Tasty Beancurd With Tangy Chilli Dip

Tasty Beancurd With Tangy Chilli Dip

Recipe source :  Amy Beh

For this deep-fried beancurd, it is better to use the semi-soft type of tofu. In Cantonese it is known as 'tau yoon'.  It tastes better. However, you can still use firm tofu if the semi-soft type is not available. The coating of salt, pepper and cornflour makes the exterior fragrant and crusty while the inside is still soft.

I serve this as a vegetarian dish. It is rich in protein.
This can be eaten as a snack at teatime or just anytime!

Ingredients

3 pieces semi-soft tofu, cut into rectangular pieces
A dash of pepper and salt
A dash of black pepper
Some cornflour for coating
Oil for deep frying

Tangy Chilli Sauce

2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce
1 tbsp Thai chilli sauce
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 tsp chopped chilli padi
1 tbsp sugar, or to taste
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds (optional )

Mix everything together and pour into a small bowl.

Method

1.  Wrap tofu with several layers of kitchen towels. Set aside for 10 to 15 minutes. Pat dry to remove liquid. Cut into 6 rectangular pieces. Pat dry again with paper towels.
2.  Sprinkle salt, pepper and black pepper on the tofu pieces. Sprinkle some cornflour to coat them.
3.  Deep fry in hot oil. Drain on paper towels.
4.  Arrange on serving plate and serve with tangy chilli dip.

Eggplant & Minced Meat With Oyster Sauce 茄子蛇豆炒蚝油

Eggplant & Minced Meat With Oyster Sauce 茄子蛇豆炒蚝油

Recipe source :  Maggi's advertising from Pearl Magazine

I was a bit surprised when my on-line search for autumn produce indicated eggplant as one of the vegetables harvested in autumn. For me, living in the tropics, we get eggplant throughout the year and hence take it for granted and do not give it another thought! 

This knowledge is indeed educational for me and is food for my thoughts!

With this in mind, I really must cook an eggplant dish to "commemorate" this learning curve of my educational journey.

Ingredients

250g eggplant, quartered and cut into 4 cm length
180g minced pork, marinated with 1/2 tsp tapioca flour and 1 tsp oyster sauce
400g snakebeans, cut into 4 cm length
4 red chilli padi, chopped
1 tbsp minced garlic
11/2 cup cooking oil for deep-frying eggplant and snakebeans

 Eggplants

 Snakebeans

 Chilli padi

 Minced pork

Seasonings

2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp light soya sauce
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
11/2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup water

Mix everything together.

 

Method

1.  Heat oil until hot. Deep-fry eggplant until brown. Drain and set aside.
2.  Deep-fry the snakebeans. Drain and set aside.
3.  Remove all cooking oil from wok, leaving only 2 tbsp oil. Saute minced garlic and chopped chilli till fragrant. Add minced pork and fry until aromatic and minced meat has broken into small pieces.
4.  Add in snakebeans and eggplant and cook for 3 minutes. Add in seasonings and mix well.
5.  Dish up and serve.

I am also linking this post to My Treasured Recipes # 3 - Taste of Autumn (Oct/Nov 2014)

Hosted by Miss B of Everybody Eats Well In Flanders and 

co-hosted by Charmaine of Mimi Bakery House

Vietnamese Dipping Fish Sauce (Nuoc Cham)

Vietnamese Dipping Fish Sauce (Nuoc Cham)

 Recipe source :Adapted from Vietnamesefood.com

This Vietnamese dipping fish sauce is fiery hot. Its red hue makes the sauce looks very attractive when presented alongside any dish. This sauce is very versatile. It goes very well with Vietnamese steam rice cake and a host of other Vietnamese and Asian delicacies such as deep-fried spring rolls, the Malaysian cucur udang and pie tee, just to name a few.

If you cannot tolerate fiery hot chillies, use a milder variety of chilli or reduce the amount of bird's eye chillies. Make extras to be stored in the refrigerator as it will come in very handy as a chilli dipping sauce. 

This chilli sauce is a hit with my family.

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
6 bird's eye chillies or chilli padi
4 cloves garlic
1 lime, juiced

Method

1.  Remove seeds of chilli padi. Chop chilli padi together with the garlic.
2.  Boil the water with sugar. When it comes to a boil add in fish sauce. Continue to boil for 5 minutes.
3.  Add in the chopped chillies and garlic. Stir gently to mix well.
4.  Remove from flame and allow to cool.
5.  Once cooled down, add in lime juice. 
6.  Extras can be stored in jars and kept in the refrigerator for later use. 

Fish sauce

Left : garlic. Middle : chilli padi. Right : lime

I am submitting this post to Asian Food Fest  :  Indo China
Hosted by Kelly of Kelly Siew cooks