Kerabu Taugeh

Kerabu? Remember those kerabu or Malaysian raw salads I have already shared with all you guys (Kerabu Kacang Botol, Kerabu Mangga & Kerabu Kaki Ayam)? Plus of course, the rest from this and that part of Asian Continent (Cambodian Green Mango Salad, Sri Lankan Carrot Salad & Asian Watermelon Salad) and me, the Indian who just so love our ulam, local herbs and Malaysian local produce for my cooking and eating pleasure (Nasi Ulam, Kacang Buncis Cili, Sambal Belimbing, Gado Gado & Nasi Dagang)? Tell me please and I will return willingly tell you on this Kerabu Taugeh, aka, Bean Sprouts Salad. Obviously, point blank said, you need beansprouts which you just need to break the brown bottom of them and then, if you asking me, just buy the kerisik (pan fried and pounded grated coconut). What's next? Quickly blanch bean sprouts (Bean Sprouts Omelette & Bean Sprouts Salted Fish) and tossed alongside kerisik, shallots, red chillies, coriander leaves, spring onion, lime juice, sugar and salt. Refreshing, crunchy, spicy, tangy and aromatic Kerabu Taugeh/Bean Sprouts Salad is ready. Go ahead everyone. Devour in.  

Singaporean Mee Siam

Ingredients

For the soup/gravy

3-4 dried red chillies

1/2 tbsp taucheo/salted bean paste

5 garlic

5 shallots

1/2 inch roasted belacan/shrimp paste

1 tbsp fish curry powder

** Blend/process to a thick paste with some water.

Other ingredients

10 medium size prawns

Rice noodles - as needed (blanch to soften)

Tofu pok/puffs 

1 handful of kucai/chives

Eggs - boiled

Lime leaves - tear into pieces.

Lime wedges

1 cup thick coconut milk

3 tbsp oil

Salt for taste 

Method

Simmer prawns with one cup of water till cooked.

Remove from heat.

Peel prawns; keep aside.

Also keep aside the stock (Please discard the heads and shells).

Heat oil and fry chili paste till aromatic and oil splits.

Pour in prawn stock and pour 2 cups of water.

Season with salt (use sparingly as taucheo is also salty) and let it simmer.

Once heated through, add lime leaves, tofu pok and pour coconut milk in.

Continue to simmer over low heat for another 3-4 mins.

Assemble noodles in a bowl with chives, prawns and boiled egg(s).

Pour soup over and serve with lime. 

Malaysian Fish Head Curry

Malaysian Fish Head Curry, aka Kari Kepala Ikan. Believe me, not the ordinary nor you should compare with those from the restaurants. Why are you asking me? Because this is a typical, authentic and most dangerously delicious, finger licking homemade Malaysian Fish Head Curry (Malaysian Fish Sambal, Nyonya Fish Noodle Soup, Malaysian Fried Mee Hoon & Malaysian Fish Curry) Yes, stop questioning me. Fish head curry cooked alongside belimbing buluh from our Malaysian grown trees, and belimbin buluh somewhat I think can be regarded as the other side to the coin to starfruit though these are oblong in shape and greenish and yellowish in color. Trust me please, due to this really mostly sour fruit, you don't have to think twice on tamarind juice and when fish head is cooked alongside the customary ingredients (Chilli Soy Fish, Spicy Stingray & Fish Noodle Soup) we need for any curry and also coconut milk, pow-wow (Asam Pedas Bawal, Salted Fish Bone Curry & Ikan Masak Kicap). Malaysian Fish Head Curry by Nava K? Unbeatable for rushing your mouth towards its spiciness and coconut milk creaminess.

Sri Lankan Carrot Salad

The raw deal to a raw salad must be recognised and hailed as healthiness and for keeping it really easy and simple in our kitchen. Of course. I in fact love the concept to raw salads, but can't be a regularity because my half-half does not really fancy. Maybe every now and then is acceptable to him, whereas I am every willing to tuck into a raw salad even if its daily and sometimes raw salads are not necessarily an accompaniment for my rice meals (Penang Acar). They can be my snack as well when I feel like munching instead of grabbing junk food (Apple Cucumber Salad, Watermelon Salad & Malaysian Mango Salad) and anything for the matter made with vegetables is most probably low in calorie counting (Shahi Gobi, Cabbage Upkari, Kashmiri Vegetable Soup & Vegetable Raita). Moreover, when we speak about this Sri Lankan Carrot Salad (Carrot Poriyal)? An ultimate fresh raw burst to natural sweetness (Cucumber Yogurt Salad) of carrot and cucumber, refreshing tropical grated coconut (Sri Lankan Coconut Gravy), tadbit of heat from red chilli and green chilli, and tangy lime juice.

Kiri Hodi

We spoke about coconut milk, didn't we. Of course we did, if you can recall (Masak Lemak Cili Padi) and I also mention that coconut milk is one of the favourites for Asian cooking? Me too. I can be said as a fan of cooking milk, though I don't go overboard mind you.(Hyderabadi Vegetable Biryani, Goan Prawn Curry & Palakura Pappu) and do I have to actually mention the popularity of cooking milk for Sri Lankan dishes? Especially for this Kiri Hodi, aka Sri Lankan Coconut Milk Gravy/Stew which can be eaten alongside string hoppers and even rice. For us rice is the best food deal and when we drench Kiri Hodi on our rice, oh-so-food-diviners while also adding a scoop of Tomato Chutney (Tamatar ki Chutney) prior to tucking in. As usual, I must say that there's various types of Kiri Hodi? Then again, how different can each be? Either a, actually mostly vegetarian version, but some do add some dried fish. Not for this my version though. Instead I added boiled egg. Acceptable right? Sure, stop disputing. Why should we not by the way into this creamy, tangy, attractive and mouth watering Kiri Hodi/ Sri Lankan Coconut Milk Stew? Coconut milk, like I have already told you is the central ingredients and the rest are pretty much I can say as our pantry friendly ingredients (Sodhi, Prawn Spinach Sodhi & Tanni Saar).

Singapore Laksa

 

Before you say anything and before you compared my this Singapore Laksa to the rest, let me have my say please. I as usual, you know the usual me who love to tweet and modify recipes for heightening it to another, my own higher level? I think I told you before? Can't remember precisely in which recipe or recipes (Nyonya Lam Mee, Prawn Curry Laksa, Hakka Noodles & Nyonya Curry Laksa), but I am crystal clear that I have conveyed my message loud and clear. There's no best formula for cooking, in fact, our own formula I must say is the best? However, whichever or whatever, as long as you have picked up the basic cooking skills and also you know it on which ingredients can be amalgamated with another, you are on the right track (Prawn Noodle Soup, Sour Spicy Fish Noodle Soup, Spicy Thai Noodles, Vegetarian Noodle Soup & Mee Rojak). Hence, pretty much I think I have directly or indirectly told you why my Singapore Laksa is unique and utterly different? Of course. Regardless, nothing has been compromised in terms of tastes (Laksam Kelantan & Mee Rebus). I can definitely assure you that this my version of Singapore Laksa will put a broad food smile on your face (Mee Siam, Fried Mee, Hokkien Mee & Char Kway Teow). What did I do anyway? Well, I took my own ideas from my own recipes (Penang Curry Mee, Penang Mee Yoke & Penang Assam Laksa) and? The birth of this thick, creamy, aromatic, coconut milk and fish Singapore Laksa. Dang!