Not-quite-Thai fish cakes

I was all psyched up about making Thai-style fish cakes, except when it came down to assembling it in the kitchen, I forgot the two essential things that made the fish cakes "Thai" - lemongrass and coriander. Still, it tasted pretty decent. Here's a shot of it alongside accompanying my pasta lunch.

The Not-quite-Thai fish cakes
500g white fish fillets (about 2 fillets)
1 onion
1 inch piece of ginger
2 small green chillis (removes seeds for a less spicy version)
Zest from 1 lime
10 mint leaves, chopped fine
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 egg
Oil for frying

Special equipment: Blender

1. Blend onion, ginger and chilli together into a paste. Drain of excess water and return to blender.
2. Add fish, fish sauce and eggs and blend to fine paste. Add lime zest and mint, mix well and refrigerate for an hour.
3. Shallow fry in hot oil at 200 degrees. Spoon 1 tbsp of the fish paste into the pan and press down with the back of your spoon. Fry until golden brown (approx 1-2 min on each side), drain well and serve. Makes 8-10 fish cakes.

Cost breakdown
Total cost: RM8.10++
Cost per serving: RM4.00++ (based on 2 serves)
Fish: RM6
Onion: RM0.30
Ginger and chillis: RM0.50
Lime: RM0.50
Mint: RM 0.50
Egg: 0.30

Tags: Thai fish cakes

Today's lunchbox: Thai Fish cakes and a quick pilaf

First post for the new year! In today's lunchbox I made a quick pilaf (flavoured rice) and a thai-inspired fish cake.



Thai Fish Cakes
1 kg white fish fillets, minced
3 tbsp Curry paste (store bought or home-made, it doesn't matter!)
1 lemongrass, (flesh only, minced)
1 bunch of coriander, chopped
1 egg
Oil for frying

1. Mix everything except the egg and oil together in a bowl and leave in the fridge to marinade for at least two hours.
2. Crack in the egg and mix well. Form patties or cakes from the paste.
3. Fry fish cakes under 1 cm of oil with medium-low heat, approximately 2-3 min on each side (depending on thickness of patty). Drain well. Makes 6 burger-pattie sized fish cakes

Cost per serving: $1.80 for two patties
Breakdown:
1 kg fish: $3.40 for a pack of frozen fish fillets
Curry paste: $1.50 (that's ready made. Cheaper if you make your own curry paste!)
Coriander: $0.40 a bunch
Egg: $0.20

Quick Pilaf
1 cup of rice (long grained, preferably)
1 cup of water
1 cup of diluted chicken stock
Chopped onions and tomatoes
Dash of olive oil (or any other flavoured oil)

1. Mix everything into a pot and cook under low heat for 15-20 min. Fluff before serving. Serves 2-3.

Tags: Thai fish cakes, Quick pilaf, rice, budget recipe, Fish recipe

the fish dish that tastes like tom yum

awhile ago , i was having a guest over for dinner . at that time , i was informed that she only ate fish or chicken...not my specialties . anyway , i ended up steaming a fish with a bunch of ingredients . she commented that it tasted like light tom yum soup . there wasn't a proper list of ingredients when i first cooked it...it was a go-as-i-feel . and then she kept bugging me to make it again . as i recreated it , i realized surprisingly after some research , that the ingredients were similar to that in tom yum except i didn't add any tomatoes . i don't know how that came about , but hey...as long as it tastes good right ?

what you need leh ? (i cooked for four)

2 flake fillets (chopped into a total of six shorter pieces to fit in the pot)
2 cups chicken stock
2 small red chillies , chopped (bird's eye a.k.a. cili padi)
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce
juice of 1 lime
5 kaffir lime leaves
1 stalk lemongrass , chopped
2 tablespoons brown sugar
handful of chopped coriander
ginger , sliced (about the size of a thumb)
3 pinches of ground black pepper

how to do leh ?

there's only one step to this one...simply mix everything into the pot and cook over low heat until the fish is done (which shouldn't take too long or your coriander turns into a color that just ruins your appetite)...or you can just fit everything in a bowl and steam it .

Tags: fish soup tom yum recipe

my salmon spectacular (ok...it's not that spectacular)

i first cooked this years ago . for some reason , i never bothered to write down the list of ingredients or take a photo of it every time i made it . this time , i made it a point to do both . i admit it's far from a budget recipe , but hey...salmon has the highest content of omega 3 amongst the fishes...and students need brains right ? (not that i'm saying you guys don't have any)

what you need leh ? (for 3 people)

3 salmon fillets

350 ml mayonnaise
240 ml dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup white wine (i only use brown brother's moscato)
a bunch of fresh dil
a bunch of fresh lemon thyme
1 brown onion , sliced (i usually turn them into onion rings)
handful of chopped coriander

240 g of shrimp

how to do leh ?

1 . set the salmon fillets aside for now
2 . combine the other ingredients , except the shrimp , into a bowl to make a marinade .
3 . coat the salmon fillets with the marinade and set aside for a couple of hours
4 . preheat the oven to 220 degrees celsius
5 . chuck the marinated fillets into the oven . i believe the rule is 5 minutes per inch...but 15-20 minutes is a safe bet .
6 . whilst waiting , cook shrimps in the leftover of the marinade for additional sauce . do note that 240 g of shrimp is too very generous .

Tags: salmon shrimp recipe

Otah

ingredients:
500g white fish
1/2 cup coconut cream
2 whole nutmegs
1 small piece balanchan
1 tbs chilli powder
1 inch piece of ginger (around the size of a thumb), minced
1 inch piece of galangal (blue ginger), minced
1/2 cup of shallots
1 tbs rice flour
1 tbs oil
1 egg
1 tbs sugar

method:
preheat oven to 200 C.
Blend all the ingredients in a food processor.
Grease a baking tray and spread otah mixture on it.
Bake for 20-30 minutes.

Tags: otah otah fish recipe

Refreshing Tuna

Why do I call this the Refreshing Tuna? Because unlike normal tuna sandwich fillings, this one doesn't use any mayo or creamy base but a citrus juice instead. It's a super easy recipe, and the result is a light sandwich filling that brings out the natural flavour of the fish. It also has the added advantage of being low-fat. =D


Refreshing Tuna (sandwich filling)
1 can of tuna in mineral water
1 tsp fresh crushed black pepper
Juice of half a lime
Dash of tabasco sauce (optional)

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and fluff with a fork. (See? I told you it was super easy.)

Tags: tuna sandwich filling budget recipe

Spicy Tuna Rice Paper rolls

I was in a hurry to dash out for a couple of errands this afternoon and didn't have much time to map out lunch for us at home. I opted for a 'no-cook' meal of quick healthy rice paper roll ups for my 'babies' before running off. I call them my babies because I love them to PIECES and I'm the self-proclaimed 'mommy' of the house.*laughs* Rice paper rolls are so quick to make; and they didn't take me much effort at all....*sigh* an ingenious culinary discovery by the Vietnamese!
I dug around the pantry and refrigerator for loose bits of vegetables and came up with a delicious "tuna-combo" which had our taste buds tingling with satisfaction.

Makes 8:

8-9 Rice paper sheets
2 cans of spicy tuna
1/4 iceberg lettuce leaves shredded
1/2 cucumber sliced into thin strips
1 carrot grated
1 red chilly sliced
2 stalks fresh mint leaves (roughly diced)
fried crispy shallots ( available at asian supermarkets)
Sauce: 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce+2 tbsp light soy sauce+ 1 tsp fish sauce + 1/2 red chilly sliced+ 1 inch cube ginger sliced thinly+ 1 garlic clove crushed and roughly chopped+ 1 tsp sugar

Stir sauce ingredients in a small container till well incorporated and set aside.
Soak 1 sheet of paper in a shallow bowl filled with water for approximately 30 seconds. Gently remove and lay on a flat work space. Arrange filling ingredients in the center horizontally, sprinkle mint leaves+ fried shallots and fold the left and right corners in by 1-2 inches. Gently roll up the rice paper roll into a long cyclindrical shape. Repeat with the rest of the rolls. Serve with spicy chilly+ ginger sauce!
The rolls may turn out a little messy in the beginning but keep in mind that practice makes perfect. Try not to soak the paper for too long or it may tear too easily. Throw out the torn ones...start over with a new sheet...unless you want to end up with rice paper rolls leaking like a worn-out faucet.

Tags: tuna rice paper rolls budget recipe

Checking up on our waistlines ;)

As vanity takes it's course, us 3 Malaysian girls are feasting-"healthy" in preparation for the expensive,stylish and extravagant annual Malaysian ADnD event (Annual dinner and dance). I'm not usually present at such ball/prom-ish occasions; and I blame pure laziness. I hate fussing over getting dressed up fancy, etc. I love having a "dress-up" session with my girlfriends for a fun night out in town but my wardrobe isn't exactly "dainty, formal and elegant" -friendly. This year, the ADnD will be organized by a couple of very special friends of mine..and I couldn't possibly miss the chance to cheer my very pretty ex-housemate "Jia" dancing on stage! *gets excited*
The dinner is this friday.. and considering how I only have 1-2 "formal"-ish outfits...I'll have to make sure I squeeze in cozy and snug *wink*
hehe...
Cheers to delicious oil-free stir fried vege's!
For those who are sick and tired of soy sauce or stereotypical Chinese flavored stirfried dishes. Try this combo.Its fairly unorthodox, but lemon juice, lemon grass, chilies, fish tofu and greens are a lipsmacking medley. I used green beans, watercress stalks, carrots and lettuce in this sweet and sour stir-fry combo.

1 tbsp thick chilli sauce
1/2 tsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
1 tsp brown sugar
1 inch lemon grass stalk sliced
1 red chilli sliced
salt and pepper to taste

"Fish tofu?!" you say...
Another one of those great diet-days freezer-friendly items! They are golden cube nuggets of fish paste mixed with soy bean (tofu). Healthy and a perfect substitute for fat laden mince meat. They can be grilled, steamed, pan fried...skewered....ample options for what to cook them with!

Where to get a bag?: Most Asian marts, frozen aisle

Tags: fish tofu budget recipe

salted fish and prawn fried rice

got leftover rice ? don't know what to do with it leh ? this recipe is for you .

following the aftermath of C.O.S.D.U's post-welcome mass home-cooked food fest , the leftover rice was donated to me and jon . after having aged it overnight , i set out to fry it ala chinese-y style .

what do you need ar?

i don't have a scale at home , but i measured the cooked rice and it amounted to 6 cups (250ml) .
150 grams of salted fish .
350 grams of prawns (peeled) .
4 stalks of spring onion (chopped) .
8 tablespoons oil .
2 tablespoons sesame oil .
5 eggs (beat) .

2 tablespoons chicken stock .
3 tablespoons soy sauce .
2 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon brown sugar .
2 tablespoons salt .
5 tablespoons white pepper .

how liao ?

heat the oil and fry the salted fish until nicely crispy golden . set the fried salted fish aside but leave the oil in the wok / pan hor (don't wanna lose all that flavour) . add the sesame oil now and cook the prawns in this oil mixture . after making sure the prawns are cooked , add the rice and stir the mix together briskly . whilst stirring , add in the chicken stock , soy sauce , sugar , salt and pepper . next , make a well in the centre of the rice / prawn mix and pour the beat eggs into it . envelope the egg well with rice for a minute . then stir everything again to let everything meet each other . add the spring onions and stir once more for a couple of minutes . switch off the fire and mix in the salted fish again . always make sure everything's properly mixed hor . garnish with some more chopped spring onion and a small red chilli .

here's what half of the amount i cooked looks like in a bowl :



this amount should last three to four normal serves (but only serves two hungry guys) .


Tags: salted fish prawn fried rice budget recipe

B.L.L.F.

or... Banana Leaf Lemak Fish.
I didn't know what to name it. All I knew was, I had some fish and some banana leaf and NO lemons and lots of onions. So this is what I did.



Chopped green spinach
1 white fish fillet (i used dory)
Banana Leaf

(sauce)
2 small onions, thinly sliced
Milk
Salt and pepper
1 tsp flour
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp corainder powder
1 tbsp Butter

1. Preheat oven to 180, fan forced.
2. In a saucepan, fry onions in butter until tender. Sprinkle a little salt to draw moisture out.
3. When soft, add milk to just cover the onions. On low heat, cook for five more minutes. Bring away from heat and let cool.
4. While the onion sauce mix is cooling, bring it away from the stove and let cool. In a shallow dish, place banana leaf and lay a bed of chopped spinach on it. Place fish fillet on top.
5. Blend onion milk mixture, adding the the tumeric, coriander, flour and pepper to taste. Spoon mixture evenly over fish, wrap banana leaf and fasten with toothpicks.
6. Bake in oven for 25 minutes. Enjoy with prata (Or canai, for you malaysians...).

The whole thing reminded me of otak when it came out of the oven. Maybe I'll try that later...

Tags: banana leaf baked fish budget recipe

leftover pockets

So after having graduated, i'm technically not a student anymore. But i'm still on a budget! Particularly since i haven't found a job yet which means i'm officially "unemployed".

No one's put up anything festive over the holidays, so i decided to do mine. It's kind of a budget recipe, since it's made with leftovers. Except for puff pastry. That's not the kind of thing you expect to have lying around in the fridge.

Leftover pockets

A handful of spinach, sliced
An equal amount of shredded cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
Pepper to taste

Leftover chicken/turkey/meat/uncooked white fish
Puff pastry sheet

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius, fan forced.

2. Mix the first four ingredients together in a bowl. Place mixture on the centre of a puff pastry sheet.

3. Lay meat over spinach mixture, wrap up in a neat package

4. Lay on greased baking sheet and tray and bake for 25 minutes

Tags: leftovers puff pastry budget recipe

May's oh-my-god-it's-so-easy Salmon

I love fish. It's rich in calcium and being lactose intolerant fish seems to be one of the few thingies I can eat without running to the toilet in a huffy. There's no carbs too so I don't have to fret too much about maintaining my erm, standards.

Let's move on, shall we?

This dish is easy peasy. And very yummy. Mum thought me this, and I added a few things myself.

Vat you need:

Salmon cutlet
Olive oil
Butter
Garlic - chopped finely
Parsley - chopped finely
Salt and peper to taste

How now, brown cow?

1. Mix butter, garlic and parsley together.

2. Get fishy out and slap on the mixture of butter, garlic and parsley on both sides of the cutlet.

3. Leave fishy in the fridge for about an hour.

4. Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

5. Line oven-proof tray with aluminum foil and spread a little olive oil over.

6. Place fishy on tray. Talk to it before it goes into oven to prevent from burning. (Don't know what to say to your food? Refer to the first recipe I posted on this blog!)

7. Let fishy cook for 10 minutes. Turn fishy over and cook again for another 10 minutes.

Done!

Easy, no?

Tags: salmon baked budget recipe

single-handed zuppa di mare

i'm eating this while i'm blogging this. it's a late dinner for me, on account of having breakfast at 3. to fully appreciate this recipe you have to do it on ONE HAND.

zuppa di mare (seafood soup)

one half onion, chopped
one half carrot, cubed
one stalk celery, chopped
one chili padi, sliced
one clove garlic, sliced
one can roma tomatoes, chopped
1/3 piece of flake (or other white fish), in cubes
1/3 calamari tube, in one-inch squares
5-6 small prawns, peeled
tsp dried basil

Brown onions, celery and carrots in pot with some olive oil. Add garlic, roma tomatoes and two cans of water. Bring to boil, add flake, basil and chili padi. Once boiling, add squid. Once boiling again, add prawns. Bring to boil and simmer. Salt and pepper to taste. Serves one hungry person and half a small hungry person.

Option 1: Add a dash of olive oil just before serving.
Option 2: Eat with toasted crusty bread.

Tags: seafood soup zuppa+di+mare budget recipe