Mamak Mee Goreng

This dish is a favourite street food in Malaysia. Today I am sharing my recipe for it with you.

In essence, this is fried noodles. It’s quick, it’s fast, and it is delicious.

All credit for this dish needs to go to my husband. He was the chef here.

Being typical of a Malaysian dish the noodles have a nice spicy kick in it. This dish was so on point I can’t get enough of it.

If you can, don’t skip the crushed peanuts, it just adds another level of tastiness to the noodles. Squeeze on some lime juice just before eating to add a nice tangy zest to this dish.

Malaysian Seri Muka Kuih

A sweet dessert made from glutinous rice and flavoured with gorgeous pandan (screwpine) leaves and coconut milk, it’s a real tea time treat.

Hello!

It has been a long time since my last post hasn't it? I blame the house move and no internet for my absence. Now, I finally have fibre broadband installed and have moved out of the dark ages.

So, what have I been cooking? Well, I made this delicious Malaysian dessert last week. Pandan and coconut milk always make such an aromatic and tasty combination.

I hope you don’t get overwhelmed by the recipe, it’s just a few steps that you need to plan for. Otherwise it really isn't that daunting and is very do-able! If you make this you can always show me on Twitter or Instagram by tagging @leowailin or using the hashtag #nomsieskitchen. Enjoy!

Pie Tee (Top Hats) made from scratch

Pie Tee (Top Hats)

Happy Meatless Monday everyone!

For today's recipe, I thought I would share a recipe for Pie Tee. This is a rather traditional Nonya dish and is basically mini pastry tart shells that are deep fried then filled with a combination of thinly sliced vegetables and topped off with a dollop of chilli sauce. These mini little savouries make wonderful appetisers. A word of caution, it is a little labour intensive to make the tart shells however the end result will make it worth your while. 

Bitter Gourd with Salted Duck Egg

Bitter Gourd with Salted Duck Egg

Hello everyone!

Look what I made yesterday - my friend came over and we both baked and decorated a cake for her parent's 39th anniversary! I had such fun making those cute little fondant flowers.

Anyway, for this Friday's post, I am going to share a recipe for Bitter Gourd cooked with Salted Duck Eggs.

Sounds exotic? 

Okra with Sambal

Okra with Sambal 

A very big hello to you!

I have not been blogging in the past 10 days or so. It has certainly been hectic since I arrived in Malaysia. I was too busy having fun meeting up with family and friends. I even managed to squeeze in an indoor rock climbing session and a session of paddling with my dragonboat team mates. If you are wondering what dragonboating is, have a read of this comprehensive article written by friend and coach Lee Shih.

As it is Monday, it is time for - yes, you guessed it - another Meatless Monday recipe!

Since I am currently in Malaysia, what better time than to introduce a famous and versatile Malaysian condiment - Sambal. Essentially, a chilli paste, Sambal can be used as a condiment for various dishes, these include but are not limited to a condiment for noodles such as Prawn Mee, Curry Mee, simple Fried Noodles, and even as an inclusion for stir-fried vegetables. However, Sambal is most famously used as a condiment in the de-facto Malaysian National dish, Nasi Lemak (stay tuned for a Nasi Lemak post in the near future).

Vegetarian Curry for Meatless Monday

Vegetarian Curry

Hello and Happy Monday!

What did you do over the weekend? Mine was a weekend of high and lows. We had to put my poor hamster Peanut to sleep, so that was heart breaking :( 

She will be greatly missed. Funny how a small little hamster brought us so much joy and laughter. 

As for the highs - I am going back to Kuala Lumpur for a long visit! It wasn't a planned visit, very much a spontaneous decision. Must truly thank my dearest husband for the nice gift and for sacrificing so much to allow me to visit my family and friends. So, watch this space for more posts from Malaysia. I am super excited and can't wait to be inspired by all the food!

Since it is a Monday, I thought that I would do another Meatless Monday post. I think I am going to challenge myself and try to do a Meatless Monday post weekly. You my dear readers shall keep me honest and ensure that I do not stray.

This week, it is a Vegetarian Curry! It's so flavoursome and aromatic you won't even realise it is meat-free. I tried to give the curry a bulkier texture and more bite by using chunky vegetables like aubergines, carrots and courgettes. I also added Tofu Puffs that act like a sponge to soak up all the curry broth. When you bite into them, all the curry goodness oozes out. Heaven!

Kaya (Malaysian Coconut Egg Jam) Recipe

Kaya (Malaysian Coconut Egg Jam) on home made Milk Toast

Happy Friday everyone! 

Since I like Friday to be sweet, I am going to share my take on this ever popular Malaysian jam called Kaya. It is a very fragrant and sweet jam made from coconut milk, sugar, eggs and pandanus leaves. Usually eaten on buttered toast, it can also commonly used as a filling in pastries and buns. You can also slather it on top of waffles, pancakes, crumpets, the list goes on! 

The ingredients I use for Kaya

Most families will have their own recipe for Kaya, passed down through the generations. However, the trick about making this jam is that it has to be constantly (I greatly emphasise the word "constant" here) stirred over a double boiler for at least an hour. Because of this time consuming method, most people nowadays have opted for commercially produced Kaya. I think that if you could spare the time, nothing beats a homemade Kaya. The fragrance will knock you over and you will smile when you eat it simply because you know it is a labour of love.

Kaya and warm melted butter sandwiched between homemade Milk Toast

The recipe I am sharing today uses brown sugar. It produces a rougher more granular texture in the Kaya as compared to using castor sugar. I do find that I prefer the richer more caramelised taste and texture of brown sugar. Maybe it is because it is the way my mama makes it. Funny how a jam can trigger memories of an 8 year old you standing over the stove helping to stir the Kaya! 

Chapatis and Malaysian Chicken Curry

Chapatis and Malaysian Chicken Curry

Happy Thursday to you! I do hope your week has been good or as good as it can be.

I am currently enjoying the sunshine and heat we have been receiving in the North East of England. I even went to the beach! Whereupon I discovered to my dismay that I am not swimsuit ready. Sigh.

On to happier things - the good weather means al fresco dining! Must make the most of it while it lasts.

Cod Fish Noodle Soup

Hello, happy 1st of July and how was your weekend?

Mine was quite eventful, thank you for asking ;) I had a grand time at the Vamos Festival which was held on Saturday at Newcastle's Highbridge Quarter. It was a real carnival like atmosphere and the smell of various street food permeating the air was oh-so-wonderful. I love how you go to a street carnival where there is a myriad of food stalls and you are trying to pin point which stall a particularly delicious smell is coming from. Then you realise, it's impossible, it is delicious all over. Yum! After the carnival I stupidly stumbled into John Lewis, realised they had a sale on and spent way too much money on unnecessary things.

After all that fun, I wound up having a bit of an annoying cough today. I was really in need of some hot soup to soothe my itchy throat. Nothing spicy or oily to be on the menu.

Since it is a Monday night and I am home alone I was in no mood for time consuming preparations. In fact, I don't think I ever am! Fast, easy and fresh is the way to go I say.

As such, I decided to make a wholesome and throat soothing Cod Fish Noodle Soup. It took me all of 20 minutes to make. Kind of longer than instant noodles from a packet but more nutritious and better for you. When you sauté the ginger, garlic and preserved turnip together, the aromatic fragrance assures you that something good is happening. The hint of sesame oil also adds a nice fragrant punch to the dish.