Time’s up! Answer is now revealed. It’s Spicy Okra with Prawns . Typical dish that mom makes at home. This is so delicious that you can eat on its own or just with a bowl of white rice. Don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen? Let’s get this excuse off your list as it takes less than 15 minutes to prepare this simple delicious dish. Happy Cooking!

 

Ingredients:
125g Okra (sliced diagonally)
200g Prawns
some oil
salt to season

Chili paste:
1 clove of garlic
2cm of ginger
1 medium hot red chili
1 shallot (use 2 if they are small)
1 tsp lime juice

 

Method:
1. To make chili paste, put all the ingredients into a food processor or use pestel and mortar. Add the lime juice when it becomes a paste. Give it a good stir and set aside.
2. Heat up a wok or frying pan with some oil.
3. Put in the chili paste and fry until fragrant under medium heat.
4. Add the prawns. Stir.
5. When the prawns start to turn pink/orange, add the okra and give it a good stir.
6. The texture of okra is a bit slimy. In order to avoid the dish being too dry, just add a bit of water to have some sauce.
7. Season with some salt. It take around 7-8 minutes to turn the okra soft.
8. Dish up and serve with boiled rice.

…… she looked at the clock and dragged herself up immediately from the comfy sofa. She slowly picked up her speed running towards the kitchen with the thought that it was the chance not to be missed. Without much effort, she was tip-toeing into the kitchen. Instantly, a pungent smell travelled through the nostril and caused her sneezed a few times.

 

She walked near to her mom and asked, “What are you making tonight, mom?” She replied in a motherly voice with a grin while grinding some ingredients in a much professional way, “It’s something that you love.”

 

She giggled and clapped. She knew what it was going to be. A slight pause, she then continued, “Is that all?” “Of course not, there are another 2 dishes. But, I am preparing one of your favourites first.” A sudden warmth filled her heart and smile brightened up her face. She jumped, attempting to give her mom a big hug.

 

“Knock…knock..” It sounded like someone was knocking on the door. The fading noise became louder in seconds. “Wakey! Wakey!” Ahhh… was it a dream? No, it wasn’t. I just fell into a deep thought (again!) while thinking through what I wanted to post. It was one of the scenes back in many many years ago, but still plays vividly in my mind.

 

So, pungent smell, huh? Something gotta do with Chilies, no doubt about it. The title tells you a bit about it too! What is it? Tell me! Tell me!

 

Well, below are some of the major ingredients… 1,2,3…. have a guess?

 

她看了牆上挂着的老爷钟， 很快的从那舒服沙发站了起来, 往着厨房的方向跑。心想，这是一个不可錯过的机会！轻轻的脚步，带她走进了厨房。一阵的辣味刺激了鼻子使到她打喷嚏。

她走近她母亲身旁，就问，”妳今晚煮什么？”她母亲微笑着回答，”妳喜欢的。”

她嘲笑着，拍了拍手。她知道将会是什么。稍停的，她继续，”就这个？”"当然不是啦，还有两道菜。不过，我先准备妳爱吃的。”心暖了，满脸微笑的。她跳了起来，想给她母亲一抱。

好像听到敲门声。那声音越来越响亮。”醒一醒！”啊！是一场梦吗？不是啊。我又走进了深思路，想着该写些什么。那情景是很多年已前了。就还是那么清楚。

那一阵的辣味吗，应该是辣椒吧！是什么吗？告诉我啊！

照片中是一些菜料，猜一猜！

Whenever I miss home, I start to crack my brain thinking of all the dishes that mom makes at home. There are so many great dishes that she makes at home that I would like to sample them all, but this is gonna take me a while to cook so many of her great dishes. Eventually, I am gonna have a great collection of all the dishes that she has been making.

 

This dish is very simple and it goes well with boiled rice. So, what is it? It’s deep-fried fish in salted soya bean sauce. My mom usually uses either red or grey snapper fillet. Any kind of white fish with firm flesh will be suitable to make this make dish. I used whole seabass. Let’s start cooking!

 

You need:
1 Seabass or any other kind of white fish, either in whole or fillets

1 tbsp of plain flour for dusting

some sunflower oil for deep frying

1 clove of garlic (chopped)

2 stalks of spring onions (all cut into about 4cm length)

1 red chili (cut into long thin strips)

1.5 cm of ginger (cut into long thin strips)

2 tsp of salted soya bean

0.5 tbsp of corn flour (mix with about 2tbsp of water) - this is use to thicken the sauce

30ml of water

 

Method:

1. Fill your pan or wok with sunflower oil just enough to cover the whole fish for deep-frying.

2. Dust both sides of the fish with some flour.

3. It should take roughly 15- 20 minutes to deep-fry the fish (depending on the size).

4. Once both sides of the fish are near to golden brown, take it out and place it on a plate with kitchen towel and set aside.

5 . In a new pan, heat it up with some oil.

6. Put in the chopped garlic, ginger and chilies. Cook them until fragant.

7. Add in the salted soya bean. Make sure all the ingredients are well mixed.

8. Pour in the water to make the sauce.

9. Add in the spring onions. Stir well.

10. Bring the sauce to boil and thicken the sauce with the corn flour mixture.

11. Give the sauce a good stir and when it has come to a boil, put in the fish and coat it with the sauce. Cook for another 5 minutes to warm the fish up.

12. Finally, it’s ready to be served.

 

Enjoy this with a warm bowl of boiled rice.

If you a fan of duck, I will make your day today as I am gonna feature our ALL TIME FAVOURITE - Five-Spice & Orange Duck. Never does this dish fail to satisfy our hunger.

 

Often, over complicate a dish is a big no-no, simple and good quality of the main ingredient itself is the centre of attention. Like this dish, I use very simple marinate but I make sure that I spend a little more for 2 good pieces of duck breasts.I usually like to marinate meats a few hours before cooking or even overnight sometimes! This allows the marinate to work its magic in making a wonderful and impeccable dish.

 

I remember when I was young, duck was only served during special occasion. It’s not a dish that my mom makes on a frequent manner like chicken. I guess that’s why duck seems to be a very special dish when it’s served. In Chinese cooking, Roast duck, Peking duck and Crispy duck are the famous ones that no one will miss when visiting a Chinese restaurant.

 

But, today, let’s bring this special dish - Five-Spice & Orange Duck to your kitchen, shall we?

 

You need:

2 pieces of good quality duck breasts

1 cinnamon stick

2 star anise

2cm of ginger (sliced)

4-5 cloved of garlic (slightly crushed and leave the skins on)

3 stalks of spring onion (cut into about 4-5cm)

some orange zests

2-3 tbsps of orange juice

4-5 tbsps of dark soya sauce

4-5 tbsps of soya sauce

pinch of sugar

1 tsp of white pepper

2 tsp of Chinese rice wine

2 tsp of Five-Spice powder

 

Method:

1. Wash and use kitchen towel to pad dry the duck breasts.

2. Place the duck breasts in a big bowl and put in all the above mentioned ingredients and seasonings.

3. Mix all the ingredients well.

4. Cover the bowl with cling film and put into the fridge to marinate for a few hours.

5. Once the duck breasts have been marinated for a few hours, heat a pan and make sure it’s hot enough to sear the duck breasts.

6. Always skin side down.

7. Meanwhile, turn on the oven at 180 celcius - 200 celcius.

8. Cook the skin side for about 8-10 minutes. Then turn the other side and cook for about 5-10.

9. Once both side are seared, put the duck breasts into the pre-heated oven and cook for about 25 minutes depending if you’d like to have the meats slightly medium cooked. If you prefer them to be cooked well done, leave in the oven slightly longer.

10. Check the duck breasts from time to time and and brush the marinate on each side to keep them moist and to have nice golden brown colour.

11. Once the breasts are cooked, slice the breasts thinly and serve on the plate with its juice.

 

Enjoy cooking & Bon appetit! Tell me what do you think after you have tired this!