Spicy Szechuan Chicken Wings
Be sure to provide plenty of paper napkins when you serve these chicken wings. Cook in the oven and finish off on a barbecue for best results. Ensure chicken is thoroughly cooked.
Spring
Hand Moulded Sushi
No need to roll up sushi when making this hand moulded version with tuna. When buying tuna it should be the freshest fish you can buy and of sushi quality. Eat immediately and discard any leftovers. Serve with Japanese soya sauce, which is slightly sweeter than Chinese soya sauce.
Udon Noodles with Tempura Prawns
Udon noodles are thick, slippery noodles made from wheat, oil and flour, often used in soup. In this recipe I recommend using instant dashi (soup stock made from seaweed and bonito flakes) for simplicity. The soft udon noodles and crunchy tempura prawns in this dish make for a delicious contrast of flavours and textures.
Sushi
Very much in vogue, sushi need not be a daunting meal to make. Use ingredients like avocado, cucumber, smoked salmon and tuna if you do not like the idea of raw fish. If the idea of rolling sushi does not appeal, just lay out the ingredients on a platter and place fillings on top.
Gado Gado
The best way to describe this dish is as a nicoise style salad. Simple to prepare, if you use a prepared satay sauce you can serve it either hot or cold. Satay sauce can at times, be a little concentrated so do water it down before serving.
Tamarind Beef (Assam Beef)
Tamarind is the pulp from the pods of the Tamarind tree. It has a sweet, sour, fruity aroma and taste and is used as a souring agent in curries and sambals. Interestingly it is a vital ingredient in the making of Worcestershire sauce. With this recipe the use of extra chillies is optional.
Thai Fish Cakes
These Thai fish cakes are simple to make and full of exotic flavours. Serve with sweet chilli dipping sauce and lime wedges as a starter. Have a bowl of water handy when forming the fish cakes as this stops the mixture from sticking to your fingers.
Red Bean Pancakes
Desserts do not feature prominently on Chinese restaurant menus, maybe because after all the food consumed there is no space left for dessert. These pancakes are very simple to make and are delicious served on their own or with ice cream. The filling is available in our stores and online.
Lamb with Courgettes in Oyster Sauce
The strong flavour of lamb in this dish is counter-acted by the use of ginger. Cut the lamb into paper thin slices for quick cooking. Feel free to substitute lamb with another meat.
Salt and Pepper Ribs
The spareribs available from most supermarkets usually come in two sizes. The short cut ribs are perfect for this recipe but if these are not available, carefully chop the larger ribs into smaller pieces. Do not cut down the marinating process as it plays an important part in flavouring and contributes towards tenderising the spareribs.