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
Chillies (30 Days 30 Asian Ingredients Series)
September 2, 2018 By
In this Live broadcast on Chillies, I cover the different types of chillies used in Malaysian and Southeast Asian cooking, and explain their uses and preparation methods. I also reveal a good, cheap substitute that I’ve encountered in my recent trips to my local non-Asian fruit and vegetable shop, and how to “hack” the flavour to achieve the same » Read More
How to Make Coconut Candy
June 17, 2018 By
A Deepavali Favourite Using Natural Plant Extract Coconut candy is one of my favourite memories of Deepavali (aka Diwali, though not in Malaysia), the Indian Festival of Lights. During this public holiday, our Indian friends would hold “open houses” where they served up a culinary extravaganza to feed the friends from all ethnic backgrounds » Read More
How to Make Penang Ais Tingkap (Window Sherbet)
June 10, 2018 By
A Wok Around Asia Recipe By Penang Home Cooking School Ais tingkap got its name from a bygone era when Indian vendors would sell the drink from a window (tingkap means “window” in Malay; ais is “ice” as in “iced drink”); it’s a refreshing drink made with fascinating ingredients that I’ve never before incorporated into any of my cooking (malva nuts » Read More
How to Cook Creamy Turmeric Mussels (Masak Lemak)
May 19, 2018 By
A Wok Around Asia Recipe Courtesy of Symphony By Chef Jo Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur Creamy Turmeric Mussels, aka Mussels Masak Lemak, is an easy, yet delicious example of the eclectic cuisine style served up by Masterchef Malaysia judge Chef Jo at his Damansara restaurant, Symphony by Chef Jo. The sauce is a signature Minangkabau recipe from my home » Read More
How to Cook Spicy Chocolate Seafood Pasta
May 10, 2018 By
A Wok Around Asia Recipe Courtesy of Symphony By Chef Jo Masterchef Malaysia judge Chef Jo's restaurant, Symphony by Chef Jo in Kuala Lumpur's DC Mall, serves what he describes as "eclectic cuisine" - he draws inspiration from food and flavours from around the world to produce a menu with intriguing-sounding items like Spicy Chocolate Seafood » Read More
How to Cook Khmer Seafood Amok
April 19, 2018 By
A Wok Around Asia Recipe by Chef Chanrith Van of Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap Resort I knew very little about Khmer food prior to Siem Reap, but I had heard of Amok, a strong contender for the title of Cambodia’s national dish. I was also vaguely aware of some lively online debates as to what constitutes an authentic amok. Chef Chanrith Van » Read More
How to Make Curry Laksa (aka Curry Mee) – Cooking Class Recipe
April 12, 2018 By
I was invited to do a demonstration cooking class at Kogarah Community Services yesterday, where I made a curry laksa (aka curry mee if you’re from Penang) based on a recipe originally supplied by the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. (By the way, I enjoyed the session enough that I’m currently open to offers to do more of these workshops, so » Read More
How to Make Kuih Ketayap (Coconut-Filled Crepes)
March 21, 2018 By
Kuih Ketayap - A Wok Around Asia Recipe courtesy of Parkroyal Penang Resort Kuih Ketayap, also known as Kuih Dadar in my part of Malaysia, is a popular teatime snack which consists of pandan-infused crepes rolled with a coconut and palm sugar filling. It's an easy recipe to attempt, and the ingredients should be readily available at any » Read More
How to Make Chicken or Beef Bak Kwa (Barbecued Minced Meat)
March 9, 2018 By
I grew up in the part of Malaysia where this is known as “long yoke” (Cantonese & Hakka), and for a long time after coming to Australia, I had no idea what other people were talking about when they made reference to “bak kwa” (Hokkien) - more evidence of how gloriously splintered Malaysia can be when it comes to food, language and » Read More