Angie's Aubergine Salad

My friend, Angie, made this very easy dish when I was at her place for lunch. Since then I fell in love with this dish. It can be eaten cold / warm. A very easy to prepare dish, just by adding the ingredients to your taste. 

If you like peppery dishes, I think this could be the dish for you. :) 

Ingredients: 

2 large aubergines / egg plants 

2 cloves of garlics ( minced )

2 stalks of spring onions ( thinly sliced )

2 tsp sesame oil / lard 

Lots of white pepper to taste 

Salt to taste 

2 tsp light soya sauce 

Preparation Steps: 

1. Gently poke or cut the skin of the aubergines. Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degree C for 20 - 30 mins or until it turned soft. 

2. Remove & leave to slightly cool to touch then remove flesh from skin. 

3. In a large bowl, add all ingredients & mixed well. 

Voilà ! 

Chin's notes:

1. Somehow white pepper & aubergines goes very well together. 

2. Angie's uses lard, I will use lard when I have them otherwise I replaced with sesame oil.

3. Aubergines after baked. They turned soft. 

Cœur de Bœuf Tomate

Literally translated as "heart of the beef" . The American calls them beefsteaks tomato & they British calls them beef tomato. They are bigger than the usual tomatoes, with very little seeds & have a very firm texture. Ideal for salads. Pretty to look at too!! ;)  They are in season now!  

Made some salsa with it.. :D

I only new about this tomato from the cooking demo classes that I attended & also tried a few salads served from the restaurant in Paris! They are very yummy!!! 

Salsa with Tortillas Wrap

A new favourite for my eldest son & I. So easy to make & taste is superb!! 

Anna Tan shared her recipe & I just use what is available in my fridge. Here is my version. 

Ingredients at a glance.

Put all the cut up ingredients in a large bowl.

Mixed well.

Salsa

Ingredients 

2 large tomatoes - I used combination of tomatoes to get the different colours.

I used 2 shallots - thinly sliced & diced

1 glove garlic - finely minced

English parsley / coriander / sweet basil leaves - thinly sliced

1 tbsp olive oil 

Juice from 1/2 lemon / lime

Black pepper & sea salt to taste 

Red pepper ( optional , I did not use because my son does not like peppers) 

Preparation steps: 

1. Diced tomatoes & the rest of the ingredients. Put them in a big bowl.

2. Add the seasoning & mix well. 

3. Chilled before serving.

4. Serve with corn chips / Doritos / tortillas wrap. 

Bon appétit ! 

Chin's notes: 

1. An easy lunch meal or as salad. 

2. I have tried with coriander or with sweet basil leaves. Very tasty! 

3. If you like black olives, they goes very well too with the tomatoes. 

Pickled Cucumbers

Joanne Lee, from SHC shared her wonderful recipe. Thank you!! They are really yummy. 

I made some adjustment to the recipe as I like them more sourish & sweet. 

Pickled Cucumber Recipe 

Ingredients 

1 large cucumber

1 tsp salt

Seasoning 

3 tbsp white vinegar 

1 tbsp sugar

2 bird eye chili / chili padi - thinly sliced

1 tsp sesame oil 

Toasted sesame seeds

Preparation steps: 

1. Clean the cucumber, halve & remove the seeds. Slice the cucumber about 1cm thick or thinner.  Put them into a large bowl. Evenly coat with salt. Leave for about 10 mins. Then drain the water accumulated. 

2. Add in all the seasoning, mix well & keep in the fridge for at least 30 mins. Mix again before serving. Serve cold. 

Voilà ! 

Chin's notes: 

1. I garnished with extra sesame seeds before serving. 

2. Do not wash the cucumber after they were seasoned with salt. If washed the cucumber will not be crunchy. Salt is to remove the excess water in the cucumber. 

Korean Raw Salmon Salad

Last Monday, my Korean friends brought me to a Korean restaurant & introduced me to this yummy salad. I just fell in love with it. Recreated this dish at home. Easy to prepare & just simply delicious!

If you like raw salmon, give it a try!

Korean Raw Salmon Salad Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

Raw Salmon for sashimi - sliced

Korean Spicy Cocktail Sauce (see picture below)

Romanian lettuce cleaned & thinly sliced. 

Toatsted sesame seeds for garnishing

Preparation steps: 

1. Lay the Romanian lettuce neatly on the plate. Place the salmon on the lettuce. 

2. Spread a good amount of Korean Sauce & garnish with toasted sesame seeds. 

Voilà & Bon appétit ! 

Chin's notes:

1. This sauce is also very yummy with fried rice or as a dipping sauce!! :p

Yusheng without the fish

A popular dish during the Chinese New Year festive celebration.  This dish symbolises good luck, good fortune , good health, good success & everything that is good in life!

Here is my very simple version of YuSheng (鱼生) without the fish. ;) 

Ingredients: 

Carrots - thinly sliced 

Romanian lettuce - thinly sliced 

Pomelo - loosen the pulps

Yusheng sauce / plum sauce

Peanuts - crushed coarsely 

Sesame seeds - I used wasabi flavoured sesame seeds

Coriander leaves 

A dash of 5 spice powder 

Preparation steps :

1. Lay carrots , lettuce & pomelo neatly on the plate. 

2. Add the sauce , followed by peanuts, sesame seeds, some 5 spice powder then coriander leaves. 

3. Gathered everyone & toss with the chopsticks, as high as you can and say all the good wishes as you toss! 

4. Lastly everyone shout "Huat Ah" (good fortune)! 

Bon appétit !!

Chin's notes:

1. Other ingredients can be added

Sugared winter melons

Pickled ginger

Crackers

2. Raw salmon / canned abalone sliced.

3. The raw fish sauce that I used