The kitchen has always been my playground, but tempura was one dish I admired from afar for years. After more than a decade working in restaurants, I finally decided to tackle one of my favorite Japanese snacks — tempura with that impossibly light, crisp coating you get at a good tempura bar. I won’t sugarcoat …
If you love Chinese barbecue pork and enjoy savory Chinese pastries, then Char Siu Sou 叉燒酥 is just right for you. It’s a classic pastry you’ll often find in Chinese cafés and a regular item in most Dim Sum restaurants. Like many traditional Chinese pastries, Char Siu Sou is made with Chinese-style puff pastry, which …
Curry puffs (or karipap) are one of Malaysia’s most popular snacks. They are crispy and flaky on the outside, with a fragrant, savory curry filling on the inside. It’s the kind of street food that instantly brings back memories of sitting in a kopitiam or browsing roadside stalls at the night market. This curry puff …
I love meat floss; you’ll understand why I can’t get enough of it when you take a bite. The shredded meat’s savory, slightly sweet taste and fragrant spices are irresistible. Its fluffy and cottony texture will leave you speechless when it melts in your mouth, leaving you with a satisfying crunch. It’s quite easy to …
It has been a long time since I made Chinese walnut cookies. My cousin from Hong Kong visited us last week and brought us some, and our family finished all in no time. After taking a bite, it suddenly evoked my memory of the taste of these beautiful cookies. So making some instead of getting …
Prawn crackers (shrimp chips) are the classic Chinese appetizer everyone loves. It is a popular item that serves as snacks during Chinese New Year and is also widely served in some Chinese restaurants before meals in some western countries. Called keropok in Malaysian and krupuk udang in Indonesia, these cracky equivalents to potato chips are …
Cucur udang is the Malaysian version of prawn fritters, hugely popular street food that you can find at Pasar Malam (night markets), Ramadhan bazaars, and hawker stores. It has a crunchy exterior when fresh from the wok, with a soft interior filled with various vegetables. When frying, the prawns are usually placed on top and …
Crispy fried shallots are a must-have condiment in most Asian families. It adds crispness, aroma, and flavor to almost every dish, ranging from Ipoh shredded chicken noodles, fried noodles, fried rice, and congee. Although fried shallots are sold at most Asian grocery stores, it is easy to make them yourself. Below is my recipe for …
Samosa is a flaky, crispy, and delicious Indian snack. It is made with a pastry stuffed with spiced potato filling and wrapped to form a perfect pyramid, then deep-fried to golden. You can find these little fried parcels in cafes, restaurants, even street food stores. I like samosa as that is my go-to teatime snack …
Bak Kwa (肉干, rou gan) is one of the most beloved Chinese New Year snacks, known for its sweet, savory flavor and slightly chewy texture. In many families, it is served to guests throughout the festive period and gifted as a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good fortune. This homemade version follows a traditional Cantonese-style …