This article is about how to prepare spaghetti aglio e olio, with an Asian twist. Wait. It is not the classic recipe you are familiar with, but the interpretation involves some popular Japanese ingredients: bonito flakes, shiitake mushrooms, and scallion. As for the flavor, the dashi (Japanese stock) makes it stands out from the original …
Bun cha (Vietnamese meatballs with vermicelli) has all the classic Vietnamese street food elements. I love its complex flavors and have been a regular fan of the restaurant near me. Recently, I have decided to make it. It turns out to be not as difficult as expected. I have documented how to do it in …
Suan la fen (酸辣粉, Hot and Sour Noodles) has won over me finally, although I grew up in a Cantonese family with little exposure to other forms of cooking in the early days. Perhaps I was born to love hot and sour stuff, and being devoid of having this spicy food since I was young …
A quick and easy meal can be delicious too, and teriyaki noodles is one great example. Any meat that marinates with teriyaki sauce tastes remarkable, pairing with vegetables of your choice and serve with noodles is nutritious and utterly mouthwatering. Chicken is the meat of choice in this recipe, but you decide to substitute it …
What is prawn mee made off? Prawn mee (Penang Hokkien mee) is a specialty noodle soup popular among the Malaysian Chinese. The uniqueness lies in the soup base, prepared with a humongous amount of prawn heads and shells coupled with pork bones concentrated to a thick, creamy, and highly aromatic broth. Prawn mee is well-known …
The first time I heard about Thai drunken noodles was a few years ago, when I visited a Thai restaurant that my son was doing a part time job during his university day. Little did I know that the noodles are not cooked with alcohol but a spicy dish with plenty of chilies and basil …
What is Japchae? Japchae is Korean stir-fried noodles with a unique texture. It means mixed vegetables in Korean, but besides the colorful vegetables, and the well-seasoned beef, it is the bouncy and slippery sweet potato glass noodles called dangmyeong that set it apart from others. The flavor is very different from the Chinese stir-fried noodles, …
Soto ayam is a chicken soup dish originated from Indonesia and is popular in Malaysia and Singapore. However, you have to take a paradigm shift to appreciate it. Unlike a creamy soup, it’s a clear soup with loads of ingredients and condiments. Turmeric is the ingredient that makes yellow, coupled with spices like cumin, fennel, …
What is beef chow fun? Beef chow fun 干炒牛河 is classic Cantonese food served at the roadside as well as at most of the Cantonese restaurants. It is also a dish that assesses a chef’s skill because it is easy to make but requires specific skills to get it right. Some gastronomes use beef chow …
Hong Kong Style macaroni soup Hong Kong style macaroni soup with ham (火腿通粉) is the food that runs deep through my memories. It evoked many childhood moments when I was living in Hong Kong with my family. Macaroni soup is the quintessential breakfast served in almost all the Cha Chan Tengs (tea Cafe). It is hugely …