Asian Inspirations

Discover the authentic in Asian cuisine food

Vegetables

Taiwanese Hakka Style Dough Dumplings (Zongzi)

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To Prepare Filling
Heat frying pan or wok with 3 tbsp oil and fry shallot till fragrant. Dish up and set aside.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka2-scaled.jpg
Put another 2 tbsp oil and fry the soaked dried shrimps till golden and fragrant.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka4-scaled.jpg
Push the dried shrimps to the side of the pan and toss in minced pork. Fry till minced pork is dry and add in the chopped shitake mushroom and toss in the radish. Continue to fry till fragrant.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka5-scaled.jpg
Add in all the seasonings and add in the cornstarch slurry. Fry the mixture till all the liquid is absorbed and toss in the fried shallots. Mix well.
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Dish up and let it cold down. Divide into 16 portions (40g) and roll into balls with the help of cling wrap and freeze for 2 hours or prepare the day before.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka26-scaled.jpg

To Prepare Dough
Put 300ml water in a sauce pan together with salt and sugar and let it boil.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka18-scaled.jpg
Place flours into a big mixing bowl and create a hole in the centre.
Pour in oil and boiling water and mix flours with a spatula by bringing flour into the centre. Pour more of boiling water and stir till combine.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka21-scaled.jpg
Slowly pour in the room temperature water and bring the mixture into a dough. Knead till dough is smooth and divide into 16 portions (83g).https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka27-scaled.jpg
Roll dough out with the sides thinner than the centre. Place a ball of the filling into the centre of the flatten dough and slowly bring the sides together and mould into a ball and shape it into an oval shape.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka30-scaled.jpg

To Assemble and Cook
Take one or two of bamboo leaf (depending on size) and fold into a cone. Oil the leaf with enough oil.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka35-scaled.jpg
Place filled dough ball into the cone and fold the top over with your thumb and the other fingers pressing the sides down. Fold along the corner and press together and fold down to seal.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka38-scaled.jpg
Use a twine or saltwater grass to make 2 round and tie the completed dumpling. Do not tie too tight as dough will expand during steaming.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka44-scaled.jpg
Heat wok or big stock pot with enough water with a trivet and steam wrapped dumplings for 30 mins. Open up at 15 mins mark to release some steam.https://asianinspirations.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Zhang-Hakka46-scaled.jpg

Malaysian Char Kway Teow

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To Cook
Heat 2 tbsp of the vegetable oil in a wok over high heat, add the garlic, lap cheong and stir-fry for a minute.
Then add prawns and stir-fry for a further minute until cooked.
Add rice noodles, season with light soy sauce, dark soy caramel and white pepper, and stir-fry to make sure all noodles are charred and well coated in the sauce.
Push the rice noodles aside and make a clear space in the wok, then add the remaining tablespoon of oil and crack the egg into the oil. Stir and break up the egg with the spatula, then quickly cover it up with noodles and let it cook for 10-15 secs before you start stir-frying again.
Add bean sprouts and garlic chives, turn the heat off, give everything in the wok a toss to combine, then tip out onto a serving plate. Serve this Malaysian Char Kway Teow immediately.

Notes
Dark cooking caramel, also known as dark soy caramel, is different from dark soy sauce or kecap manis. It has a thick molasses consistency and a salty flavour. It can be found in many major supermarkets and Asian grocers.

Soba Noodle Sushi Roll

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To Make
Cook noodles according to the package directions, drain twice in cold water to remove any starch and pat dry with a paper towel.
Prepare the filling ingredients.
Add the noodles into a mixing bowl, drizzle with sushi seasonings and toss to combine.
Place nori shiny side down in the bamboo rolling mat. Spread soba noodles evenly over the nori, leaving the top uncovered. Add the filling ingredients and wasabi (if desired) to your roll on top of the noodles. Lift the front of the bamboo mat and begin to roll the sheet tightly. Apply gentle pressure to join the edges of the nori.
Using a wet sharp knife, cut the roll into 8 pieces, wiping the knife after each cut for better results. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve right away and enjoy!

Vegetarian Eggplant Katsu Curry with Udon

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To Make
To prepare the eggplant, flour each piece on all sides, shake off any excess, then coat in egg wash, followed by panko breadcrumbs. You can do this ahead of time and refrigerate if desired.
To fry the eggplant, heat oil in a medium non-stick fry pan to a medium high heat. Fry in batches, turning once or twice until golden brown and crunchy. Drain well over a paper towel or a drying rack on a tray.
Preheat a medium non-stick fry pan to a medium high-heat. Stir-fry the curry paste until fragrant, deglaze, break up and thoroughly stir through water until a sauce is forming.
Add all vegetables and reduce heat to a low simmer and cook until vegetables have softened through.
To serve, place a bed of cooked Udon noodles followed by curry then topped with eggplant katsu, sauce and optional toppings.

Chargrilled Eggplant with Fish Sauce

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To Make
Cover eggplants in salt and place in a large strainer to sit for 1 hour. Wash off salt well, pat dry with a paper towel.
To make dressing, place sugar, lime juice, Squid Brand Fish Sauce and sesame oil in a medium bowl. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Mix through ginger, garlic and ½ cup of green spring onion tops. Set aside.
Rub oil over eggplants and white spring onions. Heat a large non-stick grill plate over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook eggplant for 2-3 mins each side until tender and charred. Set aside. Cook spring onions for 2-3 mins until slightly blistered and coloured.
Plate eggplants and spring onions with a drizzle of dressing over. Garnish with coriander and chilli, serve with steamed rice and remaining dressing.

Shiitake, Tofu and Teriyaki Soup Dumplings with Tempura Vegetables

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To Cook
Place the teriyaki marinade, ginger, mushrooms & stock in a small saucepan and simmer until reduced by half.
Add in the agar agar and simmer until dissolved constantly stirring.
Once dissolved, pour the teriyaki sauce mix into a 20cm square pan. Leave to cool and set.
Meanwhile, combine the tofu, shiitake mushrooms, garlic chives, ginger and soy sauce, set aside.
Once teriyaki sauce mix has set, cut the jellied sauce into 1 cm cubes.
Using a rolling pin, gently roll the Gow Gee wrappers to make them slightly thinner, then fill with 1-2 tsp of the shiitake mushroom and tofu mixture, and 1-2 cubes of the jellied teriyaki sauce. Pleat the top and twist to enclose the filling.
Place in a lightly oiled steamer and steam until cooked through and translucent.
To make the batter, mix the flour, beaten egg and chilled soda water lightly.
Lightly dust the vegetables with plain flour, dip in the batter and cook in hot oil until crisp. Allow to drain on kitchen paper.
Mix the Kewpie mayonnaise, lime juice & wasabi paste (to taste).
Arrange the dumplings and tempura-battered vegetables on a platter with spoons.
Serve with lime and wasabi mayonnaise for dipping and garnish with radish, cucumber ribbons and spring onion curls.

Char Grilled Coconut Veggie Salad

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To Cook
Cut asparagus, broccolini, carrots long ways into strips similar to the size of a chopstick. Cut brussel sprouts into halves and cut onion into thin strips.
Heat a frying pan and spray it with cooking oil. Add asparagus, broccolini, carrot and brussel sprouts, coating the veggies with cooking spray. Cook veggies on high heat until they just start to wilt.
Then add ¼ cup of water and cover with a lid for 1 min to trap in the steam and then turn off the heat. Let sit for 5 min.
Leaving water behind, remove veggies into a bowl and let cool for 10 mins.
Before turning the fry pan back on, add your onion, sauce ingredients, coconut cream, hot chilli sauce, soy sauce, ginger.
On medium heat cooking sauce for 2 min just to thicken it.
Add sauce, sesame seeds to veggies toss until well combined,
Once plated garnish using coriander, chilli, toasted peanuts
Makes 2 good-sized portions or 4 side serves.

Two-ways Yellow Curry

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To Make
In a saucepan, begin heating enough water and add in salt. Once the water is boiling, toss in the sweet potatoes and boil for 3 mins. Then, add in the cauliflower and boil for further 2 mins. Lastly, add in the capsicum and cook for another 2 mins. Drain and set aside.
Heat up frying pan with 1 tbsp of oil and slightly pan-fry the firm tofu cubes on all sides. Set aside.
Add 1 tbsp of oil and slightly pan-fry the prawns on both sides until cooked. Set aside.
Using the same frying pan, heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil and fry the Valcom Yellow Curry Paste until bubbling.
Add in the coconut milk and stir until well combined. Then, add in light soy sauce and brown sugar, and continue stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved.
Toss in the tofu and the blanched vegetables. Stir for 2 mins until all ingredients are completely coated with curry sauce. Remove half from the pan for the Vegetarian Yellow Curry.
Add prawns to the remaining Yellow Curry for the Meat Version.
Garnish the Two-Ways Yellow Curry with cut chillies and Thai sweet basil.

Note: For Vegetarian version only, skip steps 3 and 7.

Crispy Vegan Tofu with Yellow Curry and Vegetables

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To Cook Tofu
Heat oil in a pot for deep-frying on medium-high heat.
Dust tofu with flour, then deep-fry until golden and crispy. Set aside.

To Cook Vegetables
Heat 1 tsp oil in medium heat pan, then add onions and cook for 30 secs.
Add Valcom Yellow Curry Paste to the pan and cook until fragrant. Then add green beans and baby corn, cooking for 2 mins.
Season with salt and sugar and mix well until sugar has dissolved, then turn off the fire.
Separate baby corn and green beans.

To Serve (2 Options)
Place sauce with onion on a plate followed by crispy tofu then green beans and corn on top.
Add deep fried tofu into the sauce and gently mix until the tofu is coated all over. Plate tofu, green beans and corn with onion and sauce.

Prawn Salad with Tom Yum Mayo

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To Cook
Add mayonnaise, Valcom Tom Yum Paste, tomato sauce, oil (1 tbsp), water and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Set aside as salad dressing.
Mix prawns with fish sauce and black pepper.
Heat the remaining oil in a hot pan until the oil begins to smoke. Add prawns into the hot oil cooking them for about 30 secs each side.
To serve, arrange all the vegetables, avocado and prawns on the plate. Add some dressing on top or serve at the side.

Vegetarian Yellow Curry Bun

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To Cook
Heat up frying pan with 1 tbsp of oil and slightly pan fry the firm tofu cubes on all sides. Set aside.
In a saucepan, begin heating enough water and add in salt. Once water is boiling, toss in sweet potatoes and boil for 3 mins. Then add in cauliflower and boil for 2 mins. Lastly, add in the capsicum and cook for another 2 mins. Drain and keep aside.
Using the same frying pan, heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil and fry the Valcom Yellow Curry Paste until bubbling.
Add in coconut milk and stir till well until combined. Then add in light soy sauce and brown sugar, stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved.
Toss in the tofu then add the blanched vegetables. Stir for 2 mins until all ingredients are completely coated with curry sauce.
Slice off the top of the boule and dig out the white inner section of the bread leaving about an inch surrounding inside.
Gently scoop the vegetable curry into the bread bowl. Garnish with cut chillies and Thai sweet basil.

Thai Fried Tempeh with Cashew (Pad Med Mamuang Tempeh)

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To Prep Cashew Nuts & Chillies
In a pot, heat ¾ cup of oil on medium heat.
Deep-fry cashew nuts until lightly golden (the cashew nuts will continue cooking even after they are taken out from the oil). Set aside.
Deep-fry dried chillies for 10 secs, set aside.

To Cook Tempeh
Coat tempeh with flour then deep fry in 2 cups of oil until golden brown, set aside.

To Serve
In a pan, heat oil over medium-high heat until the pan is hot.
Add garlic and onion and stir fry for 1 min, then turn to high heat.
Add capsicum then stir-fry for another 1 min.
Add all sauces, chilli paste and water to the pan, mix well.
Add tempeh and toss to coat the tempeh.
Top with cashew nuts, spring onion, and fried chillies to serve.