Stir fried tatsoi (塌棵菜) with bean curd slices

 

Tatsoi tastes just like pak choi and it can be fried on its own or paired with bean curd or other vegetables. It is usually only available around Chinese New Year.

Tatsoi (塌棵菜 tā kē cài) is also known by other names such as Chinese flat cabbage, rosette pak choi or broad beaked mustard, spoon mustard or spinach mustard. It is a small low-growing plant whose dark green glossy leaves form tight little circles, creating pretty rosettes. It has short pale lime green stems that are succulent and tender, similar to those of a celery heart. It can be eaten raw, stir-fried, or lightly cooked in soups. Tatsoi is a good source of vitamins A, C and K, carotenoids, folate, calcium and potassium. 

Ingredients

 

Tatsoi

Fried bean curd pieces

Trim off the ends of the pak choi.
Soak in rice water for 5 minutes.

Soak the fried bean in hot water for a couple of minutes.

This is to reduce the oiliness and make it easier to cut.

Cut the tatsoi and bean curd into bite-size pieces.

Heat some oil in the wok and fry the chopped garlic with salt until fragrant.

Put in the tatsoi and mix thoroughly.

Put in the bean curd and stir well.

Dish up and serve with rice.

Mango fish curry

 

I first ate this dish in an Indian Mamak shop and I really loved it, so I had to try cooking it to have it anytime at home. One mistake I made was forgetting to put in the curry leaves but it still tasted good. It is best to eat the fish with the mango slices.

Ingredients

2 blocks ikan tenggiri (Spanish mackerel)
10 ladies’ fingers (okra)
2 tomatoes
1 semi-ripe mango

Slice the mango with the skin on

Remove the top and bottom of the ladies’ fingers

I pack frozen chili paste
Add 2 spoonsful of fish curry powder to the defrosted chili paste

Mix thoroughly

Heat some oil in the pan
Put in the chili paste and stir until it is fragrant.
If needed add a little water to prevent the chili from being burnt

Put in the mango slices and curry leaves

Cook for about 5 mins

Add the okra, and 100 ml water, and mix thoroughly.
Cover and simmer for 5 mins.

Add the santan and a little salt

Cut the tomatoes into wedges

Add the tomatoes and mix well

Put in the fish and spoon the curry gravy over it
Cover and cook for about 10 mins  

Turn the fish over
Cover and cook for about 20 mins or until the fish is cooked

Dish up and serve hot

Baked chicken drumsticks (烤鸡腿)

 

This is an easy no-fuss meal to cook, and the children love it. You can eat it as it is or add a side salad. 

Ingredients

1 large onion
4 potatoes
White button mushrooms
Salt and pepper

1 chicken drumstick per person

Pull the skin back and make slits on the flesh

Season with freshly ground salt and pepper
Pull the skin back over the flesh

Cover the chicken with cling film and let it marinate for an hour or more

Heat some oil in a pan and fry the chicken drumsticks

Remove when the drumsticks are slightly browned

Alternatively, you can use the air fryer to fry the drumsticks
Set the air fryer temperature at 190 degrees

Set the timer for 17 minutes
Turn it on for 1 minute to warm up so the chicken won’t stick to the basket

Put the chicken into the fryer and start cooking

Turn the chicken over halfway through
Remove and set aside

Wash and cut the potatoes into chunks
Place in a baking tray with the corn
Season with olive oil and some rosemary or mixed herbs

Wash and slice the mushrooms
Place the mushrooms on the potatoes

Place the drumsticks on the mushrooms

Peel, wash and slice the onions
Place the onions on the chicken

Pour the chicken juices from the air fryer onto the onions

Cover with a sheet of baking paper

Cover with a sheet of tin foil

Bake in the oven at 210 degrees C for one hour

Remove the baking sheet and tin foil
Let the chicken brown and then it is ready for serving

Remove from the oven and serve 

 

Mashed potatoes ( 土豆泥) with air fried bacon

Mashed potatoes are a favorite side dish whenever we have western meals. It goes well with sausages and any other roast meat. Mashed potato can be an ingredient of various other dishes, such as shepherds and cottage pie.

Ingredients 

3 medium-sized floury potatoes
2 bacon rashers
1 stick salted butter

 

Method 1 – smooth mashed potatoes

Peel and cut the potatoes into bite-size cubes

Transfer the potatoes to a pot
Put in enough water to cover the potatoes

Cover and cook on high heat.

When the water is boiling, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are cooked

Dry and cut the bacon

Set the temp at 190 degrees

Set the timer for 6 minutes

Put the bacon into the air fryer

 Remove the bacon when it is nicely browned

Put the potatoes, bacon and butter into the blender
Season with freshly ground black pepper

Add 100 ml warm milk and blend until the potatoes are smooth

This is how it looks

Transfer to a serving bowl

 

Method 2 – small lumpy mashed potatoes

Cut the bacon into small pieces

Set the temp at 190 degrees and the timer for 3 minutes

Put in the bacon and fry until brown and crispy

Remove and set aside

Put the butter into the cooked potatoes

Mash the potatoes until most of it is smooth and there are some small lumps

Add the bacon and 100 ml warm milk  
Season with freshly ground black pepper
Mix thoroughly

Transfer to a serving bowl