I still remember that time we ordered lobster yee mein (fresh lobster with fried wheat noodles and garlic, ginger and shallots) during lunch in Sydney’s Chinatown; it bumped our yum cha bill to just shy of $1000. We’re talking one lobster shared among the 4 of us, in case there’s any confusion. Thankfully, it was my younger sister, here on a flying » Read More
How to Make Hainanese Roast Chicken Rice
January 8, 2019 by
I prefer my Hainanese Chicken Rice with roast rather than “white” chicken, though my recipe actually calls for it to be deep-fried, since it produces a crispier skin (it’s a personal preference, folks, I know that’s not how most people make it). Here’s my take on Hainanese “roast” chicken rice; I’ll post a new update down the track, especially if I » Read More
How to Cook Oxtail Asam Pedas
December 10, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe by MasterChef Malaysia Judge Chef Jo I had the privilege of meeting Chef Johari Edrus during my last trip to Kuala Lumpur, and I was intrigued by the concept of his restaurant, Symphony By Chef Jo, located in Damansara City Mall. The cuisine is "eclectic", meaning it derives ideas, styles, and tastes from a broad » Read More
How to Cook Khmer-Style Grilled Squid
December 3, 2018 by
This Khmer-style squid recipe was inspired by the Sihanoukville Cuttlefish at Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap’s Lok Lak Restaurant. (That recipe, courtesy of Chef Chanrith Van, can be found here >> https://jackiem.com.au/2018/10/30/how-to-cook-sihanoukville-cuttlefish/). I figured I’d have a go at making it using frozen squid tubes, which » Read More
How to Make Kanom Krok – Thai Coconut Cakes
November 20, 2018 by
I had never eaten kanom krok (aka Thai coconut cakes or Thai coconut custard) when I attempted to make it during a recent Live Asian Kitchen broadcast. Without a frame of reference as to how it should taste, I found both the recipe I used and the final outcome somewhat perplexing. First of all, it produced a gooey topping that had no chance of » Read More
How to Cook Crispy Squid or Calamari
November 20, 2018 by
My seafood shopping choices are heavily dictated by budget, in the sense that I would pick up something simply because it looks cheap, and figure out how to make it palatable after the fact. This explains why I often use squid instead of the more expensive calamari; contrary to popular opinion, squid can taste pretty tender even when simply » Read More
How to Make Sweet Potato Dumplings with Red Bean Paste Filling
November 20, 2018 by
These sweet potato dumplings are pretty easy to make; you can used ready-to-use red bean paste (in cans or packs at your local Asian grocery store), though in this Live Asian Kitchen, I used the homemade red bean paste I’d made a couple of weeks earlier. Other popular filling options include lotus seed paste or mung bean paste. The » Read More
How to Cook Yee Mein Noodles with Garlic Butter Sauce
November 5, 2018 by
I recently had some crab yee mein noodles at The Good Kitchen restaurant in Hurstville, and they were so memorable I decided to attempt making the dish during my Live Asian Kitchen broadcast (but with prawns due to budget constraints). The noodles were served up with a butter and garlic sauce, and I was told that the secret was to add a small » Read More
How to Make Shanghai-Style Pancakes
November 5, 2018 by
I remember Shanghai red bean paste-filled pancakes being a staple on the sweets trolley at yum cha back in the day, but I have to admit that I haven’t really seen them around in recent years. The good news is that they’re actually pretty easy to make, and apart from red bean paste, all you really need are flour and eggs, and oil for frying. I used » Read More
How to Cook Sihanoukville Cuttlefish
October 30, 2018 by
A Wok Around Asia Recipe from Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort, Cambodia I didn’t get a chance to visit Sihanoukville during my first Wok Around Asia jaunt, but I had the opportunity to taste one of its well-known dishes, Sihanoukville Cuttlefish, at Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort’s Lok Lak Restaurant. This recipe is courtesy of Chef » Read More