Mu shu pork is a delectable Chinese dish which you can prepare in minutes.  It is eaten with rice or Chinese pancakes.

Asian rice wine is available in most Asian food stalls or shops, but if it is not available use dry sherry instead.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons peanut or canola oil

600g pork, cut into strips

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 large carrot, julienned

1 red capsicum, thinly sliced

100g fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced

6 spring onions, thinly slice, plus extra to serve

1/4 small Chinese cabbage, finely shredded

2 teaspoons sesame oil

Heat half of the peanut oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium heat. Stir-fry half of the pork for a minute or two or until it is browned. Transfer it to a bowl and repeat the process for the remaining oil and pork strips. Once it is done, put the soy sauce and rice wine in the bowl.

In the same pan or wok, Stir-fry the carrots, capsicum and shiitake mushrooms for one to two minutes. Add the spring onions, cabbage and pork mixture. Cook it for two to three minutes or until the liquids have evaporated and the cabbage is wilted. Remove from heat and add the sesame oil. Gently toss. Transfer it to a serving platter or individual plates. Top with spring onions. Serve immediately.

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Stir-fried chicken and udon noodle stir-fry is a delicious meal you can prepare in minutes. You may also replace the carrots and broccoli with other vegetables if desired. If you are serving the dish to guests serve the chili on the side instead of adding it onto the dish, so that they can adjust the spiciness according to their taste.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 x 440g packs udon noodles

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1kg chicken breast fillets, thinly sliced

1 broccoli head, cut into florets

5 garlic cloves, crushed

2 fresh long red chili, seeded and sliced thinly

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

1 medium sized carrot, peeled and sliced into strips

1/3 cup kecap manis

2 tablespoons water

1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves

Cook the udon noodles in a pot of boiling water or according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Heat half of the oil in a wok over high heat until it is very hot. Stir-fry the chicken in batches for 2-3 minutes or until it is light brown. Reduce the heat as needed so that the chicken will not get burned. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.

Place the remaining oil in the wok and set the heat to high. Sauté the garlic, chili and ginger for thirty seconds or until it becomes fragrant. Add the broccoli and stir-fry it for 2-3 minutes until tender, but crisp.

Return the chicken to the wok. Add the noodles, choy sum, kecap manis and water. Maintain the heat at high and bring it to a boil. After, reduce the heat and stir-fry the chicken and noodle mixture for one minute or until the choy sum wilts. Season it with salt and pepper to adjust the taste. Divide the chicken and udon stir-fry into individual bowls. Top them with basil leaves. Serve immediately.

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Baked fish pilaf is a delicious Indian recipe that you can whip up anytime. You can eat it as is, but it is often served with papadums (crispy flat bread) or naan (soft bread).

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons chicken powder

3 1/2 cups boiling water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 brown onion, finely chopped

1/3 cup tikka masala curry paste

1 1/3 cups basmati rice

450g frozen fish fillets, thawed, cut into 2.5cm pieces

1 small carrot, peeled and diced

1 cup frozen peas

100g baby spinach

Pappadums or naan bread for serving

Preheat the oven at 180C and lightly grease a baking dish with oil.

Place the boiling water in a heatproof jug. Add the chicken powder and mix well. Set aside.

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat.  Sauté the onions for 3-5 minutes or until it is soft. Add the curry paste and cook it for another minute or until it becomes fragrant. Stir in the rice and cook it for another minute until it is coated in oil. Pour in 3 cups of the stock mixture. Set the heat to high and bring it to a boil.

Transfer the rice mixture to the greased baking dish. Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven. Add the fish, carrots, peas and the remaining chicken stock. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake it for another 10 minutes or until the fish is cooked. Add the spinach and cover it. Set it aside for 5 minutes or until the spinach wilts. Serve with papadums or naan bread.

Photo Courtesy Of: jetalone

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

2 1/2 lbs chicken breast, cut into cubes

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 medium onions, diced

3 large carrots, diced

3 tbsp curry powder

1 tbsp turmeric

1 tbsp fish sauce (optional)

1/2 cup peas

1/4 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup chicken stock

1 13.5 oz can coconut milk

1 handful of basil leaves and coriander leaves

1 sheet puff pastry

1 egg white

Salt and pepper for seasoning

Preheat oven to 400F.

In a pot, heat oil then add the onions and garlic letting them sweat before adding the curry powder and turmeric. Then add the chicken, season with salt and pepper and stir around, allowing the spices to coat the chicken.  Add the coconut milk and let it simmer for about 2 minutes before adding the chicken stock and the fish sauce. Add the carrots and cover, letting it simmer for about 10 minutes. Then add the peas and the raisins and continue cooking until sauce has slightly thickened (you may also add 1 tbsp of cornstarch to hasten the thickening). Adjust the seasoning.  Before turning off the heat, add the basil and coriander leaves.

Prepare individual ramekin dishes (or you can use a large oval baking dish). Ladle the chicken curry into the dish(es). On a slightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry and cut out rounds that are at least 1/2 inch larger than the diameter of the dish(es). Place the pastry on top and press around the edges to seal. With a small knife, make a cross-slit on top to allow steam to escape. Brush with the egg white and bake for about 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

Photo Courtesy of: Mochachocolata-Rita

Stuffed potatoes is a quick and easy recipe that you can make using your microwave oven, although you may use a regular oven if desired. Add more cheese if you want and serve it with sour cream would also make it more delectable.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 medium sized potatoes

2 tomatoes

4 spring onions

4 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon chopped basil

Salt and ground white pepper to taste

Wash and scrub the potatoes. Pierce the skin with a knife and place them on a microwavable dish. Microwave it on high for 4 minutes.

While the cooking the potato, chop the tomatoes and spring onion finely. Place them on a medium sized bowl and add the cheese and the basil leaves. Mix well.

Get the cooked potato and let it cool slightly. Slice off the top to create a lid. With a spoon, scoop out the insides of the potato leaving a one centimeter shell.

Combine the insides of the potato and tomato mixture in a medium sized bowl. Season it with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Spoon the potato and tomato mixture back into the potato shells. Put the lid back and return it to the microwave. Cook it on high for another minute. Remove it from the microwave and serve immediately.

Photo Courtesy Of: mpich3