Dim Sum – Page 2 – Elsie Hui

April 8, 2012April 8, 2012

Homemade Chinese Man Tou – 饅頭

Home Made Chinese Steamed Buns – Wan Tou

My brother-in-law came to visit, and as a welcome gift, I decided to make one of his favourites, which is Man Tou! The other thing he really likes is white rice, and that’s definitely harder to bring to the airport to greet with (in my opinion – without doing something fancy to it). So, I just made a small batch, and it’s quite simple!

Ingredients: (makes 8-10 small man tous)
3/4 tsp Yeast
1/2 cup Warm Water
2 cup Flour
1 tbsp Sugar
1 tsp Oil

First, you mix the yeast with the warm water, and give it time to activate. You can also use instant yeast, especially if you’re pressed on time. I was pressed on time, but didn’t have instant yeast – so my end results was a little more dense.

After the yeast had doubled, mix the sugar with the flour, then pour the yeast mixture and oil into the flour mixture as well. If you have an electric mixture, use the hook attachment and knead for about 10 minutes. If you’re like me, then just knead until the dough is soft, smooth and quite “silky”.

Now, you can roll out your dough into a rectangle, and roll up one end. Then, with a pastry cutter, cut the log into pieces and place on little squares of parchment paper.

Now, you can set up your steamer while the dough rises for about 20 minutes.

When you’re ready to steam, steam it for about 13 to 15 minutes if you’re making the large man tous, and 10-12 minutes for the little ones! Serve while hot!

April 3, 2012April 3, 2012

Homemade Put Chai Ko – 砵仔糕

Home Made Boot Jai Goh – Chinese Pudding Cakes

I think I goofed up on this recipe, because it’s more “traditional” to use Chinese slab sugar, or at least rock sugar… or even brown sugar to get the colour. Regardless, you can just substitute the sugar. There’s nothing wrong with using white sugar either!

Ingredients: (makes 4-6)
1/2 cup Hot Water
2 tbsp Sugar
1/4 cup Cold Water
6 tbsp Rice Flour
2 tbsp tapioca starch
1/2 tsp almond extract

First thing is first – as this solution doesn’t like to wait for you… so, get the steamer ready so it’s ready! Also, cut some pieces of plastic wrap or tin foil so you can cover the little bowls before you place them into the steamer.

Now, you get to measure out your hot water and dissolve the sugar into the water.

Then, in another bowl, mix the cold water with the almond extract, rice flour and tapioca starch.

Then, combine the 2 solutions and mix well. When it’s combined thoroughly, I like to pour it into the measuring cup as it has a spout – making it easiest to pour. Now, pour this solution into the molds – and cover it with plastic wrap and place into the steamer immediately.

Fill the molds almost to the top, but be sure to leave some room.

Steam these desserts for about 15 minutes on medium high heat. Then, you’re ready to enjoy! You can either enjoy it in the dish or turn them over and remove it out of the molds!

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If you’re making a thicker one, the best way to check if it’s done, it’s a good idea to do the wiggle test while they’re still in the steamer. It should jiggle, but there’s usually a liquid film on the top – so look at the sides!

March 13, 2012March 22, 2012

Homemade Chinese Roast Pork Belly – Siu Yuk 燒肉

Home Made Crispy Skin Pork Belly – Siew Yoke

Okay, this isn’t something we eat a lot of at all, but I really wanted to make it, and it’s Roast Pork Belly. I bought my strip of pork belly with bone in and skin on from the Asian grocery market, and we just got a small slab.

Ingredients:
slab of pork belly
1 or 2 cube of fermented bean curd
Chinese Five Spice (五香粉)
White Pepper
Salt
Rice Vinegar (or white vinegar)

The first thing is first, you gotta clean your meat – so rinse the pork belly off well with cold water, and pat it completely dry with paper towels. You do need to make this a few hours ahead, so plan ahead!

Once the pork is clean, make the marinade for the pork belly by smashing a piece of the fermented bean curd until it’s a paste. Add to the paste the Five Spice, and White Pepper.

Prepare the meat now, by stabbing the skin with your knife – not through the entire skin, but you want lots of punctures on the skin. If you want, cut the actual pork meat so marinade gets through. I didn’t do this as my pork belly has bones.

Then, rub the marinade all over the pork belly EXCEPT the skin. Leave the skin part dry for now with nothing on it. After the marinade is on the pork, rub the salt onto the skin, and do a really good job of it. Try to get it into some puncture holes if you can! Put the entire slab of pork belly onto a wire rack with a line tray underneath and refrigerate for a few hours – or even overnight.

After you’ve marinated for a few hours, take the pork belly out of the fridge while you wait for the oven to preheat. Set the oven to 400F, and then put the pork belly into the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes and pull it out to brush some rice wine vinegar on the skin. I brush it again after another 20 minutes. Then, continue letting the pork bake until almost thoroughly cooked. To finish the cooking, change the oven setting to broil and give it another 20 minutes for the skin to become fluffy and crunchy.

When the baking has competed, take the pork belly out of the oven and let it rest for 10 a few minutes for the juices to redistribute in the meat, then slice and serve!

February 29, 2012March 22, 2012

Homemade Chinese Deep Fried Crispy Milk – 炸鮮奶

Home Made Crispy Milk Recipe

Deep fried foods are always good – it doesn’t matter what you fry, and chances are… it will taste great! I had a craving for Deep Fried Crispy Milk as I was in a deep frying phase at home, so I decided to make some. This is a large batch and can feel lots. For 2-4 people, I would actually recommend cutting the recipe down in half.

Ingredients:
Filling –
4 tbsp Cornstarch
1 small can (168mL) Coconut Milk
1 small can (168mL) Milk
1 tbsp condensed milk
1/4 tsp salt

Batter –
1 cup Flour
4 tbsp Cornstarch
1 tsp baking Powder
1 cup Seltzer water

First of all, the filling does take some time to set, so be sure you make this a few hours prior to frying! To make the filling, mix together the coconut milk, milk condensed milk with a pinch of salt. Then, stir the cornstarch into the cold milk mixture until smooth.

Put the mixture into a pot and heat slowly. The mixture will begin to thicken up – of course from the bottom and sides first, so mix well. Heat until the entire mixture is thick and smooth and could be molded.

Press the mixture into a container, and let it set in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Once the filling is firm, it is ready to get cut up into small chunks, and I like to cut it up into bit size squares. Then, I make the batter, which is mixing all the dry ingredients together, and then pouring some seltzer water, just enough to get a thick batter. Dunk and coat the filling pieces into this batter, and then fry until golden brown!

Put the golden brown, super crispy fried milk on a plate with some paper towel to absorb some grease. I like to serve it with a little plate of condensed milk. This is definitely best enjoyed hot!

February 27, 2012March 22, 2012

Homemade Rice Crispy with Peanut – 米通

A simple treat that is Chinese and very popular during the Chinese New Years would be Rice Krispies and often has peanuts.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup Roasted Peanuts
1 cup dried rice (I use less dried rice)
1/4 tsp minced ginger (optional)
1/2 lime (juiced)
1 tbsp butter
oil for frying
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar

If you’re wanting to make this recipe, be sure to start drying your cooked rice. I just leave my rice out of a plate, and turn it every once in awhile. It does take a few days to dry completely.

The first thing you want to do is roast the peanuts and then you can set it aside.

Next, get the oil up to temperature on a low boil. I normally turn my oil to medium until you hear the oil bubbling as it’s scorching hot. When it’s at that phase, I turn it down a notch. I then pour the rice in the oil in batches and scoop it out when it’s puffed. The rice is extremely hot and crispy at this stage and the rice will actually stay crispy from here on in.

Now that the peanuts are roasted, and the rice is “puffed”, mix it together in a large bowl – then it’s time to make the caramel! Simply in a pot, pour the sugar into the pot and then the water. Turn the heat on to medium and leave it there. It will begin to bubble, then the water will evaporate. The sugar syrup will begin to brown – and watch for this. From the browning stage it burns fast and there is no turning back after it’s burnt. I like to add the ginger, butter and lime juice right at the end to stop the caramel from cooking further.

When the caramel is ready, it’s important to work fast now as the caramel will cool, set and harden. Mix everything together and press into a dish. Let the mixture cool completely – then cut, serve and enjoy!

If you really just want the treat without the labour, it is available in the bakery section of your Asian grocery store! 🙂 Of course, Chinese Rice Crispies aren’t the same when it isn’t homemade!