How my love of curry began Years ago I decided to expand my culinary horizons by attending a Pakistani cooking class and this curry, Aloo Palak or Pakistani Spinach curry was one of the first things I made. At that time, I knew nothing about Indian and Pakistani cuisine. I wasn’t even a big fan…
Chili Paneer with Sweet and Sour Garlic Sauce
Who says vegetarian is lame? I have to admit, I always viewed vegetarian food as a bit of a bummer with tasteless tofu and stupid quinoa bowls. Yes, a meatless meal made with sustainable local produce is more environmentally and socially responsible but come on….who really likes tempeh????? It tastes like a litter box!…
Cranachan Parfait made with Whisky Oat Crumbles
Release the Cranachan… This Scottish dessert of Cranachan (pronounced CRA-NA-HCHAN) is not a sea-dwelling monster from Norse mythology but instead a delicious concoction of oats, cream or yogurt and raspberries. It is also one of my family’s favorite desserts which I only make on special occasions like Christmas or anniversaries. Over the years I have…
Garlic Chicken and Bacon Puff Pastry Triangles
Don’t lose it, reuse it! Got lots of leftovers that no one wants to touch? Is everything in your house avoiding it like the plague and insisting on ordering pizza instead? If you are like me and hate food waste, you have to learn how to get creative with leftovers. For me, the…
Paprika, Thyme and Yogurt Marinated Spatchcock Chicken
What is spatchcock chicken? ‘Spatchcock’ is just a funny word for butterflied. You basically just cut the chicken down its backbone and flatten it. What you get it one whole chicken laid flat for your cooking and eating pleasure. Why would I do this? There are several advantages to spatchcocking chicken….
Bacon, Almond and Herb Stuffing for Chicken or Turkey
My Nana made the best stuffing. It was dark brown, mushy and looked like something the Adams Family might have a conversation with before eating it, but it was also damn good. Digging into it was quite the adventure. What was that I just found? A bit of celery? Sliced mushroom? A scrap of turkey? …
Andy’s Restaurant Style Spicy Chicken Balti
A curry here, another curry there… Compare a local mamak (eatery) here in Malaysia with an Indian restaurant back home and you will be puzzled. Granted, a mamak serves a wide range of different Malaysian foods from three (or more) different ethnic groups, not just food from the subcontinent, but if you fancy a curry…
Andy’s Go-to Base Gravy for Balti Curry
Why do we need a base gravy for this dish? It’s tough to pick the “biggest difference” between British Indian food and “real” Indian cooking – beyond the fact that one has come through the lens of the restaurant industry rather than the homes and street stalls of the subcontinent. At home, most curries are…
The Best Restaurant Style Rogan Josh with Lamb
What is a Rogan Josh? Rogan Josh is a delicious red curry most notably made with lamb or mutton. The name, Rogan Josh, literally means ‘stewed in butter’. No wonder I love it so much. I can’t think of anything that I wouldn’t like if it was slow-cooked in butter. Especially if that something was…
Pork Shoulder and King Oyster Mushrooms Stir-Fry
How do I describe this pork and king oyster mushroom stir-fry? Well, it’s difficult to put in words. Have you ever eaten something that made you question why you don’t eat that exact same thing every day? A food that is so tasty, so layered in flavor, succulent, juicy, salty and just a little…
Lemon Pepper Calamari with a Lemon and Thyme Aioli
I dream of calamari. Crispy, tender, salty calamari with a dipping sauce I could pour all of my troubles into. Pair it with a pitcher of quality margaritas and it’s a delicious happy hour fantasy. I don’t know why I always picture this scenario alone. Probably because I would enjoy the solitude but…
Saucy Oven-Baked Kung Pao Chicken Wings
I like Kung Pao Chicken and I like chicken wings but I absolutely love these Kung Pao Chicken Wings. Why? Well, for one thing they are delicious. Tender on the inside and coated in a mouthwatering salty, sweet and spicy sauce. They don’t take much prep or an extensive amount of time to throw…
Roasted tomato, anchovy and garlic spaghetti
Carbs Rule We’re big fans of carbs in this house. Can’t get enough of them. I know in this day and age, a statement like that can be controversial given the popularity of low carb diets and cauliflower everything. However, my husband is an avid cyclist who needs to (seemingly constantly) carb load for…
Shanghai Noodles with Shitake Mushrooms and Pork
China is a great place for food. Cumin dusted lamb and noodles in the West, spicy cuisine from Szechuan province, fried delicacies in Yunnan, dumplings in the North…I could go on but I get too hungry to finish the list. However, if your taste runs more to the sweet than savory, you might want…
Curry Laksa with Chicken, Fish Balls and Tofu Puffs
The birth of Curry Laksa Laksa is the result of two cultures coming together. The story goes that when Chinese immigrants settled in Malaysia, they married locals who learned to cook Chinese recipes but put their own twist on them by using local ingredients. Hence, Peranakan cuisine (aka Nyonya cuisine) was born and still remains…
Seafood Stir-Fried in Thai Chili Paste (Nam Prik Pao)
What is Nam Prik Pao? Nam Prik Pao, or Thai chili paste, is a delicious concoction of mild red chilies, garlic, shallots and a tad of shrimp paste. Sweeter than it is spicy, Nam Prik Pao can very easily be transformed into a sauce that can rescue even the dullest of dishes. Stir fry…
The Most Delicious Buttermilk Banana Pancakes
Why make banana pancakes? My daughter LOVES bananas. So much so that we have taken up to stockpiling bananas which isn’t such a hardship if you live in Malaysia and tropical fruit is so prevalent. However, as anyone knows, bananas age quickly – especially when it is always hot and humid. The beautiful yellow…
Roasted Pear and Bleu Cheese Salad with Cashews
My new favorite side salad: Roasted pear with bleu cheese My new favorite salad which comprises all necessary elements of a great bowl of the green leafy stuff: sweet, salty and a crunch. The sweetness of a roasted pear combined with the salty and sharp Bleu cheese crumbles and the crunch of…
Roasted Red Peppers with Chevre and Honey Almonds
A beautiful plate of food Roasted red bell peppers richly seasoned with Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil, then topped with the tang and tartness of chevre and the added crunched of sweet honey roasted almonds. Not only is it stunning to look at but this beauty has got the goods to back…
Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Braised in Beer
The genius of slow cooking beef brisket in beer. Slow cooking a chunk of beef brisket in beer for hours is a great idea. Some could say, a ‘genius’ idea as it tenderizes the meat while enhancing the brisket’s natural flavor making it taste oh so beefy. Add to this fact that this is…