Have you ever wondered how to cook eggplant that is delicious, non-oily, and with a nice purplish color? Eggplant (also called aubergine) is challenging to cook well because it doesn’t have much flavor, quickly becomes soggy, and quickly loses its bright purplish color. However, if you flavor it correctly with the right seasonings, find a …

Tomato eggs (蕃茄炒蛋/ 西红柿炒蛋) is home-cooked comfort food popular in Chinese families. It is a quick and easy dish that you can get onto the dining table in 15 minutes.  I have been cooking for many years both for work and at home. It is not always necessary to use multiple ingredients and involve complicated …

Kung Pao tofu (宫保豆腐) is an improvised dish from the famous Szechuan cuisine Kung Pao chicken. It is an excellent vegetarian dish for those who do not eat meat but want to appreciate the same flavor of the famed Kung Pao chicken.  This recipe is based on the kung pao chicken on this blog, which I published sometimes …

This Pull Apart Garlic Bread has a unique texture and presentation. It is a milk-rich bread with the garlic butter sandwiched between thin dough layers. As a result, you can pull it apart easily. The bread is topped with shredded cheese and parsley. It is a winner in all aspects, and it is fun to …

This Hong Shao tofu is the best tofu recipe that can change your mind if you think it is tasteless. 红烧豆腐 (Hong Shao tofu) means ‘red-cooked tofu’ directly translated from those Chinese characters. It is called ‘red-cooked’ because it involves the use of soy sauce (and, in some cases, chili oil), which turns it into …

I enjoy eating this honey garlic shrimp not only because it is mouth-watering. This luscious shrimp coated with the glossy gravy is so easy to make. Once you have marinated the shrimp, it can be on your dinner table in fifteen minutes. This bouncy shrimp with a slight hint of a crunch is plump, juicy, …

Today I will cook Hunan beef with cumin for dinner., one of the famous Hunan cuisine (湘菜). Hunan cuisine is one of the eight great cuisines of China. Hunan beef has a hot and spicy taste from a combination of spices and chili peppers. I have to make some adjustments to the original recipe because …

Soto Ayam is not your ordinary chicken soup. Originating from Indonesia and loved across Malaysia and Singapore, it is aromatic and bursting with flavor. Unlike creamy Western soups, this Indonesian chicken noodle soup is clear and fragrant, infused with turmeric for its vibrant yellow hue and layered with spices like cumin, fennel, star anise, and …

How to make wontons – Szechuan style Szechuan spicy wonton (红油抄手) is traditional Szechuan street food. It is spicy and savory thanks to the combination of a myriad of herbs and spices in its unique dipping sauce. The sophisticated flavor of this wonton has earned Szechuan wonton an indisputable place on the Szechuan restaurant menu.  …

What is katsudon? Chicken katsudon is the Japanese rice bowl topped with the delicious torikatsu, sweet onion, and barely set beaten egg bath in umami-rich dashi enhanced with mirin and soy sauce. Katsudon (カツ丼 / Japanese cutlet rice bowl) is relatively easy to prepare. It is an extension of the torikatsu recipe, ideal as a …