Showing posts with label Chinese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese. Show all posts

Friday, April 11, 2014

Cooking Lab - Vegetarian Noodles in Black Bean Paste (維力炸醬麵)

Ja Jang Noodles is one of the most popular dishes in Asia. It is of Korean/Chinese origin where blanched noodles tossed in the salty, flavourful black soybean paste. 

Get a good quality Ja-Jang black soybean paste from any leading Asian/Korean supermarket and it will serve you well in the cold rainy nights. 



(c) GMV - Got My Vote!


Ingredients:

-1 packet of thin noodles 
-100g white zucchini 
-50g roasted capsicum 
-3 tsp of black bean paste 
-5g sesame and seaweed seasoning 
-10ml light soy sauce 
-10ml olive oil 


Instructions:

1. Grate zucchini in long slices.

2. Remove excess moisture with paper towel.

3. Heat oil in pan over medium heat.

4. Lightly sauteed the zucchini slices until semi-translucent.

5. Season with salt.

6. Remove and set aside.

7. Prepare the thin noodles by following package instructions.

8. Cook the thin noodles in boiling water for approx 3 minutes.

9. Drain and set aside to cool.

10. Add the black soybean paste (Ja Jang Sauce) to the noodles and stir well.

11. Arrange sauteed zucchini slices around the noodles.

12. Season with light soy sauce.

13. Garnish with roasted capsicum and sesame seaweed seasoning.


This is a fantastic noodle side-dish to go with the crispy pan-fried yaki-gyoza/dumplings.


Please see my previous entry for the dumpling recipe here:


Serve at room temperature with dumpling dipping sauce.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Cooking Lab - Scallion (Shallot) Pancake (蔥油餅) w Soy Dipping Sauce

Savory crispy scallion (aka shallot or green onion) pancakes are the quintessential Chinese snack. I tweaked the recipe a little to include finely grounded cooked chicken mince. :)

I am not into the whole 'specific measurement' and tend sidetrack from the actual instructions. Today, I am doing something out of my comfort zone. 

I gained a little confidence after the success of making the Golzeme the other day. So I thought to challenge myself a bit further!! (Plus - I bought a huge packet of flour - got to find some use for it:)

Getting out of the box can be really fun and exciting, even it is so totally foreign .. 

Ingredients:
- All purpose flour 2 cups
- Boiling Water 3/4 cup
- Vegetable Oil 3 T/s
- Golden Shallot chopped, 1 cup
- Cooked chicken mince 3 T/s
- Salt & Pepper 
Instructions:
1. Place flour in a large bowl, pour in boiling water and stir to combine.
(Note - it is important to use hot water to cook the gluten so that the end texture is less elastic)
2. Add oil to combine until smooth and soft.
3. Knead for 5 minutes and cover to let it rest for 30 minutes.
4. Once rested, flatten the dough on a floured surface using a rolling pin.
5. Lightly brush oil on the surface.
6. Scatter chopped golden shallots and very fine chinch mince on top. Salt & pepper to season.
7. Sprinkle more flour on top.
8. Fold in the dough on both sides.
9. Then roll up the dough.
10. Cover and let it rest for another 30 minutes.
11. Once rested, slightly exert some pressure on both ends and lengthen it. Do not pull** 
12. Divide into 6 pieces.
13. Pick up each pieces from both ends and sealed by flatten it with your thumb muscles.
14. Then in a continuous movement roll both ends to meet at the bottom - forming a ball shape.
(Note - you can repeat the rolling process to achieve more crispy layers)
15. Cover and let them rest in the fridge for 2 hours.
16. Spray some oil on a cling wraps, place the dough on top. Cover with another cling wrap. 
17. Proceed to roll out!!
(Note - they freeze well - keep them in between cling wraps to keep for later.)
18. Heat some oil in a frying pan, pan fry at medium-low heat until crispy and golden brown.
19. Cut into triangles and serve with tuna/pork floss.
Definitely an Asian comfort food!
This definitely bring back that first sentimental memory of falling in love with food when I was young.

They sell the pre-made frozen scallion packets at the Asian supermarkets and I've tried them (in fact, all brands!!) somehow, that familiar taste I was seeking was always missing.

Hence I've decided to roll up my sleeve and make from scratch!!
It goes well with Soy Dipping Sauce:
Combine:
- Soy Sauce 1/2 cup
- Sugar 1 T/s
- Rice Vinegar 1 T/s
- Seasme seeds   

The sauce will sets the whole thing off. Making this dish complete.
Simple, beautiful and comforting!!
Happy with my first-time turn out|~
Here it is: pretty scallion pancake :)