Pad Thai Noodles

I love to fried noodle, at least once in a week. Today i have decided to try this instant Pad Thai which i bought yesterday. Is super easy, just follow the given recipe from the packaging.

Ingredients

Pad Thai noodle (1 pkt )

Seasoning sachet (1 pkt)

1 egg

Bean sprouts

Chopped garlic

Shredded carrot

Shredded Onions

Chopped Green onions

Method

Cook the noodles in boiling salted water for 3 mins. Drain and rinse under cold water, set aside. Heat oil in a wok and fry garlic and onions till fragrance. Fry the egg and add in bean sprouts, green onions and carrot. Add the noodle, black soya sauce and stir-fry until heated through. Combine the seasoning sachet with 4 tablespoons cold water and add to the noodles. Stir well. Remove from heat and serve.

Tips

Authentic way of cooking pad thai needs extra ingredients like prawn, chicken, tofu and roasted peanuts (chopped). My recipe is just using basic ingredients. Not much seasoning needed here as the given seasoning sachet is well flavoured.

Lemongrass 香茅草

Lemongrass/Serai/香茅草 has medicinal properties – it helps with digestion and is considered a diuretic, a tonic and a stimulant. It also has cooling properties and may help bring down a fever.

Health benefits of lemongrass

It contains antibacterial and anti-fungal properties

Helps to detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract.

It acts an astringent, thereby tightening the skin pores and hair follicles

Helps boost the immune system

Helps reduce uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats

It helps alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis

Helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples

Helps tone the muscle and tissues

Help in menstrual troubles

Help reduce blood pressure and improve blood circulation

Helps reduce cellulite

Act as sedative for the central nervous system

Help reducing fevers

Help in flatulence and colic

Natural antioxidant and analgesic

Relieves arthritic pain, swelling, rheumatism and inflammation

Drinking lemongrass juice on a regular basis is an easy way to promote body detoxification in the natural way. How to make Lemongrass Drink?

Ingredients

Few stalks of lemongrass (washed and cut into pieces)

Water

Pandan leaves

Method

Put all into pot with water. Simmer for about 30mins. If you like it sweet, just add in cane sugar or honey before serve.

Tips

You may add in few slices of ginger

Stir-Fry Loofah with Black Fungus 丝瓜黑木耳

This gourd vegetable or plant is called Loofa/ luffa / Silk Gourd / Ridge Gourd / Angled Gourd /丝瓜 /sayur Petola/Turai/Tori. Typically used in stir-fries and soups, this gourd has a slightly spongy texture and a mildly sweet flavor. It contains amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, B and C. 

Ingredient

Loofah

Fresh Black fungus

Carrot

Bean curd puff

Ginger

Garlic

Seasoning (soya sauce & white pepper)

Method

Heat some oil in a pot. Fry garlic and ginger till fragrant. Add loofah, black fungus, carrot and bean curd puff. Add some water and simmer in low medium heat till loofah softens. Add seasoning to taste.

Winter Melon Corn Soup 冬瓜玉米汤

A very healthy and sweet soup for everyone!

How do I prepare it?

Ingredients

Chicken (boneless drumstick)

Winter melon

Corn

Carrot

Seedless Red dates

Water

Salt to taste

Method

Put chicken, winter melon, corn, water, carrot and red dates into pot. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and continue cook for 30-45 mins. Add salt to taste.

Tips

You can use pork or chicken cubes or no meat at all.

Chinese Winter Melon Seaweed Soup 海澡冬瓜汤

Ingredients

Winter melon(skin removed and cut into wedges)
Water

Half cut chicken (blanch the chicken quickly in boiling water to remove impurities)
Seedless red dates (few)
Dried wakame seaweed, soaked

Few sliced ginger

Salt

Method
Place chicken, winter melon and red dates in a large pot, add the water and bring to a boil. Turn to low heat and simmer for 1 hour or till the winter melon is translucent. Last add in seaweed and bring back to boil. Add salt to taste.

Tips

Chicken may substitute with anchovies/ikan bilis.

Caramelized onions

Ingredients

Big yellow onions (thinly sliced)

2 tablespoons olive oil

salt

black pepper (optional)

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add the onions and 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, scraping the browned bits off the bottom of the pan frequently, cook until golden browned and caramelized.

Tips

Remember to stir it occasionally and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. I don't put any sugar because caramelized  onions already taste sweet enough and can keep in fridge for few weeks. How to eat? Add into fried eggs or omelet, soup, burger, bread, salad or spaghetti/noodle.

Chicken Leek Stew

Chicken Leek Stew

Chicken drumstick

Leek

Capsicum (orange & green)

Carrot

Dried mushroom

Black fungus

Dried chilly(optional)

Ginger

Garlic

Seasoning (soya sauce, black pepper)

Method

Just throw everything in the pan & put some water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and cover the pan.  Let it stew until the chicken became tender and sauce is thicken. Serve it with noodle or rice.

Tips

You may use slow cooker. You can put more water to make it as soup. Black fungus and dried mushroom can be replace with celery and onion.