Favourite Malaysian and Asian recipes with time-saving hacks
Because of my loved ones’ health needs, I’ve had to completely rethink how I cook lately. Both what I cook and how I cook it. My new rules are simple: no spicy food, one-pot meals, easy, healthy, and it must, as the Chinese say, “have taste.” That last part is tricky. I love bold flavours,…
If you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner that doesn’t taste like one, these juicy Middle Eastern–inspired meatballs are the answer. They’re tender, flavour-packed, and—best of all—on the table in under 15 minutes. This recipe started on one of those nights when I opened the fridge and sighed. A pack of minced beef, one sad…
Like many people, I discovered pajeon, the Korean savoury pancake, through K-dramas. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were stuck in our apartment for weeks. Nowhere to go. Nothing much to do. From Crash Landing on You, I watched another .. and another…and another. Somewhere in between all the plot twists and…
Move over, Chilli’s – meet the best beef quesadilla in town! Before I dive into the recipe, I want to declare that I am officially in my minced beef phase now. It is such a superhero ingredient. You can use it to top baked potatoes. Whip up a moreish sauce for Turkish pasta. Or, my…
What can I do with potatoes that’s more exciting than French fries or mash? This recipe began with that simple question. There they were — a humble bag of baby potatoes leftover from last night’s dinner party, waiting to be transformed. I wanted something that would make my weeknight dinner feel special without requiring a…
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This Chinese New Year, I had the privilege of learning how to make jiu hu char, a beloved Nyonya dish, from my mum. For those unfamiliar, it’s a stir-fry of jicama (or bangkuang) and dried cuttlefish. Typically enjoyed as a side dish with rice or wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves, it embodies the essence of…
Read More “Jiu Hu Char (Stir-Fried Jicama with Dried Cuttlefish)” »
No matter where you are in the world, chances are there’s a version of the curry chicken. From the rich, slow-cooked curries of India to the mildly sweet Japanese kare, every culture has its own spin. Here in Malaysia, curry chicken isn’t just one dish — it’s a reflection of our multicultural society. With Chinese,…
I love me some hummus but tahini is SO expensive in Malaysia – then one day I thought, can I make hummus WITHOUT tahini? Turns out you can! The secret lies in a pantry staple familiar to every Asian kitchen: sesame oil. While it may not replicate the exact taste of tahini, it’s a great…
I’m not much of a baker and measuring ingredients with precision ain’t my style, but I will make an exception for this chocolate banana bread. I have made it over and over again, partly because it’s so forgiving and partly because it’s just that good. The beauty of this recipe is how it doesn’t demand…
For most of my life, I’ve regarded roast chicken as a dish flavoured with “Western” herbs like rosemary and thyme. Then at a Christmas party, I ate a roast chicken that overturned all my assumptions. The flavours were deep, complex and unlike any roast chicken I’d ever tasted. When I asked the chef for the…
Mark my words, this gingery soya sauce chicken is the ULTIMATE side dish to pair with rice. After my first bite of this dish created by Wong Zenzi @onegoodmeal.a.day I had only one thought: “Aiya, I wish I’d cooked more rice!” I also understood why the recipe went viral: such intense and complex flavours contributed…
When it comes to brownies, I’m strictly #teamfudgy. After eating my way through a mountain of (mostly) cakey ones, I decided to try making my own. Many experiments later, I’ve come up with a formula that works! Here’s everything you need to know to achieve that perfect, gooey texture. The Key to Fudgy Brownies Get…
If you’re craving a bowl of comforting, flavorful soup but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, try my cheat version of Chinese style fish soup noodles. With just a few key ingredients (only 4 for the soup base!) and a simple technique, you can whip up a one-pot meal that feels like it…
This Chinese-style minced meat noodles recipe is a must-try if you love noodles with big bold flavours which are easy to prepare. It’s so good that my husband asks for it every single week (and I happily oblige), no exaggeration! The secret to its addictive taste lies in a killer sauce. Sear tender minced meat…
Feeling lazy and uninspired yet craving comfort food … folks, your answer is baked cheese rice. Featuring fragrant, savoury rice crowned with a blanket of gooey, bubbling cheese, this hearty dish will be an instant hit in your household. And nope, you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen creating complicated sauces from scratch…
