This is the 2nd time I've done this after making it very successfully to accompany chinese roast pork. Not having pork rolls much these days I miss the vinegarised carrots so I decided to see if i could make them myself. So drawing from the following sites I kinda made my own combination which seems to work for me.
http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=45679
http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com/vietnamese-recipes/salad/pickled-carrot-strips.php
http://southeastasianfood.about.com/od/starterss4/r/carradishpickle.htm
Ingredients
2 giant carrots
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of vinegar (apple cider vinegar or something)
4 spoons of sugar
3 spoons of salt
3 cloves of garlic (very finely diced)
2-3 chillis (very finely diced)
This is all combined in a bowl. Combine all the ingredients before dicing / slicing the carrots as they change colour when exposed, so you can bypass this if its the last step.
I really want to add turnips and shallots/onions into the mix for the next batch, but otherwise very happy with this, will try to always keep a bowl of it marinating in the fridge.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Monday, November 10, 2008
long time no post...
upcoming...
fish in foil on the barbie and fish in that miso paste thing on the barbie.
fish in foil on the barbie and fish in that miso paste thing on the barbie.
Monday, December 3, 2007
"best stew ever"
using this as a base: recipe 1 and then the following 2 3 4 5 for inspiration. I enjoyed recipe 1's simpleness. Time was short and i was hungry so off we go.
Ingredients
4 Lamb chops, trimmed deboned and diced (save bones save some fat (dice finely))
2 sebago potatoes (fist size, diced chunky)
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1cm pieces
5-6 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 cloves of garlic (crushed and divided into 2, gives flavour hit)
1 whole onion peeled
750ml reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon italian herbs (when i say teaspoon i mean a good sprinkle)
3 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (when i say 3 teaspoons i mean a very generous portion)
A HEAP of dried parsley
1 teaspoon tarragon (same as italian herb)
1 egg
flour and water
Worthy additions that i did not have around
# 3 large leeks, white part only, halved, washed and thinly sliced (had no leeks but
# 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
# bacon or pork belly slices
Cooking Directions
1. Prepare and combine all ingredients in pot. Add water to cover all ingredients.
A smarter way would be to leave the potatoes out and add them in about 45 minutes into cooking time. However sebago potatoes seem to do well in soups. While cooked all the way through they maintain their shape and texture. The potatoes are somewhat the highlight of this soup. If more care was made in the prepartion of the lamb through seasoning and flavouring, the lamb would have been more prominent.
2. Taste and season
3. Simmer for 1.5hrs on low heat
4. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of flour into water and add to soup in portions. Give time for soup to get thick before the next portion.
5. Repeat step 4 until desired thickness is reached. I do not like it too thick. Watery but not too watery =) I know that doesnt help, do it to your liking.
6. Scramble an egg and add to it, mix through. Why? chinese chefs do it, i like the way it looks.
7. Serve with cracked pepper.
Apparently its super yum as acclaimed by my french roommate, "best soup he's ever had". I think thats A BIT exaggerated, probably qualify that with "... that was not bought at a restaurant". I found it very enjoyable. The more then usual pepper and celery seem to make it very wintery and well the potatoes were very very good. Sebago all the way. Oh also diced up little bits of lamb fat or garlic give surprising boosts to the profile
A surprising success! I'd improve it with leeks, thyme, bacon and less lazy lamb preparation.
Ingredients
4 Lamb chops, trimmed deboned and diced (save bones save some fat (dice finely))
2 sebago potatoes (fist size, diced chunky)
3 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1cm pieces
5-6 stalks celery, thinly sliced
3 cloves of garlic (crushed and divided into 2, gives flavour hit)
1 whole onion peeled
750ml reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon italian herbs (when i say teaspoon i mean a good sprinkle)
3 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (when i say 3 teaspoons i mean a very generous portion)
A HEAP of dried parsley
1 teaspoon tarragon (same as italian herb)
1 egg
flour and water
Worthy additions that i did not have around
# 3 large leeks, white part only, halved, washed and thinly sliced (had no leeks but
# 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
# bacon or pork belly slices
Cooking Directions
1. Prepare and combine all ingredients in pot. Add water to cover all ingredients.
A smarter way would be to leave the potatoes out and add them in about 45 minutes into cooking time. However sebago potatoes seem to do well in soups. While cooked all the way through they maintain their shape and texture. The potatoes are somewhat the highlight of this soup. If more care was made in the prepartion of the lamb through seasoning and flavouring, the lamb would have been more prominent.
2. Taste and season
3. Simmer for 1.5hrs on low heat
4. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of flour into water and add to soup in portions. Give time for soup to get thick before the next portion.
5. Repeat step 4 until desired thickness is reached. I do not like it too thick. Watery but not too watery =) I know that doesnt help, do it to your liking.
6. Scramble an egg and add to it, mix through. Why? chinese chefs do it, i like the way it looks.
7. Serve with cracked pepper.
Apparently its super yum as acclaimed by my french roommate, "best soup he's ever had". I think thats A BIT exaggerated, probably qualify that with "... that was not bought at a restaurant". I found it very enjoyable. The more then usual pepper and celery seem to make it very wintery and well the potatoes were very very good. Sebago all the way. Oh also diced up little bits of lamb fat or garlic give surprising boosts to the profile
A surprising success! I'd improve it with leeks, thyme, bacon and less lazy lamb preparation.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
it's 11 and im hungry
chilli and garlic spaghetti with tomatoes
ahhh very aromatic and yummy. Simple and satisfying, perfect for when your hungry and stuck for ideas. No meat means no defrosting =P
Only try this if you know the tomatoes you have are fresh and awesome in flavour. Wont work otherwise.
1. Prepare onions (as fine as you can), garlic (sliced to thin strands), chilli (i used 1, wasnt enough fire) and diced tomatoes.
2. Start pasta going (use plenty of salt in the water)
3. Use a bit of oil and fry up the garlic and chilli on medium heat. Wait till garlics are very brown.
4. Throw in finely diced onions and a little bit of oil. Brown.
5. Add a few dashes of paprika to colour, maybe a little cayene pepper.
6. Mix and take off heat. By now the pasta is done, drain and throw into the onions.
7. Mix thoroughly and add generous amounts of fragrant quality olive oil.
8. chuck in diced tomatoes, swirl around a little to absorb the residual heat.
9. Serve with a good load of cracked pepper. If done right, the spaghetti will be salty enough and no extra is required.
u can't go wrong with this one. =P
ahhh very aromatic and yummy. Simple and satisfying, perfect for when your hungry and stuck for ideas. No meat means no defrosting =P
Only try this if you know the tomatoes you have are fresh and awesome in flavour. Wont work otherwise.
1. Prepare onions (as fine as you can), garlic (sliced to thin strands), chilli (i used 1, wasnt enough fire) and diced tomatoes.
2. Start pasta going (use plenty of salt in the water)
3. Use a bit of oil and fry up the garlic and chilli on medium heat. Wait till garlics are very brown.
4. Throw in finely diced onions and a little bit of oil. Brown.
5. Add a few dashes of paprika to colour, maybe a little cayene pepper.
6. Mix and take off heat. By now the pasta is done, drain and throw into the onions.
7. Mix thoroughly and add generous amounts of fragrant quality olive oil.
8. chuck in diced tomatoes, swirl around a little to absorb the residual heat.
9. Serve with a good load of cracked pepper. If done right, the spaghetti will be salty enough and no extra is required.
u can't go wrong with this one. =P
Monday, November 26, 2007
mango chicken
so it's been a while, it's not that i havent been cooking. Well perhaps slightly but nothing interesting of late besides my attempt at lamb shanks.
so mangos are in season right now, prices are still slightly inflated. Got myself a box of pretty sweet mangoes for $16 for 12. They were very ripe and sweet if not slightly bruised. Bowen mangoes seem to be the thing up here, feel firm smells sweet $3 for 2 (exxy).
so mango chicken as inspired by:
http://www.abc.net.au/nsw/stories/s703970.htm
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipes/r/mangochicken.htm
They take a somewhat thai approach, unfortunately i dont have fish sauce or lime juice so I took it another way. The second recipe looks very interesting though.
Mango Sauce
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 knob of ginger
2 chillis (one sliced one crushed)
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1.5 teaspoons kecap mecap
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sake
1.5 diced mango (Save 1/2 mango for step 5)
some shallots or leeks
1. Process
2. Place on heat and simmer with leeks or shallots
3. Remember to taste and adjust (lime or pineapple juice, fish sauce are good additions that i didnt have around)
4. Take off heat and wait till almost serving time.
5. Add chunked mango, continue to simmer for 2 minutes
Fried Chicken:
2 chicken Maryland
Small amount of flour/corn starch
1. Heat work with 0.5cm of oil (or more)
2. Classic chinese preparation. Use chicken maryland or chicken thigh and chop chunkly, bones and skins are good.
3. Douse with sake.
4. Salt and pepper generously
5. Toss with flour
6. Fry a few at a time, to make sure oil stays hot
7. Once they are done put to side to cool
8. when rice is ready, heat oil and refry all pieces together
9. Throw into mango sauce and toss. Serve with rice
done
(was a little 2 sweet, use less mangoes next time)
so mangos are in season right now, prices are still slightly inflated. Got myself a box of pretty sweet mangoes for $16 for 12. They were very ripe and sweet if not slightly bruised. Bowen mangoes seem to be the thing up here, feel firm smells sweet $3 for 2 (exxy).
so mango chicken as inspired by:
http://www.abc.net.au/nsw/stories/s703970.htm
http://thaifood.about.com/od/thairecipes/r/mangochicken.htm
They take a somewhat thai approach, unfortunately i dont have fish sauce or lime juice so I took it another way. The second recipe looks very interesting though.
Mango Sauce
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 knob of ginger
2 chillis (one sliced one crushed)
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
1.5 teaspoons kecap mecap
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sake
1.5 diced mango (Save 1/2 mango for step 5)
some shallots or leeks
1. Process
2. Place on heat and simmer with leeks or shallots
3. Remember to taste and adjust (lime or pineapple juice, fish sauce are good additions that i didnt have around)
4. Take off heat and wait till almost serving time.
5. Add chunked mango, continue to simmer for 2 minutes
Fried Chicken:
2 chicken Maryland
Small amount of flour/corn starch
1. Heat work with 0.5cm of oil (or more)
2. Classic chinese preparation. Use chicken maryland or chicken thigh and chop chunkly, bones and skins are good.
3. Douse with sake.
4. Salt and pepper generously
5. Toss with flour
6. Fry a few at a time, to make sure oil stays hot
7. Once they are done put to side to cool
8. when rice is ready, heat oil and refry all pieces together
9. Throw into mango sauce and toss. Serve with rice
done
(was a little 2 sweet, use less mangoes next time)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Lunch Planning
So now that i'm back.. its back to the grind. In efforts to cut expenses and increase my "range" i figured i actually need to plan ahead of what i'm gonna cook during the week, particularly lunch. Too often i get lazy and just buy my lunch. It's not that big a deal but its a way to save a few bucks here and there and have fun at the same time. I remember this really good sandwiches i had with andrew in sydney for $7.95 down in this little corner shop, somewhere near circular quay.
If i could make something like tht for lunch.. i wouldnt be complaining. The sandwiches were a cut above the rest because of the meats they prepared + a good dressing on teh salad in the sandwich. There must have been other details which i've left out which i'll have to steal next time i'm down in sydney..
but yes for the week..WRAPS
Mon - raw salmon + strawberries + rocket/salad/smoked cheese (yeah i knew weird.. but... mmm)
Tues - skirt steak with garlic/coriander/parsley + capsicum + rocket/salad/smoked cheese
Wed - fried potato + pork mince (with cumin + coriander + cayenne pepper + oregano) + rocket/salad/smoked cheese + dice tomato salsa + smoked cheese
Thur - salmon in miso + shallots + rocket/salad + jap mayo
Fri - spicy chicken + shallots + coriander + fried eggplant + rocket/salad
done. now, when will i get time to cook it? =P
If i could make something like tht for lunch.. i wouldnt be complaining. The sandwiches were a cut above the rest because of the meats they prepared + a good dressing on teh salad in the sandwich. There must have been other details which i've left out which i'll have to steal next time i'm down in sydney..
but yes for the week..WRAPS
Mon - raw salmon + strawberries + rocket/salad/smoked cheese (yeah i knew weird.. but... mmm)
Tues - skirt steak with garlic/coriander/parsley + capsicum + rocket/salad/smoked cheese
Wed - fried potato + pork mince (with cumin + coriander + cayenne pepper + oregano) + rocket/salad/smoked cheese + dice tomato salsa + smoked cheese
Thur - salmon in miso + shallots + rocket/salad + jap mayo
Fri - spicy chicken + shallots + coriander + fried eggplant + rocket/salad
done. now, when will i get time to cook it? =P
Thursday, August 9, 2007
brocolli + bacon pasta sauce
So to continue my experiments with pasta sauce, i created another cream based sauce. These are slowly becoming one of my regular recipes as cream sauces require comparatively must less maintenance and cooking time.
Ingredients
1 Stalk of broccoli
3 Rashes of bacon
50-100g of mince meat
1/2 onion diced
1 stalk of leek finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic
Double cream
(Serves 3 perhaps or 4)
Cheese of choice (mozzarella, goats cheese, if you like that sorta thing)
Method
1. Start up boiling water and add salt. Cut up broccoli bits and place into the boiling water. The broccoli should get fairly soft.
2. Meanwhile dice the onions leek and garlic.
3. Start up a pan on medium heat, add oil and fry up the garlic first then to that add the onions and leek. Cook until soft. Place the bacon and mince in and cook on high heat until the bacon bits are quite crisp.
The following steps in unnecessary but probably would speed things up. After your down with the leeks and onions, take them out of the pan and put aside. Now fry up the bacon and meat, then add the leeks and onions back in. (that should be faster, but more work)
4. While the pan is going, your broccoli should be ready. Drain water away and blend the broccoli until its quite fine, but not complete mush.
5. Once the bacon bits are as you like it, chuck on the broccoli (slowly, as your stalk of broccoli might somehow be twice the size of the one i used). So add slowly to the mixture until its quite green. Basically you don't want it to be so much broccoli that there isn't enough bacon and mince to go around.
6. Add cream until its reaches a gluggy consistency, then add a little water until it's just slightly more watery then the consistency you would expect for a pasta sauce. Add a chicken stock cube (i think if you want you could add lemon or a little vinegar at this point) mix and taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
7. Simmer. As a last step add a loose handful of cheese in. Not too much or it will make the sauce all gluggy.
Done =D
Id recommend starting the pasta (spaghetti is good for this sauce) right after the brocolli is done. If your feeling lazy you could probalby reuse the water from teh brocolli to do the pasta =P
Ingredients
1 Stalk of broccoli
3 Rashes of bacon
50-100g of mince meat
1/2 onion diced
1 stalk of leek finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic
Double cream
(Serves 3 perhaps or 4)
Cheese of choice (mozzarella, goats cheese, if you like that sorta thing)
Method
1. Start up boiling water and add salt. Cut up broccoli bits and place into the boiling water. The broccoli should get fairly soft.
2. Meanwhile dice the onions leek and garlic.
3. Start up a pan on medium heat, add oil and fry up the garlic first then to that add the onions and leek. Cook until soft. Place the bacon and mince in and cook on high heat until the bacon bits are quite crisp.
The following steps in unnecessary but probably would speed things up. After your down with the leeks and onions, take them out of the pan and put aside. Now fry up the bacon and meat, then add the leeks and onions back in. (that should be faster, but more work)
4. While the pan is going, your broccoli should be ready. Drain water away and blend the broccoli until its quite fine, but not complete mush.
5. Once the bacon bits are as you like it, chuck on the broccoli (slowly, as your stalk of broccoli might somehow be twice the size of the one i used). So add slowly to the mixture until its quite green. Basically you don't want it to be so much broccoli that there isn't enough bacon and mince to go around.
6. Add cream until its reaches a gluggy consistency, then add a little water until it's just slightly more watery then the consistency you would expect for a pasta sauce. Add a chicken stock cube (i think if you want you could add lemon or a little vinegar at this point) mix and taste. Add salt and pepper as needed.
7. Simmer. As a last step add a loose handful of cheese in. Not too much or it will make the sauce all gluggy.
Done =D
Id recommend starting the pasta (spaghetti is good for this sauce) right after the brocolli is done. If your feeling lazy you could probalby reuse the water from teh brocolli to do the pasta =P
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