To prepare the squid, pull out the tentacles and cut them free from the head and insides, which should be discarded. Pull out the pliable backbone (discard) and wash out the body. Peel away the skin and cut to open up the squid pouch. Score lightly and cut into bite size pieces.
Cantonese in origin, Lemon Chicken with its sharp, tart flavours is a popular choice in many Chinese restaurants. The sauce in this recipe is made from scratch using fresh lemons and we hope you find this a refreshing alternative to sweet and sour.
Congee, or rice porridge, is often eaten for breakfast in many parts of China and the Far East. It is usually served plain with salty and/or sour accompaniments (peanuts, salted egg or pickled vegetables) to flavour the blandness of the rice gruel. In this recipe I have added chicken to make a more substantial meal. … Continued
The noodles in this dish are bean thread noodles, sometimes called cellophane noodles. These noodles are made from mung bean starch and are gluten-free. When cooked these soft, slippery noodles absorb the flavours of the dish, in this case chilli bean paste, garlic and ginger – a delicious combination! Cooked with minced pork this Szechuan … Continued
A combination of tender beef fillet cooked in oyster and soya sauces, ginger and spring onions served on a bed of lightly fried flat rice noodles. The delicious sauce in this dish is thickened with cornflour which coates and flavours the noodles. A Chinese kitchen tip of adding a little bicarbonate of soda to the … Continued
A sauce (sometimes known as a Master Sauce) is the result of cooking meat in an infusion of soya sauces, sugar and a selection of spices. This sauce can be uses to flavour many dishes, especially noodle dishes and vegetables. Here is a family recipe (many families hand the recipe down from generation to generation) … Continued
This soup, said to have been invented by the Hokkien Chinese, is a popular dish in Malaysia and Singapore. It is a hearty herbal soup made with pork ribs and eaten with plain boiled rice. Bak Kut Teh, if made with a herbal sachet mix, is a pungent and robust soup and is perhaps not … Continued
These cookies are served to guests at Chinese New Year or other auspicious occasions. Take care when splitting the almonds by inserting a sharp knife into the flat side of the almond and twisting. If preferred you can use store bought slivered almonds instead – just press a couple of slivers into the cookie. This … Continued
The subtle combination of ginger, oyster sauce and broccoli has made this a family favourite. Do remember to blanch the broccoli first. Vegetarians may substitute beef with oyster or 57g dried Chinese mushrooms (soaked in hot water).
Tinned bamboo shoots are available in whole pieces and sliced from most supermarkets. This recipe uses the ready sliced variety. Do soak bamboo shoots in water and drain thoroughly before use.