Chinese Ginseng Chicken Soup

Roots, barks, herbs and chicken. Pretty much the centrality for Chinese Ginseng Chicken Soup. Of course, we do have a choice to the high rank and grade Korean ginseng (Korean Radish Soup), but for me personally, its a big no due to its bitterness and strong content. I in fact have tasted Korean ginseng tea and soups which I really couldn't digest and trust me, I almost not only throw up, I actually felt as though my body is on fire. Chinese ginseng (Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup) on the other hand is mild even in soups and I also fancy those home made healthy and nutritious Chinese soups, including the vegetarian variants (Chinese Vegetable Noodle Soup, Old Cucumber Soup, Chinese Tofu Soup & Burdock Root Soup). 

Meen Puttu

Meen Puttu, aka Fish Puttu. What is Meen Puttu? Meen Puttu is basically fish simmered alongside turmeric powder and salt, thereafter shredded/flaked and stir fry with the customary or must have Indian ingredients. Of course when we refer to Indian cooking (Indian Spiced Salmon & Indian Fish Curry), chillies, spices and curry leaves are part and parcel of our cooking, and for meen puttu, we add fresh grated coconut. Pretty much that is the food cooking lingo for Meen Puttu and if you are asking me, I must admit there are other varieties to this fish dish which, do I have repeat myself is a popularity amongst us Indians? Furthermore, sura or shark (Sura Meen Kuzhambu/Shark Curry) is usually the choice, but nothing should stop you from using any other firm fish and even for the Kerala (Tuna Thoran, Malabar Fish Curry & Kerala Fish Fry) or Sri Lankan style (Sri Lankan Coconut Gravy) Meen Puttu, the ingredients are more or less similar. For my version, I opted for tenggiri/Indian mackerel which by far you shouldn't discount against for the outcome of a crumbled and a role play of the favourite Indian tastes Meen Puttu (Tandoori Salmon, Fish Head Curry, Bengali Fish Curry & Meen Kulambu).  

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.

Chinese Vegetable Noodle Soup

Don't ask me why and what not, I really can't tell you why even among the Chinese, there are vegetarians (Vegetarian Fried Mee Hoon & Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup). Most probably due to religionism, I believe so and like the Indians, more and more Chinese (Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup, Chinese Fried Rice, Chay Kway Teow, Chicken Wanton Soup & Cantonese Yee Mee) are now opting for vegetarianism. Beat me why. Honestly I don't know. As it is, I myself am not a vegetarian, (Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup & Hakka Noodles) neither will I want to be because I can't be a meatless person, nor I am trying hard. Of course, every now and then, in fact my other half-half is a vegetarian (Vegetarian Chow Mein) every Saturday, not me though but I don't actually mind a vegetarian meal and I quite like the concept to a tasty to like this Chinese Vegetable Noodle Soup mostly, plus cooking such dishes mind you is not really mind boggling. Nevertheless, a flavorful vegetable broth definitely is a must (Old Cucumber Soup & Burdock Root Soup). Otherwise, vegetable noodle soup dishes will taste bland, and you can either make the broth or get the ready made store bought ones. Whichever, up to you and for this style Chinese Vegetable Noodle Soup, I doubt you will struggle in getting the ingredients as listed below. This my style Chinese Vegetable Nodle Soup seriously is flavorsome and unbeatable. 

Sarawak Laksa

Guys, I thought maybe for the time being, we will just stick to within our Malaysian recipes instead of humping and jumping to other countries around the globe and most probably, my last few recipes have indicated that I am staying put and standing on my Malaysian ground (Ayam Pongteh & Chicken Vindaloo). Of course, I am not denying that a gastronomical tour to other countries is definitely a food show for exposing us to the various types of cuisines (Singapore Laksa & Vietnamese Noodle Soup). Yet, to a certain extent, I think we must do our local food hunting as well. Trust me, I myself personally have not completed making noodles from our different states (Cantonese Yee Mee, Malaysian Sour Spicy Fish Noodle Soup & Penang Mee Yoke), though Curry Laksa, or Laksa Lemak or Curry Mee been trended in this space of mine (Nyonya Curry Laksa, Malaysian Lamb Curry Noodles & Penang Curry Mee) and back then, don't know how moons ago, I did make a trip to Sarawak whereby I tuck into their well known Sarawak Laksa.

Aam ka Achaar

Aam Ka Achaar. What are we talking about, are you asking me right now? Guys, I thinks pictures have already spoken and connected you to this Mango Pickle, a Punjabi style achaar or pickle. Mouthwatering and you are salivating right now right? My favourite. Any kinda of pickle or chutney, or even sambal dip for the matter (Tamatar ki Chutney, Penang Acar & Sambal Terasi). Aam ka Achaar obviously showcases mango as the core ingredient and mango by far, I think a favourite among many of us (Prawn Mango Curry, Thai Mango Sticky Rice & Mango Mocktail)? This Punjabi style achaar is just plain and simple, but trust me, a perfect fab fit as a condiment for our rice meals (Vegetable Achar & Salted Fish Pickle), and you basically need a couple of ingredients listed below, unless you want to take it to the sky level by adding whatever other ingredients. Aam ka Achaar nava-k's style by the way is different (Indian Mango Chutney), or better for me to say as unique because I did it my way instead of the conventional method of following others. Aam ka Achaar? The burst of sour spicy notes in one.

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).

Tamatar ki Chutney

To tell you the truth, I can count the number of chutneys I have already shared. In fact, there's only the other, the Indian Mango Chutney, though tomatoes are a must for most of my savory dishes produced in my kitchen. Tomatoes (Thai Tomato Soup)? They just so complete our dishes for the burst of tanginess and sweetness (Tomato Rice), don't they? Of course (Turmeric Tomato Soup & Tomato Spinach Soup) and if you are asking me. I sometimes even do away with lime juice or even tamarind juice if the tomatoes I use can produce the same result. Having said that, there's no assurance all those tomatoes we buy can pack up tanginess? Henceforth, tasting is crucial for balancing the tastes to tanginess and sourness (Pavakkai Puli Kuzhambu & Navaratan Korma) and you got to do the same as well  for this North Indian Tomato Chutney, known as Tamatar ki Chutney, which by far can be an accompaniment for anything for the matter (Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip). Of course, for us, tangy and absolutely inviting and vibrantly attractive Tamatar ki Chutney was our side dish for our rice meal. Wow!

Cantonese Yee Mee

Cantonese Yee Mee. Chinese style noodle dish. Another variety to Chinese style cooking (Teochew Steamed Fish, Sichuan Chilli Prawns & Cantonese Fried Rice) noodles. Trust me, Chinese and their noodle dishes. Oh-my! They sure have it and know it and there's abundance of varieties and also each to its own meaning. I certainly can't nail why and what are the significance of the noodles dishes, but I sure am aware that Chinese and they eat for prosperity, longevity, happiness and what not (Chinese Chicken Noodle Soup, Lam Mee & Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup). What about Cantonese Yee Mee, are you asking me? Well, I cant say much. Must be some sort of significance as well or its just the Chinese noodle dish pleasure (Penang Curry Mee, Penang Assam Laksa & Penang Mee Yoke).