Chinese Xiaolongbao (Soup-filled Dumplings)
Friday, September 27, 2019Xiaolongbao, literally "Little Basket Buns",are traditionally filled with broth and pork, but beef, seafood, and vegetables are very often used as fillings. The broth inside is made by using some meat jelly inside the dumpling before steaming. Gelatin melts when steamed. Xiaolongbao always have soup, otherwise they are just Jiaozi / dumplings.
| Filling | Wrapper |
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- Use a heavy knife to smashed the ginger root. Place them in a bowl. Add in spring onion and water. Squeeze the mixture to release the juice from the ginger and onion. Strain. Season the ground pork with salt, sugar, Maggi sauce and pepper. Mix well. Gradually add in the prepared ginger-onion liquid and mix until all the liquid is absorbed and the mixture forms a firm and cohesive mass. Drizzle in the sesame oil and combine well. Dice the jelly and blend together with meat mixture. Cover with a plastic wrap and store in the fridge while prepare the wrappers.
- Whisk the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add in water and start mixing by hand. Once the dough has come together, turn onto a floured work surface and knead dough until it becomes a smooth, elastic ball. Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and allow it to rest for at least half an hour.
- Half the dough lengthwise. On a floured surface roll each dough with palms back and forth to form a long rope of dough of even thickness. Portion the roll into 10-gram pieces and flatten each piece with the bottom of your palm. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out forming a disk of 7cm with the edges thinner than the center. Hold a wrapper in your left hand and raise fingers up to form a recess. Place 2 teaspoons of filling in the middle of the wrapper. Carefully fold the edges of the wrapper together in a pleated fashion with the right hand. Pinch edges together to close the wrapper.
- Soak cheese cloth in hot water, wring out water and lay in a steamer. Besides cheesecloth, cabbages, carrot slices, and parchment paper are a good source of lining the steamers too. Put in the dumplings and set the steamer over a pan filled with boiling water. Close the lid and steam for 8 minutes over strong heat. Serve with a sauce dish of thinly shredded ginger and black rice vinegar.
Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters with Cherry Radishes and Mushrooms
Wednesday, August 28, 2019| |
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These budget friendly roasted chicken quarters are easy to make, juicy and delicious. Use your favourite seasonings, though sea salt and freshly-cracked pepper are enough to bring out their natural aromas and flavours. You can store these in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat them in the oven to recrisp the skin. You can make this with a different cut of meat, but you will want to stick with a bone-in, skin-on cut because skin and bone add so much flavour to the dish.
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- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Dry the chicken leg quarters with paper towels and rub with 2 tablespoons of avocado oil. Evenly sprinkle black salt, peppers, garlic powder and chopped rosemary on both sides of each quarter and gently pat to make the seasonings stick. Arrange the chicken leg quarters in a baking tray lined with a piece of aluminum foil.
- Toss the mushrooms and cherry radishes with the remaining tablespoon of avocado oil. Season with salt and peppers. Add them to the chicken quarters in the baking tray.
- Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the chicken skin is crispy and golden brown. Different ovens bake differently so the exact time may vary. Remove the chicken from the oven, let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Hokkaido Coconut Soup
Monday, March 11, 2019| |
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Super creamy and deliciously nourishing, this pumpkin soup with coconut milk is the ultimate warmer for cold rainy days. The warmth of fresh ginger adds a lovely kick to the soup. If you like, serve the soup with some roasted poultry leftover, a sprinkle of coconut flakes, pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs. It's also very easy to veganize the soup by using vegetable stock and leaving out the meat.
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- Heat oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped shallot and ginger and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add pumpkin, coconut milk, chicken broth or water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes or until pumpkin is soft.
- Remove saucepan from heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Using an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth. Add in lime juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with roasted duck breast slices, chopped parsley and desiccated coconut flakes and / or pomegranate seeds.
Crisp Roasted Duck
Sunday, February 03, 2019| |
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A whole roasted duck doesn't have to be fussy. With just a few hours' roasting and hardly any work at all, you can have a juicy bird with crisp skin. Serve it with pan juice roasted Brussels sprouts or some seasonal salad for a festive occasion or Sunday dinner.
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival officially begins on February 5th, 2019 and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family peace, joy and love this holiday!
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- Preheat oven to 220C/430F. Wash the duck inside and out with cold running water. Pat dry all over with paper towel.
- Rub the duck all over with the sea salt and freshly milled pepper. Fill the duck cavity with thyme and quartered lemon. Prick skin all over with a sharp fork and tie legs together -- be sure to not pierce the meat itself, only the skin. This lets the fat render out and will help crisp the skin.
- Place a wire rack in a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with 1 cup of water. Place the duck on the wire rack, breast-side down. Roast in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Lower the temperature to 190C/375F. Turn the duck breast-side up and fill the roasting pan with another cup of water. Continue cooking for a further 60-70 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Brush the duck occasionally with dripping from the roasting pan. 20 minutes before the duck is done, add the Brussels sprouts into the roasting pan and toss with the duck dripping and cook until tender.
- Remove duck and Brussels sprouts on a large serving plate. Cover with a tin foil to keep warm.
- Scrape the duck fat and juice from the roasting pan and pour into a pan. Add in spelt flour and stir with a wooden spoon until slightly thickened. Add in chicken broth and port. Bring the gravy to the boil and simmer gently for half an hour, stirring occasionally.
- Shred or carve up the duck, and serve with roasted Brussels sprouts and gravy.
Lamb's Lettuce Salad with Persimmon, Macadamia and Chicken
Friday, January 11, 2019| |
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Lamb's lettuce, also known as corn salad or mâche, has a distinctive, tangy, nutty flavour and soft texture. It is delicious in salads or soups. This beautiful winter green is packed with water and beta-caroten. It is best during the months of early summer through to autumn, but will grow well into early winter. Named after its resemblance in shape and size to lamb's tongue.
| Salad | Dijon Vinaigrette |
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- Bring a medium saucepan of water to the boil over high heat. Boil the eggs for 5 minutes, then transfer to a bowl of iced water to cool completely. Peel the eggs and cut in half.
- Peel and slice persimmons. Arrange lamb's lettuce and persimmon slices on serving plates. Top with sliced chicken, macadamia nuts, cranberries and egg halves.
- Place everything for the dressing in a jar and shake vigorously to emulsify the dressing. Drizzle over the salad, toss and serve immediately.
Black Rice with Cauliflower Hummus
Tuesday, June 26, 2018| |
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Black rice, leftover roasted chicken, and a veggie boosted roasted hummus with cauliflowers - a healthy and flavour-packed meal ready in 40 minutes. If you aim to go vegan, just leave out the chicken or use any desired vegetarian protein, like seitan or tempeh.
| Black Rice with Leftover Chicken | Cauliflower Hummus |
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- Cook the black rice in a medium saucepan of lightly salted boiling water for 35 minutes or until just tender. Transfer to a large bowl. Add in chicken. Toss with olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Taste and season.
- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Place cauliflower florets on a baking tray and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle with cumin. Roast for 25 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool slightly. Transfer cauliflower mixture to a food processor. Add garlic cloves, tahini, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and water. Process until smooth.
- To serve, spread cauliflower hummus in a wide bowl or platter. Drizzle olive oil over and sprinkle with sumac, dried barberries, chopped arugula and sesame seeds. Serve black rice on the side.
Tri-coloured Quinoa Rice Paper Rolls
Thursday, January 11, 2018| |
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Create a simple, healthy and flavourful lunch with these rice paper rolls which are low-cal, low-fat and gluten-free. Use the roasted chicken and cooked tri-coloured quinoa leftovers to make this time-saving, delicious meal.
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- Place quinoa and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook, occasionally stirring, for 10-12 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Cool slightly. Toss with the tamari.
- Soak a sheet of rice paper wrapper in hot water for 10-20 seconds. Transfer to a clean tea towel to absorb excess water. Place a little of the quinoa in the middle of the rice paper. Top with sliced chicken, sweet pepper, chilli and fresh herb leaves.
- Roll up firmly to enclose the filling. Cover with a slightly damp cloth to preven drying out. Repeat with remaining sheets. Continue with remaining rice paper and fillings. Serve with extra tamari, if desired.
Tandoori Spiced Baked Chicken
Thursday, November 23, 2017| |
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This whole roasted chicken seasoned liberally with Indian tandoori masala and fresh herbs turns out crisp, juicy, and absolutely delicious. A perfect meal for feeding family and friends.
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- Preheat oven to 200C/400F. Trim and rinse chicken. Pat the chicken dry inside and out with paper towel.
- Place the chicken, breast-side up, in a large roasting pan. Tie legs with kitchen string and tuck wings under. Separate the skin by running your fingers between the skin and breast meat very gently. This helps the skin get crisp. Distribute 8 sage leaves and the butter under the skin.
- Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with salt and tandoori spice mix. Place the rosemary and sage leaves in the chicken cavity.
- Place pan on the lowest oven shelf. Bake chicken for 11/4 hours unil golden brown. After chicken has roasted for 40 minutes, add pumpkins and onion wedges and continue to bake, turning vegetables during cooking until juices run clear when chicken thigh is pierced with a skewer (cover chicken with foil if over-browning).
5 Spice Chicken, Broccoli and Dukkah Salad
Thursday, November 02, 2017| |
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Try this fresh, simple and flavour-packed 5 spice chicken and broccoli salad with a green sauce made with avocado and Greek yoghurt for a satisfying, low-calorie and gluten-free meal.
| Salad | Avocado Dressing |
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- Place everything for the dressing in a blender. Process until smooth. Season with salt and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Place diced chicken in a bowl. Add in 5-spice, potato starch, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium- high heat. Cook marinated chicken for 4 to 5 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate. Cover loosely with foil.
- Meanwhile, place broccoli in a large, heatproof microwave- safe bowl. Add 2 tablespoons cold water. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes or until bright green and tender. Toss with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil.
- Place almond dukkah in a pan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add chicken and broccoli and toss for 1 to 2 minutes or until coated. Place arugula, sweet pepper rings and dried cranberries on a serving plate. Top with chicken broccoli mixture. Serve with avocado dressing.
Paprika Chicken with Quinoa Tabbouleh
Thursday, June 02, 2016| |
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With tender paprika chicken breast, an excellent source of lean protein, and quinoa, a gluten-free wholegrain also rich in protein, dietary fibre and antioxidants, this is a satisfying and super healthy dish that is filled with wonderful flavours and textures.
Paprika Chicken with Quinoa Tabbouleh
adapted from taste
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- Combine 300 ml water and rinsed quinoa in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside to cool.
- Add herbs, tomato, and spring onion to quinoa and toss to combine. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, cumin, cayenne and sugar, then season with salt.
- Place yoghurt in a bowl and drizzle over 2 teaspoons dressing, then sprinkle with some paprika. Toss the salad in remaining dressing.
- Mix 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, season, then brush over chicken. Heat a large grill pan until hot. Add in chicken and cook for 7-8 minutes each side until cooked through. Serve sliced with salad and yoghurt.
Oven Baked Chicken with Italian Seasoned Tomato Sauce
Wednesday, August 19, 2015| |
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This effortless meal from the oven features chicken breasts baked in an Italian-seasoned tomato sauce and it came out super moist, tender and it's on the table in just 30 minutes. It is high in protein and low in fat, but fabulous in flavour.
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- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Brush a baking pan with olive oil.
- Open up the chicken breasts on a flat surface and slice each down the center to provide 2 portions. Trim off and discard membranes and fat. Pound each chicken breast half lightly with a flat mallet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the prepared baking pan.
- Combine together the pureed tomato, chicken broth, cream, pressed garlic, Italian seasoning, black olives and parsley. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle the chicken with some shredded mozzarella cheese if desired and some more fresh parsley.
Dukkah-crusted Chicken Tenders with Red Lentil and Broccoli Salad
Sunday, March 22, 2015| |
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Oven-baked chicken tenders, adapted from Taste, spiced up with a crunchy Middle Eastern spice blend of toasted, coarsely ground hazelnuts, sesame, and spices. You can serve them with a sweet-sour sauce of honey and balsamic vinegar or on a bed of salad of choice.
Originally from Egypt, dukkah is a mixture of nuts (hazelnuts, almonds or pistachios), seeds and spices. The traditional way to serve fragrant Dukkah is with olive oil and bread – dunk the bread in olive oil, then the dukkah. You can also use for a crust on lamb or fish.
| Salad | Hazelnut Dukkah |
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- Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Spread the hazelnuts over a baking tray and cook in preheated oven for 3-4 minutes or until toasted. Rub the hazelnuts between a clean tea towel to remove as much skin as possible. Place the toasted hazelnuts in the bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Heat a medium frying pan over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Add to the bowl with the hazelnuts.
- Place coriander, cumin seeds and black peppercorns in a dry frying pan over medium heat, and cook, stirring frequently, for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic and seeds begin to pop. Transfer seeds to a mortar and pestle with sea salt. Pound until finely crushed. Add the crushed spices to the hazelnut mixture and mix well.
- Place chicken tenders on a plate. Coat both sides with hazelnut dukkah. Place them on a baking pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Bake at 190C/375F for 18-20 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
- Place the lentils in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set the saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil and cook until they are just barely tender and still quite red, about 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process. Shake out all excess water, and then put the red lentils into a large bowl.
- Cook the broccoli in a large saucepan of boiling water for 3-4 minutes or until bright green and tender crisp. Refresh under cold running water. Drain and add to the lentils in the bowl.
- Whisk together the honey, red wine vinegar and the remaining olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing, red onion and grape tomatoes to the lentils and broccoli. Toss to combine. Transfer salad to the serving plates and top with dukkah coated chicken tenders.


