No-Frills Recipes ... cooking, baking & excerpts on travel

Taucheo or fermented bean paste is salty but when sauted with fresh ginger and garlic, the gravy makes a perfect combination with steamed fish.  If you like the gravy to be slightly spicy, toss in some  birdeye chillies and add in a bit of sugar to taste.  This steamed fish is quick and easy to prepare and is extremely appetising.  But do bear in mind that steamed fish must be eaten straight from the steamer as the taste differs when the dish is cold.



Steamed ikan kembong with bean paste ~  豆酱蒸鱼

Ingredients
400 gm ikan kembong4 tsp garlic and ginger, chopped1 Tbsp fermented bean paste (taucheo)2 birdeye chillies1/2 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp waterSpring onions to garnishMethod Clean up the ikan kembong, season with some salt.Heat up some oil in a pan, saute the garlic and ginger till fragrant, add in the bean paste.  Add in 1/2 cup water.  Fine tune to taste with some sugar.  Add in cornstarch thickening. Set aside.Arrange the fish onto a plate.  Steam on high heat for 8 mins.Immediately pou…

This is a delicious muffin with the subtle taste of greentea and pairing it with red bean paste is a perfect marriage.  This muffin is mildly sweet and it's perfect for breakfast or on-the-go snack.  Do give this recipe a try!





Greentea muffins with red bean paste ~  绿茶红豆玛芬
Ingredients
240 gm plain flour1 Tbsp baking powder100 gm caster sugar1'L' egg, slightly beaten1 cup milk1/4 cup oil2 tsp greentea powderred bean paste (homemade)1 tsp vanillaa pinch of saltMethod Sift the plain flour, baking powder and greentea powder into a mixing bowl.  Mix in sugar and salt till well incorporated.  Set aside.In another bowl, beat the egg, add in the oil followed by the milk and vanilla.  Mix well.Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, till just combined.  Do not overmix.Scoop the batter into a paper lined muffin pan, half full, then add in a heaped teaspoonful of red bean paste.  Cover with some more batter.Bake in a preheated oven @ 180 deg.C for 20 to 25 mins. till brown.  T…

When I was recommended to try this dish in a restaurant, I was both hesitant and at the same time intrigued by its name.  I've heard of the song 'Bridge over troubled water' but Tofu crossing the bridge?  So to satisfy everyone's curiosity, we agreed to give it a try.  It's a nutritious dish with a good source of protein in the Tofu pork and egg all in one.  It was just tasty and delicious to go with a bowl of steaming hot white rice!





Tofu Bridge ~  跨桥豆腐


Ingredients
200 gm minced pork2 pieces soft Tofu1 eggSeasoning for minced pork - salt plus 1.1/2 tsp cornflouarSauce to add to the dish after steamed and before serving - (3 tsp hot water, 1.1/2 tsp light soya sauce, 1/4 tsp sugar mix till dissovled)1 tsp sesame oil and garlic oil to garnish Method Slice up the Tofu into 8 pieces, and place on a plate.Spread the seasoned minced pork on both sides of the TofuLightly beat up the egg and pour on top of the minced pork.Steam the dish for 8 mins, on high heat.Mix the garlic…

It's the time of the year for mooncakes again and as in previous years, there seems to be a growing vast variety of mooncakes of different flavours.  This year, the Mid-Autumn or Mooncake Festival falls on 13th September, Friday.  The malls are all decorated with paraphenalia associated with the festival and sell special food at this time of the year.






Snowskin yam paste mooncake  ~ 2019 ~ 芋头冰皮月饼)

Ingredients for Yam Paste
500 gm yam100 gm sugar25 gm wheatstarch1/8 tsp salt70 ml vegetable oil (may require less)Method Peel yam, cut into slices and weigh out 500 gm.  Steam yam slices on medium heat for about 30 mins. till soft.Immediately mash up the yam slices while still hot (yam will harden once cooled) OR can use a handheld blender to blend.  (I used the latter).Pour the mashed yam into a non-stick pot, stir on low heat adding oil little by little.  Gradually add in sugar and salt.  All this while, keep stirring on low heat.Cook till the yam mixture is semi dry and firm, leaving the…

Milo, a popular beverage of chocolate and malt powder is the key ingredient in this Milo Chiffon Cake.   This light and moist chiffon is enhanced with an addition of Nutella and can be served at any time of the day.  If you like more Milo, accompany it with a hot drink of this beverage.




Milo Chiffon Cake ~   美禄戚风蛋糕  (adapted from 'here' )
Ingredients
(A)  5 large egg yolks
       15 gm caster sugar
       45 gm vegetable oil
       100 ml milo (3 tsp milo powder + hot water to make 100 ml)
       1 heapful Tbsp Nutella - about 30 gm
       100 gm plain flour, sifted
       1 tsp vanilla

(B)
       5 large egg whites
       45 gm caster sugar )   Mix together
       1 Tbsp cornflour     )

Method
Combine hot milo and nutella, mix well, set aside to cool.Combine sugar with cornflour, mix till well combined.Beat egg yolks with sugar, gradually add in oil, milo mixture and vanilla.  Mix till well combined.Sift flour into the egg yolk mixture and mix well.In a clean bowl, beat egg whites…

These Mung Bean Cakes are made with split mung beans and they can pass off as mooncakes as they are shaped using the plunger moulds for mooncakes.  I find these mung bean cakes refreshing and not so heavy as mooncakes and they are a perfect match with a cup of hot Chinese tea.




Mung Bean Cake  ~   绿豆糕
Ingredients
300 gm split mung beans30 gm Crisco shortening70 ml vegetable oil100 gm organic cane sugar1.1/2 Tbsp honeyabout 100 gm red bean paste1/2 tsp matcha powderpinch of saltpandan leavesMethod Wash and soak the mung beans with 700 ml water, overnight.Next day, rinse the mung beans and cook it in a rice cooker with about 1 inch of water covering the mung beans.  (I used the 'congee' function of the rice cooker).Put the cooked mung beans in a blender and blend till fine with 120 ml water.Heat up a non-stick pan with shortening and once melted, pour in the blended mung beans.  Keep stirring on medium heat and then add in vegetable oil.  Once all the oil has been absorbed, add in h…

These moist applesauce muffins have a delicious apple cinnamon flavour, fluffy and moist in texture.  Not only are they healthy and nutritiuos, they are so easy to make.  Perfect for breakfast or snacks!







Applesauce Choc-Chip Wholemeal Muffins ~    苹果巧克力全麦玛芬
Ingredients
250 gm self-raising wholemeal flour100 gm caster sugar1/4 tsp salt1/ 2 cup vegetable oil2 large eggs1/2 cup milk1/2 cup lightly sweetened homemade applesauce1/2 tsp cinnamon100 gm choc chips200 gm chopped applesApplesauce 4 Gala apples, peeled, cored and chopped3/4 cup water30 gm granulated sugar1/4 tsp cinnamonMethod for Applesauce In a saucepan, combine all the above ingredients, cover and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 mins.  till apples are soft.  Cool, mash with a fork or a potato masher.Place in a container and keep refrigerated.Yield - 1 cup of applesauceMethod In a mixing bowl, whisk the wholemeal flour, sugar and salt.   Mix well.In another bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, milk and applesauce till well combined.Add th…