Sate Padang

I found The best Indonesian Restaurant when I visited my friend in NY. I ate there twice! First eating, I was not making good choice. Maybe since I had the braces just couple of months so I was picky choosing the food. But the second time, I went with group of friends and one of them choosing Sate Padang n I asked how's the meat? Was it hard? she said NO. It's yummy!Indeed! OMG. 

So Since then I told to my self, I should be able to find or make that kind of sate padang. Whoaaa it's a dream really tho! >_< I never realize I would make one here. But well here I am.

I know Sate Padang use certain "unusual" part bodies of cow. It's not tenderloin, sirloin, stew sort of. If I tell you, maybe you will have the same expression just like my hubby.. Ewwww.. hahahaa well anyway I don't use it here yet. I might look for it later if this one is success. I only wanna make experiment in my kitchen first with available ingredients. 

I browsed some links and got youtube video sate padang in Bahasa Indonesia. I didn't use all ingredients here since I couldn't find it,such as "Daun Kunyit" hmm is it turmeric leaves? Well hopefully it won't effect that much. >_<

Ingredients

half pound meat 

seasonings

2 big cloves of garlic

1 big shallot

several fresh chilies, small red n green ones 
*depends on how much spicy you wanna have*

1 tsp salt

3tbsp olive oil 

Used magic bullet to make them into puree

lemongrass, 
kaffir limes, 
tamarind paste, 
galangal
*they are added when you sauteed the puree

2tsp corn flour

50-100ml water

Mixed them well
*to make the sauce thicker*

Garnish
2 shallots, sliced thinly, fried
* I didn't use it*

How to

Boiled the meat till tender, sliced, set aside
Keep the broth
Sauteed the puree, take half to marinate the meat
take another half and pour it in the broth

Boiled the broth with the sauteed puree
add corn starch liquid while you stir
not too thick not too thin,set aside

Arrange the meat in a skewer

Grilled for about 2-5min

Served with rice cake that's been diced, sliced.

*this is the rice cake process and then boiled till the rice done

Actually there's ready rice cake wrapped in plastic, but somehow I don't like it anymore. So I try making it and hopefully it works. I remember making it when I helped my mother.
After couple of min, hmm let's say 50min up to 1,2hours, depends on how many you boiled.
I didn't make it that right, since 2 of packages tore out tho not that bad >_<
drained and let them cool

After that sliced, diced. I made the broken lontong into nasi Himpit.
once it's cold in that red bowl, I can slice it.

In a plate, arrange rice cake, satay in skewer and then pour with the sauce. 
If you make fried crispy shallot, sprinkled it on top
 hmm can't wait eating it.

Spicy Baked-Eggplants

Been long time I don't eat eggplants. To be honest I am not really into it >_< Yeaah that's me not into veggies actually. So picky choosing veggies. 

Glad I met my Indonesian friend yesterday. She plants organic plants around her house. Fruits, veggies, flowers. She is really serious becoming organic consumer if I may say. She even bought the soil from the zoo. No chemical at all for her garden. Cool!

Now I have to cook it. The simple way is "Balado Terong" or spicy eggplants. Most of Indonesians deep fried it and then pan fried with sambal or hot chili paste home made one. 

This is how I cook. I sliced eggplants and put them on a pan that's been spraying with oil. I sprayed eggplants with cooking oil n olive oil. Sprinkled salt, oregano and sprayed them with chili paste I made already before.
Baked in 350F for about 15min.

How I made the chili paste. Hmm it's a basic Indonesian style. Garlic, shallots, chili, salt, candle nut, little bit ginger, olive oil. I used magic bullet. Then saute it in a medium heat, add kaffir lime, bay leave, little sugar. Bring to taste. I added sambal terasi ready *_* I don't know if you like it or not, terasi ( shrimp paste ) is to make the flavor more delicious in my opinion. 

Served it with Tempe I cooked yesterday and jasmine rice.. It's like in heaven! hahaha hubby loves it! 

Wings & Tempe in Chinese style of cooking

Gotta cook fast but yummy! Here it is! Wings & Tempe in Chinese style of cooking. 

Ingredients

5-8 wings, boiled till tender
1 pack of Tempe, sliced 
1 shallot 
2 garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2-3 tbsp sweet soy
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp extra hot sauce ABC *optional*
1 green onion for garnish

How to cook 

Set aside the boiled wings. Chopped shallot n garlic. Prepare the pan with 2 tbsp olive oil. Medium heat. Saute garlic, shallot. Add salt. Add wings and cook till the skin got burn little. Add oyster sauce, soy sauce, sweet sauce,sesame oil. Add Tempe. Cook for about 10min. Bring to taste. I added extra hot sauce to make it little bit spicy. Garnish with green onion. Served hot with Jasmine rice!
Bon Appetit.

Gulai

Ingredients & How to cook

3 Shallots * I used Yellow Onion*

4 cloves of garlic

1 tbsp of Sambal Oelek in a jar or use fresh red chilies

1tbsp of salt

1tbsp of pepper

1tbsp of turmeric

1tbsp olive oil

1tbsp of ginger powder

Grind them into paste

Prepare pan/pot

Saute the paste. Add bay leaves, lemongrass,

1tbsp of Pataks Indian red curry *optional if you wanna make it spicier*

2 star anish

3 cloves

1 cup coconut milk

bring to boil. Add more water if you want to have more broth later. Add salt n sugar. Bring to taste.

Add beef chunks. Cook in low heat. Add carrots/potatoes. Cook till all tender.

Serve with Rice.

Pepes Tilapia n Tahu "Steamed tilapia n tofu"

Pepes Tilapia n Tahu "Steamed tilapia n tofu", a photo by Fitri Harrell on Flickr.

Tilapia Fillet seasoned in paste of turmeric, lemongrass, garlic, shallot, salt, sambal oelek *chilies* tomato, candle nut *macadamia nut* tamarind paste, galangal roots, palm sugar. Wrapped in banana leaves, add bayleaves, basil,green onion. Steamed for about 45min.
Served it hot with Jasmine rice!

Chana Masala-Chickpeas Curry

Chana Masala, a photo by Fitri Harrell on Flickr.

I modified the recipe from http://www.food.com/recipe/channa-masala-17471
I added meat balls seasoning with Salsa sauce as subs of tomatoes coz i ran out of it LOL. Chicken Masala powder, Pataks extra hot, to get the Indian flavor. Green scallion. Fresh Green Chili. 1cup of coconut milk. 1tsp of corn starch.
The main seasoning is the same as in that recipe's link. Such as Onion, Garlic. Ground Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Ginger, Salt, Paprica, I added pepper too. Bring it to taste. Yummy!

Beef Chili

Guess this would be the most fav easiest cooking i've ever had LOL

http://foodyfitri.blogspot.com/2012/10/salmon-chili.html

the same recipe as i made it with salmon but no bell pepper 

*since i ran out of it* 

just add canned mushroom and zuchini

salmon or beef?? love both!

Salmon Chili

Just the same recipe as beef chili i guess but i put some sri racha hot sauce and sambel oelek to make it tastier and spicier!

Ingredients :
2 cans of baked beans
*i used goya brand but throw away the liquid and Bushes'Baked Beans, i used the liquid from it*
1 can of tomato sauce hunt
half of fillet sockeye salmon, chopped/diced
4 red serrano chili, minced
1 bell pepper, minced
1tomato, minced
1 tbsp sambal oelek *fresh ground chili*
2 tbsp tomato ketchup
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 big onion, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp sri racha hot sauce *optional*

How to cook :
Prepare big pot. Saute garlic and onion for about 3-5min.
Add bell pepper, chili, tomato. Cook till they are tender.
Add tomato sauce, baked-beans
bring to taste by adding salt, pepper, sri racha, sambal oelek, chili powder
if you think it's spicy enough for you then add salmon
Bring to boil
Serve with rice or Naan bread

Tumis Salmon

I like this style better than the other recipes that i have tried. Its very simple but the taste is fantastic :D
No need much works for this. Sprinkle salmon with salt n pepper. Meanwhile prepare the veggies ; bell pepper, broccoli, tomatoes, chili pepper, serano, jalapeno, sliced and you can add tofu as well.
Seasoning only with garlic and shallots *chopped,sliced*, plus chicken bouillon powder *optional.

How to cook it :
Prepare the pan with 1 tbsp olive oil, saute garlic and shallots, for about 3-5min. Add the veggies, cook till bit tender. Add salmon, bring to taste, (add more salt, pepper if you like) add 1egg stir well *optional* add 100 ml water *just to make it not too dry* flip the fish and cooked them well.
Serve with rice. Yumm

Red Snapper's head in spicy sour soup

Head of the fish?? Euww yummy LOL
I guess not many people will eat head of the fish, but for asian people hmm they will look for it and enjoy it more than other parts.

Preparation :

2 Head of red snapper, cleaned, marinated with lemon juice
some veggies *beans, zuccini,carrots, etc*
3 fresh green n red chilies for garnish
Basil leaves
Tofu, sliced *optional*
700ml water
1 tbsp of Sour paste

Seasoning :
2-3 tbsp of sambal Oeloek *red chilies paste since i don't have many fresh to be grounded*
1 tbsp of olive oil
5 cloves of garlic
1-3 shallots
Fresh ginger, sliced
Galangal, sliced
Used magic bullet to make into paste
1 tbsp of salt

How to cook
Prepare large skillet *atleast that' fits 2 heads of the fish* saute the seasoning paste till you smell fragrant, perhaps 5min in medium heat. Add the head of the fish. Add water. Add the veggies, salt, sour paste, once its boiling,bring to taste, *if it's too sour, add 1tsp of palm sugar* Add basil leaves n fresh chilies just before you turn the stove off. Served with rice.

Salmon Curry

Salmon is not my fav fish but since my husband loves it so i need to modify cooking it *mostly we grilled it*. I modified from this recipe http://www.food.com/recipe/thai-salmon-curry-87877 looks yummy.

Ingredients :

1 salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces

seasoning :

1 cup of coconut milk ( 1 can )

1 tsp of ginger powder

1 tsp of turmeric

2 tsp of fish curry powder

1 tsp of salt 

1 tsp of palm sugar

1 tsp of sour paste

Mixed all.

Additional ingredients *optional*

Fresh asian basil

Some veggies if you like 

1 tbsp olive oil

2 big jalapeno chilies

2 red hot chili 

3/4 onion, chopped * i sauted the onion to make it tastier LOL*

How to cook :

Prepare the skillet. Saute the onion. Add the mixing seasoning. Bring to boil. Add the veggies, chilies. Till the veggies are tender. Add fish. Asian Basil leaves. Cook for about 10-15min. Served with rice and fried tofu.

Red Bean Curry

Red Bean Curry 

Ingredients

1 can of baked bean *tangy sauce with brown sugar and spices, 28 oz*

3 spoons of Patak's curry paste

1 sachet of Rendang curry 

chunks of meat and potatoes *boiled till tender*

1 cup of coconut milk

2 bay leaves

How to make

Prepare the skillet, saute patak's and rendang curry for few minutes

Pour the bean *don't take the sauce of it too much*

mix it well 

add the meat and potatoes once they are tender 

pour the coconut milk

cook till boiled 

add bay leaves

ready to be served with warm rice or Naan *indian bread*

Grilled Spicy Chicken Wings

The idea of making it is because i don't have anymore fresh chili or even sambal oelek. So i browsed but i forgot which link. I remember the seasoning tho since i made this several times and my hubby loves it. Simple, easy and yummy! Wanna try??

Here is the seasoning i used. Minced garlic, grated ginger *ginger powder is okay*, Tomato Sauce, Sri racha sauce *hot sauce*,Soy sauce, Sweet soy, salt, tabasco or any other hot sauce you have. Marinade the chicken wings for 1hour or over nite would be better.
Grilled or bake will do!

Gulai Nangka (young jack fruit) in taste of India

Going out for bowl of pho in old bay meadow area bumped us into India cuisine art store. Curious what kind of store that was, we got in. WOW lots of interesting seasonings! Had Pataks original brand for concentrated curry paste, some fish curry paste also. Good thing we found this store. If we want india food, just grab those seasonings and cook. Its easy and yummy!

 

Ikan Acar Kuning-Yellow Pickled Fish

I used Cod fillet Fish for this. The recipe is from this link :

http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/3064036-ikan-acar-kuning-yellow-pickled-fish

I added 2 tbsp of white vinegar 

Bon Apetite! :-)

Sweet n Spicy Sesame Chicken

Having lunch at Osaka n tasting the sesame chicken hmm nice! Wanna try making it someday i said. Browsing the net for the recipe, found sherry wine that i dont have but well what a hec, just skip it! Who knows the taste is just the same LOL.
Here is the link of the you tube i watched http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNwxJ44I2Bo

How to make :
Prepare 5 boneless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces, set a side in a bowl.
Prepare the marinade : 2 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp powder chicken bullion, 1 1/2 tsp of sugar, 1/8 tsp of white pepper.
Pour it to the chicken, cover it and marinate for 1hour.

Prepare the coating : 1 cup of flour, 2 eggs *beat them* 1 cup of cornstarch.
Deep small piece of chicken in flour, then eggs then conrstarch. After all done, Prepare the skillet with enough vegetable oil to fry. Fry till they r golden brown * i like to make it crispy so need to fry it longer but dont burn it Lol* Set a side.

The sauce i made is different little bit. I wanna have something spicier. So i add coarse hot chili pepper *korean product* and sri racha sauce :-)

The sauce :
1/4 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of honey
1/4cup of ketchup
2 tbsp of white vinegar
1 tbsp of soy sauce
2-3 tbsp of coarse hot chili pepper
3 tbsp of sri racha

Once the sauce is ready, pour it in a skillet with low heat, pour the chicken, till all chicken covered! Serve with jasmine rice! Yummy!

Sweet Spicy Sour Shrimps

My lunch, a photo by Flosunshine on Flickr.

Been long time I haven't got my shrimp. My simplest food ever. Just prepare the skillet with 2 tbsp olive oil. Prepare the onion, Red Peppers and Green Bell peppers. Saute those all. Add salt bring to simmer. Add the shrimps that have been cleaned. Cook for 10min. Add seasoning, black ground pepper, tomato sauce and sweet sour souce. Serve with warm jasmine rice. Bone appetite!

Opor

Opor, a photo by Flosunshine on Flickr.

Opor Ayam

Opor Ayam 

Chicken in Coconut milk and Rice cake

Eid Mubarak! My first Eid, far from my family and friends didn't make me sad tho. I still could have the same thing. Alhamdulillah. Opor Ayam or Chicken in coconut milk is famous dish for celebrating Eid. 

How to make

Chicken, marinated with lemon juice and salt for about 15min *I used 6 chicken wings

3 candle nuts or macadamia nut 

1 inch ginger root

1 tbsp of coriander powder

3 cloves of garlic

3 shallots

1 tsp of salt

Ground them all and sauted with 2 tbsp of oil in a pot. Add kaffir lime. Lemongrass. Bay leaves. Bring them simmer. Put the chicken. 300-500 coconut milk. Cook till tender.

Serve with rice cake. You can buy it at asian market. Just washed n boiled in pot. Slice smaller when it's cold. Add sambal to make it more spicy.

Wings in Green Chili peppers Sauce

I have lots of green chili peppers. From medium, hot and extra hot *well at least to my taste*. Getting bored making the green chili paste only *since i couldn't make the right one,LOL* so that I cooked with chicken wings. My sister who gave me idea, she said this kind of food is from Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

How to cook :

6 Chicken wings, Cleaned, Marinated in lemon juice and salt for about 15 min.
10 green chili peppers. Any kind will do * I used Jalapeno, serrano and fresno green chili peppers
3 candle nuts *macadamia nuts*
1-3 shallots
3 cloves of garlic
1 tsp of turmuric
1 inch of ginger root *ginger powder maybe is okay*

Ground them all and saute in 3 tbsp of olive oil or veg oil. Add slices of lemongrass, Kaffir lime. Add more salt or Knorr chicken block *optional*.  Cook for 2-5min. Then put the chicken. Mix them well. Add water. Cook till tender. The last add lemon basil leaves. Serve with Jasmine rice.