Salad (Gado Gado)   Gado Gado has simply got to be one of Indonesia’s best contribution to the culinary world. This superior-tasting dish is a combination of simple ingredients put together in a simple manner, yet yielding extraordinarily wonderful results. Gado gado consists of an assortment of lightly blanched vegetables such as cabbage, ‘kang kung’ (Water Spinach), bean sprouts, string beans, boiled potatoes, lightly fried tofu, peeled and sliced boiled eggs, fresh cucumbers and lettuce, tofu, tempeh (an Indonesian traditional fermented soy product with Read More

Nyonya Curry Vegetables (Vegetable Masak Lemak) I’ve always been fascinated by the infusion of different cultures in Nyonya dishes. Somehow, the marriage of Malay and Chinese cooking never seems to go wrong, and every Nyonya dish I try only makes that statement more and more true. This dish is a typical nyonya style of cooking- masak lemak. It makes use of the rich, creamy properties of coconut milk, creating a gravy that is concentrated with the flavours of the accompanying ingredients and making it one hell Read More

Soy Bean Drink   All hail the mighty soy beans! Those tiny things presents us with a whole load of yummy delights- tofu, soy bean curd and of course, soymilk!  The vision of it, encased in a tall, frosty glass on a hot, hot day in all its chilled glory...ahh, bliss. The shared love a huge number of the human population has for this drink has resulted in it being commercially available practically everywhere. In Malaysia, you can get it at markets, at the Read More

Onde Onde   Picture and recipe courtesy of Adeline Lim and Melissa Poh from  www.adesweetie.blogspot.com ,   you can also find them on www.facebook.com/brushesNcream   If there’s one dish that resembles a surprise, this has to be it. Pop one of these unassuming-looking stuff into your mouth and sink your teeth into their chewy texture, and I can guarantee what happens next is bound to bring about a delighted grin. Onde onde, a popular Nyonya ‘kuih’ or cake in Malaysia, are small, rounded balls made of sweet Read More

Creamy Mushroom Soup   I guess we all are familiar with the creamy white mushroom soup that comes out from a can. Mushroom soup at its easiest, just add some water, supply some heat and voila you get a bowl of thick cream of mushroom! I agree the taste of this mushroom soup is quite hard to replicate, and as it is one that practically every household has had a taste of, this soup has set the bar for how home cooked mushroom soup Read More

Green Tea Panna Cotta   Recipe and photo courtesy of my friend and fellow food scientist,  Brenda Sim This definitely has to be one of my favourite desserts. Panna Cotta, a popular Italian dessert with an Asian twist - Green tea! In its most simplest form, panna cotta is made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar before mixing them with some gelatin and allowing it to cool until set. From this basic recipe, numerous modifications has been made to produce different varieties of panna cotta, Read More

Thai Glasssnoodle Salad (Yum Woon Sen)   Whether it’s during summer or just a random hot day, nothing beats the refreshing chillness of cold salad. Just for that moment, you get to savour the difference between the temperature of the heat surrounding you and the coolness of the lip-smacking salad making its way down your throat. Contrasting with that we’ve got the little spicy surprise in the midst of all the cool ingredients, making it a summer must-have! One ingredient in this salad that needs some attention is Read More

Malaysian Pulled Tea Drink (Teh Tarik)   The ultimate Malaysian drink has definitely got to be ‘teh tarik’! ‘Teh tarik’, literally meaning ‘pulled tea’ is actually an Indian method of making milk tea that has become a must-have for most Malaysians and tourists visiting the country alike. This simple combination of powdered black tea and condensed milk has its flavours elevated to unimaginable levels because of the method making this drink. This involves pouring the tea back and forth repeatedly between two separate vessels from a height. As Read More

Hainanese Chicken Rice   Whether it’s fried chicken with rice, steamed chicken with rice or roasted chicken with rice, they’re still called the same thing-Chicken rice. I daresay this is one dish everyone would be familiar with, right from its fragrant rice, it’s eye-catching arrangement of chicken meat, the thin slices of cool cucumber, the accompanying red chilli sauce and the dash of thick caramelized dark soy sauce. Just like how caviar is considered royalty among all things made from fish egg, I would say Read More

Thai Spicy Prawn Soup (Tom Yam Goong)   I think I’ve mentioned this once before, and I can’t help mentioning it again. I absolutely love it when good food doubles up as cures for ailments. Especially when it’s something that tastes as good as this, I can’t refrain from smiling gleefully even while bidding my cold to just miraculously disappear. It is said that tom yum soup is an effective remedy for cold and flu, and I guess u do know why. This sour and spicy soup, a Read More

Tomato and egg sandwich   Sticking to my attempts at making healthy breakfasts, I am using wholemeal bread instead of white bread for this sandwich. The nutty, grainy brown bread is made with whole grain which has a 100% extraction rate, meaning nothing is removed from the grain during milling. Hence, they contain the endosperm and the bran which has more nutrients and minerals unlike the refined white flour that is used to make white bread. Wholemeal bread possess a whole load of energy-giving complex Read More

Chicken Teriyaki Sushi   If there’s one thing I admire about Japanese food (besides their exceptional taste), it has to be their beautiful presentation. It makes me want to take a minute and appreciate their delicate arrangements before I proceed to savouring their delicious flavours. Really, that’s the only way to do them justice. Thanks to my fascination of beautifully prepared sushi in Japanese restaurants, I have made it my goal to do the same with my homemade teriyaki chicken sushi- beautifully presented, excellently Read More

Soy Bean Custard ( Tau Fu Fa)     As a self-professed tofu lover, I have a deep attachment to all things made from soy beans, and this Chinese dessert is no exception. ‘Tau Fu Fa’, also known as soy custard or silken tofu pudding is a silky-smooth Chinese dessert that seems to glide effortlessly down your throat. Some like it hot, some like it cold, and there are quite a few different ways to enjoy this dessert.  The process of making the tau fu fa is almost similar to Read More

Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls   This dish has quite a number of names-Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Salad Rolls, Vietnamese Summer Rolls. They’re all the same, and they conjure up quite a similar mental picture to me-fresh, cold rolls wrapped in delicate transparent paper rolls, allowing you to get a sneaky peek into the ingredients encased inside them. Quite the perfect appetizer for a warm weathered day, don’t you think? Well, that’s exactly what this is. Minced pieces of boiled pork, fresh green coriander or chives- Read More

Black Rice Pudding   This is a dish that has made its presence in quite a few places in Southeast Asia, and in each place they are prepared accordingly to suite the locals’ taste buds. Being a familiar sight in countries such as Indonesia, China, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, this dish definitely has a truly Asian taste. ‘Bubur Nasi Hitam’, or Black Rice Pudding is a deep purple dessert with a porridge-like consistency, drizzled carelessly with swirls of coconut milk. This contrasts with the deep Read More

Herbal Chicken Soup   A bowl of piping hot herbal chicken soup never fails to evoke memories from my childhood. During my school days in Australia, there were times where I would sneeze my way through the day, and it was during days like these that I would remember that delightful pot of the herbal concoction made for me when I was still living in Malaysia.   Chicken is normally cooked with the Chinese herbs as they are believed to enhance the efficacy of these herbs Read More

Potato and Carrot Soup   My husband loves soup, and he always says that a meal is incomplete without a bowl of it. I definitely agree with him. Nothing compares to this delightful tasting liquid sliding down your throat before you dig in to your next dish from the Lazy Susan. Back during my younger days, I used to think that soup was made with just soy sauce and water, and I was almost right! It took me some more time before I realized that Read More

Sweet Potato and Yam Pudding (Bubur Cha Cha)     As a kid, I used to be in awe of this dish-firstly due to its very attractive appearance, and secondly because the ‘cha cha’ in the name of this dish never failed to tickle my funny bone. I always knew that ‘bubur’ was the Malay word for porridge or congee, but it was a lot later that I found out the ‘cha cha’ was actually in reference to the Hokkien word ‘che che’ which means ‘abundance’. It is a dessert Read More

Malaysian Coconut Rice (Nasi Lemak)   If you’ve never heard of ‘nasi lemak’, you’re either not from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia, or you are from one of these countries but you’ve been living under a rock all your life. ‘Nasi Lemak’, a traditional Malay dish that serves as the much-loved national dish of Malaysia basically consists of coconut milk infused rice served with an assortment of crunchy, fried dried anchovies, slices of cool cucumber, a handful of roasted peanuts, a half-boiled egg and a Read More

Barley, Lemon and Coconut Drink   So the sun is out and its time to head to the beach, for people living in the Northern region. What better way to quench your thirst than to drink this easy crowd pleasing drink while tucking into those spicy food.  To the person who invented this drink - SALUTE! I first tried this drink at a hawker stall in my hometown in Kuching. I remembered the man introducing this drink to me and I ended up ordering up to 5 Read More

Indonesian Vegetables in Coconut Curry (Sayur Lodeh)   Now, I’ll agree that it’s not always easy to eat vegetables. Personally, I’ve never really had much trouble with them as I loved my greens, even as a kid. But I guess there must be a reason why most kids end up with a tear-stricken face when they spot anything resembling vegetables on their plates. So here’s one of many ways to make vegetables perfectly delightful. Sayur lodeh is a popular Indonesian dish that has been given a very warm welcome Read More

Flat Noodle Soup (Kueh Teow Soup) Whenever I’m in need of some warmth and nourishment, this is the dish I crave for. A bowl of flat rice noodles in piping hot soup, flavoured by a myriad of ingredients- now that spells comfort food like nothing else. ‘Kueh Teow’, with its smooth-slipperiness and that perfect amount of chewiness, coupled with their almost translucent appearance..how can you say no to a dish with them in it? I always prefer using the fresh noodles as they have a much better Read More

Sweet Green Bean Pearl Dessert (Lek Tau Suan)   If you’re looking for the perfect dessert- sweet, yet not too sweet, thick, yet not too gooey, delicious- well, very delicious, cease your search immediately for you have found it! Lek Tau Suan, Hokkien for ‘Green Bean Pearl Dessert’, is one that would definitely satisfy your craving for mouth-watering desserts. They present quite a unique sight- small, whole split mung beans suspended almost magically in a clear, thick liquid with a consistency similar to that of porridge- perhaps not something Read More

Easy Prawn Noodles   Queuing up at hawker stalls tend to alter my appetite. Sure, I’m ravenous and salivating upon arriving at the hawker stall, but the long queue always takes it toll on me, and by the time it’s finally my turn, I’m just so hungry I couldn’t be bothered about the taste of the food any longer. This is the main reason I consider indulging in a delicious meal at the comfort of my own home a luxury. I wouldn’t say I’m Read More

Kolo Mee   Being a very patriotic Sarawakian, I was once asked to justify my love for this state. One of my reasons? The culinary awesomeness in Sarawak, of which the kolo mee reigns on the top of the list. This delightful combination of flash-boiled noodles, served with some crushed garlic and shallots, delightfully minced pork and shreds of sweet, succulent pork. Guaranteed to satisfy just about anyone’s noodle cravings. The secret to amazing kolo mee lies in the use of pork lard. I Read More

Salted Vegetable Soup   Salted vegetables are definitely an acquired taste. Popular among the Chinese, salted vegetables can liven up any bland meal. In China, the vegetables are always pickled if they are available in excess so that they will be able to grace dinner tables when needed. Usually, Chinese cabbage or Chinese mustard is used for the pickling. They are typically pickled with salt and brine, before being allowed to ferment with the help of Lactic acid bacteria. Sometimes, chillies are added to Read More

Stewed Beef Brisket in Claypot   A mere whiff of the enticing aroma of this dish is enough to transport me to Hong Kong, the birthplace of this Cantonese dish. ‘Ngau Lam’ has never disappeared from my priority list of ‘must-have-foods’ when in Hong Kong, and if I happen to have this dish anywhere else, my mind is instantly flooded with taste bud-tingling memories of savouring its rich flavours by the busy streets of Hong Kong.  This dish is an example of how cheap ingredients can be Read More

Asian Roasted Chicken   Bali has always been captivating in my eyes with their exotic smells, sights and flavours. It’s hard not to be mesmerised by all these, and I was quite in awe during my time there. Bali also served as inspiration for today’s dish, a little something I thought of during my trip to the island over Chinese New Year, where I was given an insight to traditional Balinese cuisine by the chef in our villa. Once I found out the key Read More

Pandan jam (Kaya)   What do you get when you combine eggs, sugar, coconut milk, flavoured with pandan? Oh nothing much really...just the most delicious, mouth-watering pandan jam ever created in this planet. Really. Known as ‘Kaya’ here in Malaysia, this thick and glossy spread is a must-have in most Malaysian households. ‘Kaya’ literally means ‘rich’ in Malay, and this word perfectly describes the taste of this spread. They have a rich, sweet flavour that accompanies distinct hints of coconut milk and eggs. There are Read More

Black Pepper Chicken   Sometimes, the most satisfying dishes are made using the most simple ingredients. The ingredients of this soup come from humble backgrounds, and are ingredients easily available to everyone- rich or poor. Black pepper, spring chicken and water- you can’t go any more basic than that. This combination of ingredients provides you with a nutritious soup that has healing properties as well. Whole black peppercorns are used in this dish. One interesting fact about pepper that you might not know is that Read More

Vietnamese Beef Pho   What’s not to love about Beef Pho? From its rich, clear broth that’s concentrated in amazing flavours to the presence of fresh, aromatic herbs and the silky smooth rice noodles that practically glides down your throat effortlessly, this dish is a true winner. Hence, one should be equipped with a fantastic recipe to satisfy sudden Beef Pho cravings. The broth is undoubtedly the star of this dish. A slow cooker is usually used to boil the beef bones. The bones are Read More

Long Life Noodles (Mee Sua) With Chinese New Year around the corner, the Chinese are ready prepping their house to usher in the new year. Boxes of goodies such as biscuits, cakes and prawn crackers (keropok) are sure to be piling up in the pantry area, ready to serve visitors during this festive season. We are definitely preparing to welcome the year of the Snake with open arms...hisss! What I remember of Chinese New Year is an abundance of the colour red which symbolizes good fortune Read More

Stewed Nyonya Pork (Babi Chin)   Pork belly is one of my favourite cuts of meat. The flavours associated with them are tremendous, and they especially stand out in this Nyonya dish. A stewed dish of pork, preserved soy beans and fresh coriander roots, ‘Babi Chin’ is a pot of delight oozing with intense flavours. The key to this dish is- you guessed it, the cut of meat used! Pork belly is a must, and is what makes this dish live up to their sinful goodness. Stewing Read More

Page 1 of 4 (34): << First < Prev . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . Next > Last >>