Thursday, January 25, 2007

Today I prepared Eurasian Tomato Chicken, therefore I would like to share a little about Eurasian Food. I am proud to say that the food of the Eurasian community represents the deepest blending of the cultures of Malaysia, including the influences of Malay, British East Indies, Dutch, Portuguese, Indian, Chinese and Nyonya cooking which like the country itself is so diverse and harmonious. The meat loving Eurasians seem to like their food hot and spicy as reflected by the many recipes using chilies and spices.

Nevertheless, today's recipe is definitely more on the mild side and healthier too. We had this dish for dinner earlier with just steamed rice and no other accompanying dishes.


Ingredients
1 medium sized Chicken - cut into big pieces
3 tbsp Chili PowderChili Powder

1 tsp Turmeric PowderTurmeric Powder

1/4 cup Water
2 Medium OnionsMedium Onions
- sliced
5 Star AniseStar Anise

1cm pc CinnamonCinnamon

1cm pc GingerGinger
- minced
1/2 cup Tomato Puree - mixed with 1/4 cup water
Oil
Salt to taste


Directions
1. Mix together the chili powder and turmeric powder with 1/4 cup water to form a paste.
2. Heat a saucepan with oil and fry the onions, star anise, ginger and cinnamon till fragrant.
3. Add in chicken pieces and stir fry until chicken changes color.
4. Add in the tomato puree mixture and bring to the boil.
5. Then reduce heat and cook gently until chicken is tender.
6. Season to taste and dish out to serve.

Note: You can add some fresh tomatoes as garnish.



Technorati Tags: , , ,

Labels: , ,



 
posted by Daryl W.T. Lau at 12:51 AM | 7 comments
Saturday, January 6, 2007

My mom always said when I was young that should find myself an Indian girlfriend due to my love for curries but who are we to question love huh? Since my beloved better half is not... guess the obvious solution is for me to do the cooking. In fact she doesn't like curry very much, whoever said opposite attracts got it spot on right there.

Today's feature is a HOT one. Devil Curry is indeed spicy but sumptuously tasty from the Eurasian kitchen. Reminiscent of olden days in Melaka where foreigners and locals daily lives are mixed up while in search of riches around Strait of Malacca where the shipping routes from China to the west passes through. This recipe has been brought down from generations after generations just like the Curry Kapitan featured earlier. If you would like a milder version I suggest toning down on the chilli powder to your taste or double the amount if you want to give your mother-in-law a dinner she will never forget.


Ingredients
1/2 lb Chicken
4 tbsp Oil
2 tbsp Chilli PowderChilli Powder
2 tbsp Turmeric PowderTurmeric Powder
2 tbsp Mustard
4 tbsp Vinegar Salt and Sugar to taste

Ground Ingredients
2 Large OnionsLarge Onions
12 ShallotsShallots
7 cloves GarlicGarlic
2.5cm pcs GingerGinger
1 Candlenut


Directions
1. Heat oil and fry the ground ingredients till fragrant.
2. Add chicken and salt and fry over high heat for a few minutes.
3. Mix the chilli powder and turmeric powder with a little water to form a smooth paste.
4. Add it to the meat.
5. Stir well, add a little water and cook over low heat.
6. When just about cooked add in the mustard, sugar and vinegar.
7. Stir and simmer for another 10 minutes.
8. Serve with steamed rice.

Note: For the meat, you may use Turkey as substitute.




Technorati Tags: , , , , ,

Labels: , , , ,



 
posted by Daryl W.T. Lau at 12:07 AM | 0 comments
Monday, December 25, 2006

Eurasians in Malaysia are generally referred to a community of people with mixed parentage, Caucasian and Asiatic. This includes later colonial occupants, after the Portuguese, of the Dutch and British. A diversity of cuisines has inevitably proliferated from this colorful historic and ethnic tapestry. Eurasian food, in general, is an amalgamation of European cuisines - Portuguese, Dutch and British especially British East Indies, with local ingredients and influences by Malay, Indian, Chinese and Nyonya styles of cooking.

Afternoon tea is a daily routine adopted by the Eurasians from the British tradition of teatime and snacks are prominently featured. One of those famous snacks is the Curry Puffs. It is a small pie consisting of specialised curry with beef or chicken and potatoes in a deep-fried pastry shell. Curry Puffs can be baked instead of deep fried but please do remember to brush curry puffs with an egg wash before baking for a nice golden brown color.


Ingredients for Pastry
2 cups FlourFlour

1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 tbsp GheeClarified Butter
Made by simmering unsalted butter in a large pot, until its water has boiled off and its protein has settled to the bottom. It is then spooned off, taking care not to disturb the milk solids on the bottom of the pan.

1 EggEgg
, lightly beaten
Water

Ingredients for Meat filling
1 lb lean Beef, minced or chopped (may be substituted with Chicken)
6 oz PotatoesPotatoes
, finely diced
3 OnionsOnions
, finely chopped
3 tbsp Curry PowderCurry Powder

1-2 tbsp Chili PowderChili Powder

1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 cup Water
Salt and Pepper to taste


Directions
1. Sieve together flour, salt and baking soda
2. Using your fingers, rub ghee [clarified butter] into the sifted flour until it resembles fine crumbs
3. Mix egg in, add water gradually, press into a ball
4. Knead dough by pushing away, using the heel of your hand till smooth
5. On a floured surface, roll out dough, cut into rounds 3 inch in diameter
6. Flatten each round with a rolling pin, fill with a tablespoonful of beef & potato filling
7. In a small bowl, add 2-3 tsp water to the beaten egg
8. Fold over in half, pinch along the edges to seal, using a little egg wash if necessary to seal
9. Brush the tops of each curry puff with the egg wash
10. Preheat oven to 350F degrees oven. Bake curry puffs until light golden brown, about 20-30 mins
11. Serve hot or at room temperature




Technorati Tags: , , , , , ,

Labels: , , , , ,



 
posted by Daryl W.T. Lau at 3:44 PM | 2 comments