Crispy WhiteBait Fish

I had a fun and enjoyable holiday in Hong Kong last month. I went to some of the outlying islands for the great scenery and cultural experience. 

I bought some dried whitebait fish from Tai O, this place is famous for their dried seafood such as fish maw, prawn paste etc...

Method;
Rinsed and drained a handful of dried whitebait fish
Prepare seasoning powder by mixing Garlic Salt, Pepper & Self-raising flour
Toss whitebait fish with seasoning powder, ensure that they are evenly coated
Deep fried in hot oil till golden brown
Drained and serve with chili mix
Enjoy!

Dinner On 大年初二

往往大年初二的晚餐较丰盛 and after some preparations, Dad and I came up with the following dishes...

金玉满堂

金光闪闪七龙珠

和气发财

年年有余鱼头炉

Refreshing Yakult Green Oolong Tea with Ice Jelly

团圆饭 2012

To most chinses, CNY reunion dinner which falls on the eve of Chinese New Year is meaningful and normally during this day, the dishes will symbolise good luck and wealth. Our familys' dinner menu are as follows;

吉祥乳猪

黄金虾条

富贵海参饺

翡翠蒜

福气猪肚海参汤

苦瓜豉汁魚頭

A special request from me and dad cooked us his best dish~ fish head with bitter gourd. A dish loved by all of us for the past 2 decades. Lolz... Thumb's up and it's dad's specialty!

Oh well, I helped in preparing the sauce and the other ingredients!

Lobster Salad

Dad bought some super fresh lobster back home for dinner and i decided to make a salad as a starter for us. Hmm... to dad, he considered the lobsters super cheap. Well? Izzit so? 4 medium lobster cost $60.00, well can say it's cheaper than restaurant.

Ingredients;
4 medium lobster
Mayonnaise
lime juice
Condensed milk
Pinch of salt
Yoghurt
Shredded lettuce
Cherry tomatoes

Method;
-Wash and thoroughly clean the lobsters.
-Steamed till cooked.
-Remove shell, cut into bite sizes.
-Mixed the salad sauce together, toss with the lobster.
-Serve over lettuce and tomatoes.
-Enjoy!

Lobster heads for Jesper and Dad. Lolz.. they love meatless part.

Look at these super fresh lobsters! Still struggling and kicking b4 they die :-( oops... i sound so evil, but that's the way to cook them.

Crispy Breaded Fish Balls

I've made some breaded mushroom pork balls for Tab's party the other day and mum actually comment that she prefer eating breaded fish balls. Hello, its meant for Tab's party and not mums'! lolz...
Alright den, i shall fulfill her request! Erm.. seems like i been fulfilling everyone's request these days. Who shall fulfill mine?! haha...

Ingredients;
Fried fish balls
Potato starch
Egg, beaten
Breadcrumbs
Oil for deep frying
Finely chopped coriander leaves

Method;
-Wash and clean the fish balls.
-Dry with kitchen towel, coat lightly with potato starch.
-Dip into beaten egg, followed by breadcrumbs.
-Deep fried in warm oil till golden brown.
-Drained, sprinkle with chopped coriander and serve.
-Enjoy!

甜豆醬汁燜魚

I have some leftover sauce from my braised pork-ribs and not wanting to waste, i suggested to dad using it to cook my a fish dish. To my surprise, the master who is 'pro' in cooking fish dishes asked me to do it myself and should the dishes turned out awful, I have to bear the full responsibility. Oops... a challenge for me! Lolz... heng ar, lucky the dish turn out yummy! Thumbs up!

Ingredients;
2 medium fish, (black promfet can be use)
1/2 cup stewed pork-ribs sauce
1 tbsp sweet bean paste
Oyster sauce
Shredded ginger
Dark soy sauce
Sugar
Salt
Water
Oil for frying

Method;
-Deep fried fish till crispy golden brown. Drained.
-Fry ginger in oil till crispy and fragrant.
-Add bean paste, fry for a min b4 adding sauce and water.
-Bring to boil, add fish and cook till gravy thickens.
-Garnish and serve.
-Enjoy!

Spicy Sambal Squid

Squid or sotong has never been my favourite 1stly, high in cholesterol, 2ndly I dun like the overcooked 'eraser' texture! haha... Dunno what come over me as I have a sudden crave for spicy sambal squid. Oh, it muz be after the dinner on Father's Day! Lolz...

Ingredients;
300g small squid, blanched and soak in ice-cubes
1 large onion, slice
2 stalks green onions, cut into section of 3cm length
2 chili padi, cut into strips
Oil for frying

Sauce;
2 tsp home-made chili paste
1 tsp grind chili sauce
1 tsp tomato ketchup
1 tbsp water
Salt
Sugar

Method;
-Fry onion in oil for a min, add stalks of green onion, continue to fry for a while.
-Push to side of wok, fry grind chili for 20 secs, pour in sauce.
-Add rest of the ingredients, give it a quick stir and serve.
-Enjoy!

姜葱水煮鱼

Having a very strong crave for fish in dark soy sauce and decided to cook this dish and save for Dad's dinner when he comes home later. Steamed fish can't be kept hence will prefer fishes being cooked this way as what I love most is the flesh of the fish being soaked with dark sauce
gravy.

Ingredients;
1 medium fish, shallow fried till 60% cooked
2 stalks spring onion, cut into 3cm length
2 chili padi, cut into strips
1 pc old ginger, shred
Dark soy sauce
Oyster sauce
Sugar
Stock
Oil

Method;
-Fry ginger with oil till crispy and fragrant
-Add stock and seasoning, bring to boil.
-Add in fried fish and simmer on both sides till sauce thickens.
-Toss in spring onions & chili, cook for about 3 mins.
-Serve & Enjoy!

Assam Fish Head With Ginger Bulb Flower

I had a sudden craving for ginger bulb flower and its best eating with a touch of spiciness. Since dad has no idea of what sauce to cook the fish head with, I decided to go ahead and buy my ginger bulb flower b4 telling dad bout my choice.

Ingredients;
Fish head, half portion
30g assam paste
Water
1/2 ginger bulb flower, chopped
2 tsp home-made chili paste
1 tsp grind chili
Sugar
1 tomato, wedged
1 tsp oil

Method;
-Add water to the assam paste, squeeze and drained.
-Fry ginger bulb flower with oil till fragrant, add grind chili and fry for about 10 seconds.
-Add chili paste, assam water, sugar and tomatoes.
-Bring to full boil.
-Serve over steamed fish head.
-Garnished and enjoy!

菜蒲蒜容酱料蒸鱼

Dad bought a new breed of fish, erm..something from the sea and i dunno the name. All I know is that this breed of fish is very dark and has super thick lips.

Ingredients;
1 fish, about 900g
1 handful chye po, chopped
3 clove garlic, chopped
2 stalks spring onion, chopped
Oil for frying
Oyster sauce
Sugar
30ml water

Method;
-Fry garlic in hoy till fragrant, add chye po and fry for 5-8mins.
-Season to taste, add water and bring to boil.
-Set aside for later use.
-Steam fish for about 12mins or until cook.
-Pour away water from steamed fish, drizzle with chye po mixed.
-Sprinkle green oniosn and serve.
-Enjoy!

Look at the thick lips which drove Adam crazy! Ya.. he's delighted over the fish eye and lips. *Gross* .... and i dun fancy the parts which he loves. 'Chinese' are the ones whom eat all parts of an animal. Sad that Adam is 1 of the kind! :-P

辣味菜心鱼头

I came to realize that pork and fish are a great match! And yes, especially when the fats of pork are being fried till super fragrance, mix in with other condiments and serve over fish. Wow... at the thought of it already makes me drool! I'm loving it.

Ingredients;
1/2 portion of large fish head, steamed
1/2 can pickled lettuce, diced
Minced pork (with bits of fats or lard)
1 tsp chili paste
2 tsp hei bee hiam
Sugar
Salt
Oyster sauce
Stock
1 clove garlic, minced
Oil for frying

Method;
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant, add minced pork and fry till meat change colour.
-Push mixture to side of wok, fry chili paste for 10 secs, add hei bee hiam and mix well.
-Stir in lettuce, seasonings and stock.
-Bring to full boil, simmer until gravy slightly thickens.
-Pour mixture over steamed fish head and serve.
-Enjoy!

Crispy Fried Fish

The old school way of cooking fish and serving them with dark soy sauce. Hey, funny ya, i've come across people telling me that what they love most is eating deep fried fish with plain rice and dark soy sauce.
Alright people, many of u may think that in our current society, seldom people will choose to eat small or medium fish with plain rice and dark sauce, den you are wrong. In fact up till now many elder still prefer that way as they grew up eating fishes that way.

Ingredients;
2 medium fishes
Salt
Oil for shallow frying

Method;
-Wash and clean fishes, marinade with salt and set aside for 15 mins.
-Rinse and drained.
-Pat dry with kitchen towel.
-Shallow fry till crispy.
-Serve with thick dark soy sauce.
-Enjoy!

香烧双丝斗昌

We been having 酸菜鱼for 2 consecutive sundays and i decided to come up with something different to go with the promfet.

Ingredients;
1 promfet
Some lard, diced

Toppings;
Lean meat, cut into strips
Sichuan veggie, cut into thin long strips
2 chili padi, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
Stock
Oil for frying

Method;
-Fry lard with oil will crispy, drained.
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant, add chili and fry for 30 secs b4 adding in the sichuan veggie.
-Fry over low heat for 5-8mins.
-Push mixture to side of wok, fry lean meat till change colour.
-Mix well, add stock & seasonings.
-Bring to full boil and set aside for later use.
-Steamed fish till 70% cooked, drizzle toppings over and continue to steam for another 2 mins.
-Sprinkle crispy lard over & serve.
-Enjoy!

*Reason for frying the sichuan veggie over low heat is b'coz they tends to sparkles when being stir fry with oil.

酸菜鱼

The roasted pork with mustard toppings can be serve over any style of fish. However i would find steamed, baked or fried fish the best.

Ingredients;
Any fish, steamed or fried
Some roasted pork strips
1 bunch of sour mustard veggie, shred
1 clove garlic, chopped
2 chili padi, chopped
Water
Oyster sauce
Sugar

Method;
-Fry roasted pork till crispy, set aside for later use.
-Fry garlic & chili till fragrant, add mustard and fry for another 2 mins.
-Add stock and seasonings, bring to full boil.
-Simmer & toss in roasted meat.
-Serve over fish.
-Enjoy!

Here's the steamed version.

Cheezy Mayo Prawn Bites ~For 元宵节Celebration

元宵节快乐! It is the last day of Chinese New Year and after today, there wont be anymore new year mood. haha... In a way good as 15 days of celebration is way too long for me. Many people feast on this day, especially the teochews. While the hokkiens will eat 汤圆 to symbolize 团圆. Since it is a weekday and i have to be at work, mum fried some prawn fritters and i used portion of it to make a cheezy mayo prawn bites.

Method;
3 large prawn fritters, cut into bite sizes
2 tsp fat free mayo
1 tsp condensed milk
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 tsp salad dressing
1/2 slice of reduced fat cheese
Roasted sesame seeds

Method;
-Melt cheese in a metal bowl over pot of hot water
-Mix in mayo, milk, salad dressing and lime juice
-Mix well, toss in prawn bites
-Sprinkle roasted sesame seeds over and serve
-Enjoy!

Part 2 of our party~ have a drink with snacks! Enjoying my favourite bacardi with some peanut crackers. Shiok ar....

Fried Fish Steak with Onion Chili and Lime

Something similar to what I've cooked previously but with a twist of lime rather than assam. The chili mixture on the fish is supposed to be dry and not too wet just in case the crispy becomes soggy!
Ingredients;
2 fish steak or fillet
Salt
1 tbsp chili paste
1/2 tsp sugar
5 shallots or 1 large onions
20 ml water
Oil for frying
2 limes

Method;
-Wash and clean fish, rub with salt and let it sit for 15 mins.
-Rinse off and pat dry.
-Shallow fry in hot oil till crispy.
-Drained and serve onto serving plate.
-Fry onions in 1 tsp oil till fragrant, add chili paste and mix well.
-Season to taste, add stock and simmer.
-Top onion chili mixture over fried fish.
-Squeeze lime juice over fish and enjoy!

I'm loving it! :-)

清蒸红石班(潮州式)

Oh i missed out Chinese mushrooms for this steam fish! Do remember to add when you wanna prepare this dish. Dad loves steamed fish, especially promfet and garoupa. I know it is against moral ethics to eat red garoupa as they are soon becoming an endangered species and most restaurants had stop serving, just like sharks' fin. Therefore, please do not eat red garoupa, however if they are the man rear breed, it is ok.

Ingredients;
1 garoupa
1 tomato
2 leave salted veggie
Some slices pork belly
Some shredded ginger
Pinch of salt
1-2 drops cooking oil
2 tbsp water

Method,
-Lay clean garoupa on a greased dish.
-Top with all the ingredients and add water.
-Steam till fish is cook.
-Enjoy!

Baked Fish With Shredded Ginger and Tau Cheow

When comes to baking fish, our family style is to bake them with our homemade sambal chili with lots of onions and serve with lime. This time round, i decided to try something different. Been craving for tau cheow for quite a while thus decided to come up with this spicy

Ingredients;
1 fish, remove head
1 pc old ginger, about 3 inch
2 chili padi, remove seed and shred
2 tsp tau cheow, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp tau cheow
3/4 tsp sugar
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp stock
Chili oil
Oil for frying

Method,
-Prepare ginger sauce by frying ginger shreds in hot oil till lightly brown and crisp.
-Add tau cheow and fry for 30 secs.
-Add the sugar, oyster sauce, stock and chili padi.
-Off heat when gravy thicken.
-Wrap fish with ginger sauce, top with chili oil and bake until cooked.
-Enjoy!

What i like about baking fish is foil wrap is;
-able to maintain the nutrients of the fish
-lower in calories and fats
-safe from oil splattering
-save the hassle from cleaning up oily stains in the kitchen. Yeah!

Assam Fish Head

Our family love fish head and we would always cook various kind of fish head. Since we have always love assam fish head whenever we eat out, we decided to have it for dinner at home tonight. To me, most importantly, the dish must at least have 2 kinds of veggie. I forgot to add in pineapples and tomatoes! So forgetful!

Ingredients;
1 fish head, halved
Brinjal, cut into sections
Okra, cut into sections
Onion, wedged
Oil for frying
Assam mixture
Grind chili paste
2 tsp homemade chili paste
Salt
Sugar
Stock

Method,
-Scald okra in hot water, drained and soak in ice cubes.
-Scald brinjal in hot oil, drained.
-Fry grind chili with 1/2 tsp oil, add chili paste, onions & assam mixture and stock.
-Add salt and sugar to taste.
-Add in brinjal, boil for a min b4 adding in okra. Set aside for later use.
-Steam fish head till cooked, pour sauce over and serve immediately.
-Enjoy!

Here's the assam sauce with veggie.