Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thai Coconut Soup

"This soup is for Asian-food lovers. It's so versatile you can make it vegetarian or substitute chicken for shrimp." Courtesy from Susan C (101cookingrecipe.com)


Recipe
1 pound medium shrimp - peeled and deveined
2 (13.5 ounce) cans canned coconut milk
2 cups water
1 (1 inch) piece galangal, thinly sliced
4 stalks lemon grass, bruised and chopped
10 kaffir lime leaves, torn in half
1 pound shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup lime juice
3 tbsp fish sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp curry powder
1 tbsp green onion, thinly sliced
1 tsp dried red pepper flakes

Method :
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Boil the shrimp until cooked, about one minute. Drain shrimp, and set aside.

2. Pour the coconut milk and 2 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a simmer. Add the galangal, lemon grass, and lime leaves; simmer for 10 minutes, or until the flavors are infused. Strain the coconut milk into a new pan and discard the spices. Simmer the shiitake mushrooms in the coconut milk for five minutes. Stir in the lime juice, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Season to taste with curry powder.

3. To serve, reheat shrimp in the soup, and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with green onion and red pepper flakes.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Malaysian Chicken Curry - How to Get That Authentic Malaysian Flavor

The key to great Malaysian food is to use the best ingredients. This tip applies to so many recipes. Look at Mexican cooking, for example. A lot of people assume that all Mexican food (and Malaysian food) is ultra spicy but this is untrue.

Mexicans love to use fresh produce and so do Malaysians. The best recipes are made with fresh produce, as well as good quality meal, poultry or fish, and the best chef in the world would find it tough to make an excellent recipe if he or she is only given poor quality ingredients to work with.

The following recipe is a great example of a top Malaysian dish because various fresh ingredients are used to give it a wonderful taste. The chicken is combined with potatoes, onions, tomatoes and garlic to make a healthy meal, and then more flavor is added by using paprika, chili, cumin, curry powder, cilantro, coconut milk, and a bay leaf. This combination of herbs and spices gives the dish an authentic Malaysian flavor and keeps it nutritious as well as very flavorful.

How to Adapt Malaysian Recipes
You can adapt recipes like this Malaysian chicken curry if you want to. Even if you are relatively new to the world of international recipes, adapting them is not difficult. For example, why not leave the spices and seasonings as they are but change the vegetables? Use half a pound of regular potatoes and half a pound of sweet potatoes for a sweeter flavor. Swap one of the onions for some thin slices of broccoli or zucchini if you want to.

Changes like this will not affect the balanced taste of the dish but it will add extra color and flavor to it and it will also allow to you use up any vegetables you want to get rid of which are past their prime.
If you prefer a spicier dish, you can increase the amount of curry powder and chili powder but bear in mind that not everybody likes hot food so it might be best to make the recipe as it is and then just add some extra chili to yours at the table.

The Recipe - Step by Step
What you will need:
  • 1 chicken, cut into parts
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 2 chopped onions
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 lb peeled, chopped potatoes
  • 3 chopped cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 chopped tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
How to make it:
Heat the oil in a pot and saute the garlic and onion for one minute. Add the chicken and cook for three minutes more. Add the spices and stir the mixture well. Add the potatoes and let the dish cook until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through. Add everything else, adjust the seasoning, and serve the curry over steamed or boiled rice.

Chicken is an economical ingredient and its mild flavor makes it really versatile. You can make all kinds of tempting dishes with this ingredient, from easy chicken salad recipes to a delicious baked chicken rice recipe.
BonelessChickenRecipe.com - Chicken so delightfully moist, you can almost smell it through your monitor.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Asian Food Recipes - Delicious Oriental Cuisine

Are you looking for Asian food recipes? Stumped? Are you just not sure where to look? There are many resources for recipes out there, and even trying to find different ethnic food recipes isn't all that difficult. Between the internet, book stores, libraries and even word of mouth- it's simply not that difficult to find whatever kind of recipe you're searching for.

One quick word of advice when looking for recipes of any type- make sure that before you try a recipe or purchase a recipe book, that you find ones that suit your cooking skill level. For example, if you need a recipe for shrimp fried rice, make sure you fully understand anything the recipe asks for, and that you have all ingredients before beginning. Try not to use a recipe that demands you poach an egg, unless you have poached an egg before or you understand what poaching means when cooking.

Asian food recipes can be found on many websites, especially those dedicated to cooking or food appreciation. If you have trouble finding exactly what you're looking for, and you want to cook something specific, make use of the many forums, newsgroups and message boards that are out there on cooking sites. Chances are, you'll come across someone who can help you find what you're looking for or someone who has a recipe that perfect for you. All you have to do is post a message about what you're looking for.

Another excellent resource for Asian food recipes is to go to your local book store or even a large chain retail book store, these types of stores have hundreds of different cook books in various ethnicity. You'll be able to find a cook book that has exactly what you want or need if you go to one of these places. Another bonus to going to the store and buying a cook book is that you can thumb through it before purchasing it, to make sure it has what you need in it and explains things clearly.

Make sure, if you choose to buy a cook book, that you buy one specifically for Asian food recipes. You wouldn't buy a Japanese or Sushi cook book if you're wanting to learn different ways to make meatloaf, would you? The same rule applies no matter which type of dish you're wanting to prepare. Make sure that you get a cook book that is appropriate for whatever type food you're wishing to cook.

Likewise, it's important to not purchase a full cook book unless it's got other recipes you may wish to prepare at some point. Don't buy the whole cook book just for one recipe, you'll likely end up feeling it was a waste of money and not a logical purchase. Search for individual recipes before buying a cook book, that way you can even make your own cook book filled with things YOU like and will cook.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about asian food recipes [http://topasiafood.info/asian-food-recipes-delicious-oriental-cuisine], please visit Top Asia Food [http://topasiafood.info] for current articles and discussions.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Chinese Cooking Recipes - 5 Great Vegetables For Chinese Food

Chinese food is becoming more popular but the flavors of Chinese cooking recipes differ from other cuisines. One of the biggest conflicts is which vegetables work well in Chinese cooking.

Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots are the edible roots of the bamboo plant which is found almost everywhere in Asia. It has a crunchy snap and a light flavor. It has a slightly sweet taste and can be found sliced in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

Broccoli
There are many kinds of broccoli but the most traditional is Chinese broccoli. It is different than normal broccoli because it is a leafy green broccoli. Normal broccoli is typically used in Chinese cooking recipes if Chinese broccoli can't be found.
Water Chestnuts
Water chestnuts are actually an aquatic vegetable. It has a crunchy texture and a slight nutty flavor. It is usually found canned either sliced or whole in the Asian isle of most supermarkets.

Baby Corn
Baby corn is a small corn on an edible cob. It is firm but gives easily when chewed. It has a very mild corn flavor. Baby corn is typically found in the canned vegetables isle of grocery stores.

Mung Bean Sprouts
Also known as bean sprouts and are readily available in the vegetable area of your supermarket. Bean sprouts are the white sprouts of the mung bean and have a crisp texture with a sweet flavor. The trick to cooking bean sprouts is to not cook them too long. Cooking them for 30 seconds in a hot stir-fry is the general rule.
More Vegetables
Chinese vegetables are sometimes a variety to the common vegetables we usually think of for our dishes but can be radically different. Chinese cooking recipes use a variety of vegetables which has increased as trade has increased. Check out Chinese Cooking Recipes for more ideas or visit http://www.squidoo.com/chinese-cooking-recipes-the-best-places-for-recipes-of-chinese-cooking for more information.

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Asian Food Recipes - Delicious Oriental Cuisine

By

Are you looking for Asian food recipes? Stumped? Are you just not sure where to look? There are many resources for recipes out there, and even trying to find different ethnic food recipes isn't all that difficult. Between the internet, book stores, libraries and even word of mouth- it's simply not that difficult to find whatever kind of recipe you're searching for.

One quick word of advice when looking for recipes of any type- make sure that before you try a recipe or purchase a recipe book, that you find ones that suit your cooking skill level. For example, if you need a recipe for shrimp fried rice, make sure you fully understand anything the recipe asks for, and that you have all ingredients before beginning. Try not to use a recipe that demands you poach an egg, unless you have poached an egg before or you understand what poaching means when cooking.

Asian food recipes can be found on many websites, especially those dedicated to cooking or food appreciation. If you have trouble finding exactly what you're looking for, and you want to cook something specific, make use of the many forums, newsgroups and message boards that are out there on cooking sites. Chances are, you'll come across someone who can help you find what you're looking for or someone who has a recipe that perfect for you. All you have to do is post a message about what you're looking for.
Another excellent resource for Asian food recipes is to go to your local book store or even a large chain retail book store, these types of stores have hundreds of different cook books in various ethnicity. You'll be able to find a cook book that has exactly what you want or need if you go to one of these places. Another bonus to going to the store and buying a cook book is that you can thumb through it before purchasing it, to make sure it has what you need in it and explains things clearly.

Make sure, if you choose to buy a cook book, that you buy one specifically for Asian food recipes. You wouldn't buy a Japanese or Sushi cook book if you're wanting to learn different ways to make meatloaf, would you? The same rule applies no matter which type of dish you're wanting to prepare. Make sure that you get a cook book that is appropriate for whatever type food you're wishing to cook.

Likewise, it's important to not purchase a full cook book unless it's got other recipes you may wish to prepare at some point. Don't buy the whole cook book just for one recipe, you'll likely end up feeling it was a waste of money and not a logical purchase. Search for individual recipes before buying a cook book, that way you can even make your own cook book filled with things YOU like and will cook.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about asian food recipes [http://topasiafood.info/asian-food-recipes-delicious-oriental-cuisine], please visit Top Asia Food [http://topasiafood.info] for current articles and discussions.

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Delve Into Asian Cuisine - New Ways to Spruce Up Your Dinner Table

Sprucing up dinner doesn't have to require mountains of cookbooks and a search for some obscure ingredients than end up costing too much money. It's easy to change the atmosphere and experience of a simple dinner or a demure dinner party just by opting for a new type of cuisine for awhile. And the best part is that sometimes, big changes that look fancy end up costing a whole lot less than your guest or family members might guess.

One of the best ways to spruce up your dinner table is a foray into Asian cuisine, which has become more and more popular in America since the 1970s. With the chance to go Asian, you're able to try out a variety of preparation methods, plus expand your repertoire of seasoning and sauces. And this is a great way to discover new favorite dishes, as well as to impress those aspiring foodies who you might be dining with.
The best part about trying out more Asian cuisine is that there are now American counterparts to a lot of the more expensive items.

With Alaska Surimi Seafood available, it's now possible to try out a number of dishes without having to head to a speciality food store, or spending too much money on an imported product. And there's the additional benefit that, with Alaska Surimi Seafood, you're devouring an ingredient that is just as delicious as it is responsible, since there is far less Alaskan overfishing than in other parts of the world.

With any type of surimi, the recipe options are practically endless. You can try your hand at preparing Japanese fish cakes and fish sausages, to go with delicious vegetable and rices dishes. Or you can try out the numerous different fish balls that are so popular in a number of different Southeast Asian cuisines. With a simple bamboo steamer, your entire household can be enjoying delicious and classic meals that cost a fraction of what a fresh piece of fish would be at the local market.

With sushi such a popular food to enjoy out at restaurants, there's no reason to not try to make your own at home. This is another excellent use for surimi, which can be easily incorporated into a number of different rolls. And because you are dealing with something that has already been cooked, there is far less risk involved if you're not an expert at handling your raw fish. It's definitely far less expensive to prepare sushi in your own home, too.

There are plenty of different ways to prepare Alaska seafood. The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute has great instructional videos to show you just how to create the perfect dish.