Sambal Sotong (Cuttlefish Sambal)

Again ! Another Sambal dish !

Nyonyachef having a Sambal party !

Sambal Petai, Sambal Udang, Sambal Timun, and now Sambal Sotong, in the making Sambal Kerang...that's if I can find it. 

Why all the Sambal post ? For a worked-out working person and seeking satisfying meal, this is it...simple to dish out a meal and it's appetizing.

  
Preparation: Cuttlefish, Spice Paste (Blend Chilli, Shallot, Garlic, Shrimp Paste), Tamarind (soaked) and Onion.

Heat up oil and saute the blended spice paste in low fire for 30min, or till the oil separates from the spice paste. Add it the Onion and stir for another 2-3min.

Mix in the tamarind juice and let it come to a boil, In goes the Cuttlefish and simmer until is cooked. Season to taste with salt and sugar.

Serve it hot !

Serving for 4paxs

Ingredients
600g Cuttlefish
80g Onion, sliced
30g Tamarind Pulp, soaked
2tbsp Sugar. to taste
1tsp Salt, to taste
200ml Water
4tbsp Oil

Blended Spice Paste
50g Chilli
200g Shallot
20g Garlic
20g Shrimp Paste, toasted

Sambal Timun (Cucumber Sambal)

Don't know what to eat ? 

One Dish...and One Rice meal ! Easy and appetizing... 

Preparation: Cucumber (cut and marinate with Salt for 15min), Prawn, Spice Paste (Blend Chilli, Shallot, Garlic, Shrimp Paste), Tamarind (soaked) and Onion.

Heat up oil and saute the blended spice paste for 20min, or till the oil separates from the spice paste. Add in the Prawn and Onion. Stir for another 3min

Mix in the tamarind juice and let it come to a boil, in goes the Cucumber. Season to taste with salt and sugar.

Serve with steam rice !

Ingredients
500g Cucumber
300g Prawn
80g Onion, sliced
30g Tamarind Pulp, soaked
1tbsp Sugar. to taste
1/2tsp Salt, to taste
250ml Water
5tbsp Oil

Blended Spice Paste
40g Chilli
150g Shallot
20g Garlic
20g Shrimp Paste, toasted   

Kerabu Timun (Kerabu Cucumber)

Want to do a easy, quick, appetizing dish ? 

I am dedicating this dish to my friend who runs a food outlet, and yet no time to cook for her own food,...sounds weird right !

Well, it's a western kitchen, so can't eat steaks all the time and just for 2 or 3 persons can't cook 3 or 4 dishes at one go...also at times you tend to run out of ideas. I always believe any wonderful dish can be just something you can grab from the kitchen or the garden. 

What dish can be appealing and mouth watering ?...can I say anything spicy and sourish !

Check this...only 10 min and no hassle !

    
Get a cucumber, peel off the skin, discard the seeds, chop an onion, coriander leaves, kaffir lime leaves, some mint leaves and chillies. Sprinkle some salt, sugar, lime juice and fish sauce. Mix all the ingredients.

Done ! Refreshing and appetizing ! 

Ain't that simple ?

Serving for 2paxs.

Ingredients
300g Cucumber (peeled skin and discards the seeds)
80g Onion (chopped)
6pcs Kaffir Lime Leaves (cut finely)
5g Coriander Leaves (cut finely)
5g Mint Leaves (cut finely)
1/2 tsp Salt (to taste)
1/2 tsp Sugar (to taste)
2tbsp Lime Juice
1tbsp Fish Sauce

Thailand...Places !...Food !

continue...Bangkok ! Eat your way through...

The thing I like best about Bangkok is, anyway and everywhere you want have a simple noodle soup...it will never disappoint you ! Be it in the restaurants, food courts, coffee shops or just even just a stall at the road side...it always has the right taste !

Look at this noodle soup. Simple ! Just noodles, pork slice, balls, water convolvulus and bean sprouts, and yet it's so appetizing. Why ???

If you ask the locals, and this is what The Thai will tell you; The secret of tasty noodle soup seems to have the balance of Spicy + Sour + Sweet + Salty...the harmonies of taste !

How do you find that ? The secret lies in the condiment set ! The Chilli Flakes, Lime Juice, Sugar and Fish Sauce. So the next time you have any Thai noodles, throw everything in. 

Want to try all the noodles in one place ?...proceed to Ma Boon Khrong shopping mall in Bangkok. You can find all the food under one roof. Check out what I had the whole day...

Chicken Koay Teow Soup

Pig's Organ/Spare Part Soup

Beef Koay Teow Soup

Kway Chap 

Shrimp Pad Thai

Pork Leg with Rice (Khao Kha Moo)

Som Tam Pu

Bangkok ! This is definitely a food paradise destination ! 

Thailand...Places !...Food !

Continue...night falls

After lunch and tea, take an hour to freshen up...then go for massage !

Once you are fully charged, adjourn to Nana Plaza located at Sukhumvit Soi 4. This is my second home ! If you like chilling out with some beers this is THE place. It's a square shape three floors building full of pubs and bars. Caution....ADULTS ONLY !

Before you enter look for this lady by the road side, my long time friend ...

Ask her what can she offer you !!???

Erh...reminder...this it a food blog ! Believe it or not,...she served the best grill meat. The grill beef and pork are my all time favorite. The marinate is simple and yet is tasty. You can get addicted to it. Trust me...I brought some certified food testers along, and they had it for dinner, went for few beers and they insisted to go back for supper.

   
...Verdict !

If your stomach still has some rooms...

Okay...anyway, one of the food tester already started.

How can anyone resist the temptation of the nasty, bloody, delicious pork innards, or so called spare-parts. Look at the presentation,...a mountain full of pork liver, kidney, lungs, big intestine, small intestine,...pig's heart, bloody blood !! Hehe...not many can take this stuffs.

Look at the bright side, they also have succulent Shrimp Dumpling. 

  

The finished product. Remember to add in the Thai Basil, Bean Spouts, Miniature Garlic, Fish Sauce, Sugar, Vineger Chilli and Chilli flakes to go with your noodles. That's how I like my noodles served.

This is the first day food marathon in Bangkok. Lot's of food and Singha Beers !

Continue...Day 2  

   

Thailand...Places !...Food !

The Amazing Bangkok

Why is it so amazing ? I was always sent for business trips in and out for the past 8 years, let me tell you what is good ! Shopping, Massage, Entertainment...and Food ! I am so amazed with their food...

Every corner of the streets there are food stalls, sometimes I don't even know what are they selling, I kind of like their presentation and the creativity when comes to food.I always wanted to try every single thing or more like eating my way through the streets of Bangkok, and see whether I got diarrhea. Well, follow me and see what I mean...

My few favorite stops...Chatuchak Market

Pig steak and Beef Steak

 Fried Squid Eggs and Quail Eggs

Pork Leg with Rice (Khao Kha Moo)

Don't forget to order the Pig's Blood !

Thai Red and Green Curry Noodles, Spicy Chicken Curry Noodles.

Miang Kam

Grilled Seafood

These are what I had once touched down in Bangkok eat through lunch and tea. 

Continue....night falls

Tom Yum Soup

The Hot and Sour Authentic Tom Yum Kung

The famous 4 Thai spices - The Sour, Salty, Sweet and The Spicy. Besides the tasty soup, they say this dish is an excellent cure for cold. Don't believe...Try it ! 

This is the clear soup version mainly found in the northern part of Thailand.

Preparation: Prawn, Shallot, Galangal, Lemongrass, Kaffir Lime Leaves, Mushroom, Bird's Eye Chilli, Tomatoes and Coriander Leaves.

Clean the Prawns, remove heads and shells, discard the vein. Put aside.

Heat up a pot of water boil the prawn heads and shells for 15mins to get the stock, once it done sieved the stock. Pour the stock back to the pot over medium high heat.

Add the Galangal, Lemongrass, Shallot, Kaffir Lime Leaves, and Chilli, and bring them to boil. In goes the Mushroom, Tomato and Prawn, and continue to cook for another 3mins or till the Prawns are cooked. 

Season with Fish sauce, Sugar and Salt to taste. Remove from heat and add Lime juice. Garnished with Coriander Leaves. I like to serve it hot.

Serving for 3paxs

Ingredients

400g Prawn, (shelled)
100g Mushroom
80g Tomatoes, (sliced)

10g Bird's Eye Chilli

30g Shallots, (sliced)

20g Lemongrass stalk, (bruised)
30g Galangal (sliced)
10g Coriander Leaves, (chopped)
6pcs Kaffir Lime Leaves
2tbsp Thai fish sauce
4tbsp Lime juice
1/2tsp Salt, to taste
1tsp Sugar, to taste
4cups Water

Thailand...Places !...Food !

Chiang Mai

Nyonyachef capturing his food xploration moments. First thing to do when landed in Chiang Mai, search for this...

Crispy Pork Rinds

My all time favorite beer food. Imagine in Chiang Mai, they served Pork Rinds as one of the main dish.

Khantoke Dinner.

Authentic Northern Thai delicacies served on a wooden pedestral tray and the common dishes are the ginger pork curry, the chili tomato minced pork dip, and the crunchy pieces of pork scratching  or Kaeb Moo, for dipping into the rich gravy. Never miss this !!

Clear Soup Tom Yam

Many might not like this version, they say,...the taste is just sour and spicy. I kind of prefer this version; the sharp, sweet taste of the Galangal and Shallot,...the aromatic Kaffir Lime Leave and the subtle citrus flavor of the Lemongrass.

Seafood at the Anusarn Market

Giant Crab

Fresh Water Prawn

Seabass

What I had for tea...

My favorite Som Tam Pu

Fried Succulent Oyster Omelette

Fried Glass Noodles with Fresh Water Prawn

Thai Spicy Snack - Miang kham

Porridge with Roast Pork and Chinese Sausage.

What I like about Chiang Mai ?...Authentic Home Cooked Food ! 

The cooking can be simple and yet we never imagine of xploring and cooking it !  

Thailand...Places !...Food !

Chiang Mai !

The last I was there was like 10 years ago, and I vowed I'll be back. Besides Bangkok, Phuket, Hatyai and many other places, Chiang Mai is a place full of culture, good authentic food and I would say this is a place I would chill out and relax.

What to do in Chiang Mai ?  Go Temple !...

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple

If you are going on a tour, this is the first place the locals will take you. The temple is approximately 3500ft above the sea level, the compound of this temple offers beautiful panorama view of Chiang Mai city.

Go for an adventure elephant ride.  

Could be scary for first timer,..but it's fun and its safe. The kids will love this.

Maetamann Elephant Camp

There are a few elephant camps in Chiang Mai, I still prefer The Maetamann Elephant Camp, much bigger, you can witness elephants playing football, drawing !!??, feeding the elephants and you can also do lunch at the camp.  

Bamboo Rafting...

Once you are done you can also visit the long neck village nearby.

When night falls, proceed to Walking Street for food, shopping, massage or.... 

Just grab a Singha beer and watch Muay Thai.

What to eat in Chiang Mai ?....next