Recipes Articles for the Month of May 2024

Serves 4

1. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet. Add garlic and chilli and saute until fragrant.
2. Add pork mince, breaking it up into small pieces in the wok. Saute until almost cooked.
3. Add in oyster sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce and sugar. Mix well until the pork is well coated in the sauce and cooked through.
4. Take of the heat and add in Thai basil leaves. Mix through to wilt then serve with steamed jasmine rice and a fried egg.

Makes 20 Fritters

Prep Time: 5mins plus 30mins waiting time

Cook Time: 30mins

Total Time: 50mins plus 35mins waiting time

1. Add AP flour, rice flour, sesame seeds, coconut, baking powder and sugar to a medium sized bowl. Mix until well combined. Add water and mix to form a batter. Set aside for 30mins.

2. Peel bananas and split in half, lengthways. Sit each piece of banana flat side down, then flatten the curved side with the blade of a cleaver or large knife.

3. Heat oil in a wok or large pot on medium heat. The oil is ready when a bamboo chopstick/wooden spoon starts bubbling when placed in the hot oil.

4. Prepare and cook fritters in batches. Dip bananas, one at a time, into the batter to coat then carefully slide into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the oil. Cook until lightly golden, turning occasionally when needed. Drain on a wire rack and repeat with remaining bananas.

5. Turn up the heat on the oil and re-fry the fritters. You can crowd the oil in the second fry. Fry until golden and crunchy. Rest on a wire rack.

6. Serve fritters on their own, with a side of ice cream, coconut butterscotch sauce, or all of the above!

Making your instant soup

1. Boil a big pot of water on the stove

2. Add in seasoning paste of your choice

3. Season to taste with fish sauce (or salt), chicken boulion powder and sugar

Prep your vegetables 

1. Wash all your vegetables and place in a larger colander or on a serving platter

Making your sauce

1. The options are endless. I like adding hoisin sauce, sesame oil, topped up with chopped garlic, coriander and chilli in mine

2. My family uses a premade bottle of sukiyaki sauce 

Setting up everything else

1.Place all other ingredients into bowls or on serving platters 

2. Set up your gas/electric portable stove. 

3. In a hot pot pot, add in your soup and bring to boil

3. Gather your friends and family around and enjoy (remember ingredients like beef, pork, lamb and chicken slices cook much quicker than others)

* The ingredient measurements will vary depending on how many people are eating. This is just a rough guide. 

Serves 4-6

1. Add rice to a large bowl and fill with tap water. Leave to soak overnight.
2. The next day, drain and rinse the rice under cold running water. Line a steamer basket with baking paper then fill with drained rice. Steam for 30 mins.
3. Meanwhile, add coconut milk, white sugar, palm sugar and salt into a small pot. Tie the pandan leaf into a knot and add to the pot. Heat to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat. Remove and discard the pandan leaf.
4. Transfer the cooked rice into a large bowl and pour in ¼ to ½ of the coconut sauce. Mix until everything is well combined then set aside for about an hour for the coconut milk to absorb into the rice. Set aside the remaining coconut sauce to serve just after plating.
5. To serve, spoon a mound of sticky rice onto each serving plate. Place one durian segment next to each mound. Drizzle on coconut sauce and garnish with toasted sesame seeds.

Serves 1

Method:

1. Pour one tablespoon of oil into a hot pan.Add in chicken and season with salt and pepper (or fish sauce/soy sauce)
2. Once cooked, add water, alongside the noodles + noodle seasonings and fish balls
3. For extra creaminess, stir in coconut cream and mozzarella cheese (optional) and let the water cook down to a thick/creamier texture. 
4. At the desired consistency, turn off the heat and top off with soft boiled eggs, crispy fried shallots and fresh spring onions.

Makes 12 large buns

For the Taro Paste Filling

1. Cut taro halves in half then slice into 5mm thick slices.
2. Place taro into a large steamer basket then steam over rapidly boiling water for 30mins or until cooked.
3. Add cooked taro into a food processor, along with coconut milk/cream, sugar and a drop of ube flavouring. Blitz until smooth.
4. Transfer taro puree to a large non-stick pan.
5. Cook taro puree on medium heat. Steam will be released as the water evaporates from the puree. Keeping moving the puree around in the pan with a spatula to prevent any dark spots from forming. Continue doing this until your puree turns into a paste.
6. Take off the heat and allow to cool completely. You can make the paste ahead of time and chill in the fridge. The paste will set further on cooling.

For the Buns

1. Add sugar, yeast and water to a bowl and mix. Leave for 10mins.
2. Add flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the centre and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on speed 1 for 10mins. If you don’t have a stand mixer, knead with your hands until the dough is smooth.
3. Form the dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl and cover with cling film. Set aside for 90mins.
4. Mix baking powder and water together in a small bowl. Set aside.
5. After 90min, transfer your dough to a work surface. Roll out into a large rectangle. Pour baking powder mix onto the dough. Fold the dough over the liquid and gently knead until the dough feels smooth (about 2 mins). Divide your dough into 12 equal parts. Form into balls then cover with cling film and allow to rest for 10mins.
6. Divide your prepared taro paste into 12 equal parts and form into balls.
7. Roll out your ball of dough and place a ball of filling in the centre. Gather the dough around the taro filling and pinch together to seal at the top. Place on a square of baking paper and into a steamer basket. Repeat until all 12 buns are made.
8. Add a splash of vinegar into a pot of water and bring to the boil. Lightly mist your buns with water (optional) then steam for 10mins. After 10mins, turn off the heat but DO NOT OPEN THE LID. Leave steamer undisturbed for 3mins before opening the lid.

Serve hot.