Tea Eggs
Monday, March 20, 2023Tea egg is a popular Chinese snack with marble patterns, in which the boiled eggs are cracked all around and then boiled again in a spiced tea made with soya sauce and spices (I used star anise, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, chilli pepper, and orange rind). These eggs are so flavourful and usually have a greenish gray ring because they cook much longer. It's harmless and perfectly edible. If you prefer soft runny yolks, skip the 2nd boiling, just steep the cracked eggs in the spiced tea for 24 hours. The leftover spiced tea can be reused. Freeze it if you don’t plan to make another batch soon.
Feel free to choose any tea you prefer or have on hand. Use dark soya sauce if you could, as it helps to create the marble effect. The longer the eggs stay in the spiced tea, the more intense the marble effect. Enjoy them as a snack or breakfast!
Taiwanese Pineapple Pastry
Sunday, April 26, 2020This is a very popular traditional Taiwanese dessert (凤梨酥, pronounced Feng Li Su) with a really yummy flaky pastry encased with a thick, not-too-sweet pineapple filling. Pineapple in Taiwanese or Hokkien means 'prosperous and thriving', they are therefore often given as a part of an engagement gifts, or simply as well-wishing presents around lunar Chinese New Year.
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- Drain pineapple well.Crush with a blender and place them in a skillet. Using medium heat, cook the drained crushed pineapple and sugar until most liquid has evaporated, and the filling turned golden. Stirring constantly using a wooden spoon to avoid burning. Set aside to cool.
- Beat shortening, butter and powdered sugar in a mixer until it turns light in color and fluffy. Gradually beat in whole egg and yolk until well combined. Sift in the flour and fold until just combined. Dissolve baking soda in the water and blend with the the mixture.
- Line baking trays with parchment paper. Divide the pastry dough and pineapple filling each into 28 equal rounds. Line work surface with large sheet of plastic wrap. Place and flatten the pastry dough on the plastic wrap with the palms and put the pineapple filling in the middle. and use the dough to cover the filling. Arrange it into moulds of your choice. Lightly draw the plastic wrap out of the mould, and turn the pastry onto the prepared tray. You can also grease the moulds and press the dough directly into the moulds. Bake in the preheated 170C/340F oven for about 22-25 minutes until light brown.
Sourdough Chinese Crullers and Jian Bing Guo Zi – Pancake Rolled With Yau Char Kwai
Sunday, April 12, 2020Jiānbĭngguŏzi (煎饼果子)is a typical Tianjin breakfast. Jiānbĭng, or "pancake" is prepared with egg and cooked on a skillet, then topped with a guŏzi (果子)(commonly called in Northern China) or Yau Char Kwai(used in Southern China) or fried dough stick, drizzled with scallions, sesame seeds and sauces and rolled up, like a wrap.
Sourdough Chinese Crullers - Yau Char Kwai
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- Combine first the starter, water in a bowl, and then stir in flour until a dough forms. Cover with a plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 12-18 hours. Whisk together ammonia, potassium carbonate, baking soda and baking powder in a bowl. Pour in water and blend all together.
- In a larger container, add in the sponge and flour. Pour in the mixture and stir them into a ball. Cover and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Set the dough on a greased work surface. Lightly press the dough into a flat rectangle and fold into three. Give it a quarter-turn to the right, cover and allow it to rest for another 15 minutes. Repeat folding and relaxing two more times. Now place the dough on a lightly oiled baking peel, press out the dough into a rectangle, about 5mm thick. Cover closely and chill overnight.
- Next morning, remove the dough from the fridge and divide the dough into 3x1-inch long strips. At the same time heat up a heavy skillet half-filled with frying oil until 180C/350F. Lightly press together two strips, which are overlappingly to each other, holding two ends closely and low them into the hot oil. Fry and turn the dough sticks until golden brown. Drain and cool slightly. These fried dough sticks are very often consumed with congee or soya drink
soya drink. Besides eating fried dough sticks with congee and soya drink, you can prepare a Jian Bing Guo Zi (Fried Dough Stick Wrap), a traditional breakfast in Tianjin and Beijing.
Jian Bing Guo Zi – Pancake Rolled With Yau Char Kwai
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- Mix together flours, water and salt until you have a well-combined and lump free mixture. Heat up a skillet, and brush with a bit of oil. Scoop 3-4 tablespoons of batter into the skillet. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
- Pour 1/3 of egg over, sprinkle chopped scallions and sesame seeds. Cook the batter for 1-2 minutes. Turn and cook the pancake until golden brown. Place it on a serving plate and brush with the sauces. Center the Yau Char Kwai and wrap up. Repeat with the rest of the batter and egg.
Cumin-flavoured Beef Wonton Soup
Tuesday, March 31, 2020The wonton, also spelled wantan, wanton, or wuntun, is a type of Chinese dumpling. They are made with a thin wrapper filled with tender, juicy seasoned ground meat or seafood and are available in steamed, deep-fried or in soup with or without noodles.
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- For filling, combine all ingredients except water in a bowl. Gradually add in water and mix with chopsticks until all the ingredients are well-blended and smooth.
- Position wonton skin with one point towards you. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon of filling just below center of skin. Fold bottom point of skin over the filling. Roll up skin and filling, leaving 1 inch at the top of skin. Moisten the edges of the triangle and bring both points of the triangle base towards the center to form a wonton shape.
- Bring some water to a boil. Drop 20 wontons one at a time. Simmerangiesrecipes, uncovered about 3-5 minutes until the wonton float. Freeze the rest of uncooked in airtight containers. Boil directly from frozen for 6 to 8 minutes.
- At the same time, bring the broth, salt and carrot julienne to boiling in a saucepan. Place some wonton in the bowls and add in preserved cabbage, seaweed and green onion. Ladle the soup into bowls and drizzle with sesame oil. Enjoy!