Asian Inspirations

Discover the authentic in Asian cuisine food

Vegetables

Vegetarian Char Siew

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To Prep
Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl and knead for 15-20 mins until you get smooth dough by using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
Rest the dough at room temperature for an hour.
Transfer the dough to a basin and cover the dough with water.
“Wash” the dough as though hand washing clothes. Tip out the water when the water gets too cloudy and fill with fresh water.
“Wash” the dough until the water remains clear.
After tipping out the water, what remains is the wheat gluten.

To Cook
Cut the wheat gluten into 3 equal portions and stretch into equally long pieces.
Plait the gluten and seal the ends to help the meat gluten mimic the shape of lean meat.
Boil gluten in a pot for approximately 30mins or until it floats to the surface.
Let the cooked gluten cool to room temperature and undo the plait.
In a bowl, combine all the marinated ingredients and mix well. Next, add the wheat gluten to the bowl and coat thoroughly. Allow it to be marinated for at least 3-4 hours, preferably overnight.
Then, heat up the oil in a wok or port to deep fry.
Deep fry the gluten for about 10 mins. Remove the gluten from the oil and drain any excess oil.
Add a little oil to a frying pan, and then add the marinade. Sauté until the sauce thickens.
Slice the vegetarian char siew and drizzle the sauce over. Serve.

Nasi Lemak

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To Prep
Wash the rice until the water runs clear.
Saute the lemongrass, pandan leaves, ginger, and shallots in a pot until fragrant.
Add the water and coconut milk to the pot and bring to a boil. Add a couple pinches of salt and mix thoroughly.
Pour the cleaned rice into a rice cooker pot together with the ingredients mentioned above.

Preparing the Sambal
Deep fry the half anchovies until crisp and golden.
In the frying oil on low heat, add in the chilli paste, minced onions, and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent.
Add in the sugar and mix thoroughly.
Next, mix in the tamarind paste and the rest of the anchovies and allow the sambal to cook over low heat.
Finally, add salt and sugar to taste.

To Assemble
Prepare a hard-boiled egg.
Scoop the cooked rice into a rice bowl, then cover with a plate. Then, flip over the plate and remove the rice bowl. Place the egg on or next to the rice.
Add a tbsp each of the fried anchovies, fried peanuts, and sambal. Garnish with a few slices of cucumber. Serve hot.

Cantonese Stir Fry Chicken

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To Cook
Heat oil in a wok on high heat, add chicken and stir-fry until cooked through for 3-4 mins.
Add vegetables and sauce to pan and stir-fry until sauce thickens for 1-2 mins.
Garnish with sesame seeds, green onions and serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Chinese Spring Rolls

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To Prepare Egg Rolls
Marinade minced pork with 1 tsp light soy sauce and 1tsp corn flour for 10 mins.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-01.jpg
Heat up frying pan with 1 tbsp oil, sauté the minced pork till 85% cooked and push them to the side.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-02.jpg
Toss in the garlic, ginger and fungus. Fry fir 1 min.
Add in cabbage and carrot and continue to fry till cabbage and carrot is soften.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-05.jpg
Add in rice wine, light soy sauce, sugar, sesame seed oil and pepper. Stir til all are well mixed.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-07.jpg
Dish up and set aside to cool.
Prepare egg roll wrappers. Keep them cover with a damp kitchen towel as you work.
Take 1 piece of wrapper, scoop 1 tablespoon of the filling onto one corner.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-08.jpg
Fold the bottom over the filling. Fold both sides and start rolling up tightly. Once reached 2” before the top corner, wet it with corn flour slurry before sealing. Place seam side down.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-09.jpg
Heat enough oil in a medium pot. Once oil temperature reached 175C, fry 3-4 of egg rolls for 6-8 mins under medium heat. Drain away excess oil on wire rack.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/R002984-Chinese-Egg-Roll-11.jpg
Serve with sweet chilli sauce.