Recently I made some salted eggs using the brining method. Homemade salted eggs are really nice because one can control the level of saltiness preferred. It is also a breeze to prepare as it only requires a simple salt solution. Probably the hardest thing is the waiting, for it takes three to four weeks for [...]

Continue reading about Salted Egg Drop Soup

Clay Pot Noodles

Biren on February 24th, 2012

Ever since I can remember, I have always enjoyed soupy noodles. One of the first dishes I learned to cook was beehoon soup or rice noodle soup, in additiion to frying an egg and cooking rice. In my early teenage years, I would cook myself a pot of noodles very similar to Mee Suah Soup [...]

Continue reading about Clay Pot Noodles

Hōtō Nabe (Flat Noodles Miso Hot Pot)

Biren on February 17th, 2012

Hot pots and nabemono are especially good during the colder months. The cooking can be done and kept warm at the table on portable stoves or in electric pots. I like to serve them in the weekends when dinner can be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace. The ones I have shared so far are [...]

Continue reading about Hōtō Nabe (Flat Noodles Miso Hot Pot)

Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Tea)

Biren on January 4th, 2012

Bak Kut Teh in the Hokkien or Fujianese dialect literally translates to pork rib tea. This rich herbal soup contains dong gui (Angelica Sinensis), known for its warming properties. For this reason, it is popularly eaten as a supper or late night meal in Malaysia and Singapore. Over here in Minnesota, I like to cook [...]

Continue reading about Bak Kut Teh (Pork Ribs Tea)

Buta Nabe (Pork Miso Hot Pot)

Biren on December 5th, 2011

The temperature dipped to the twenties this past weekend and the snow came sooner than expected. We were out shopping at the mall when the snow started to fall. We quickly made our final purchases and scrambled home. Come Sunday morning, there were three inches of white pristine snow on the ground. We woke up [...]

Continue reading about Buta Nabe (Pork Miso Hot Pot)

Chinese Hot Pot

Biren on October 24th, 2011

The weekends are too short and they go by too quickly! Even though I am home most of the time, I still look forward to the weekends because it is a break from my crazy schedule and a time to bond with family and friends. Saturdays are just the best! It is a day to [...]

Continue reading about Chinese Hot Pot

As the weather continues to cool down, I find myself cooking soup almost everyday. It is wonderful to start a meal with a sip of soup as it warms up the body and whets the appetite. These soups are usually clear meat broths to go with our rice based meals. Vegetables like lotus root and [...]

Continue reading about Six Combination Soup (Lok Mei Soup) – 六味汤 liu wei tang

Lotus Root and Peanut Soup

Biren on June 8th, 2011

Temperatures soared past the 100 degree mark yesterday, making it the highest in 23 years since July 31, 1988 when it was 105°F. It was HOT! Stepping outside was like walking into a wall of hot air. It hit you right there and then and there was no escaping the heat. Good thing it only [...]

Continue reading about Lotus Root and Peanut Soup

Mee Suah Soup

Biren on May 11th, 2011

Mee Suah Th’ng or wheat vermicelli soup is a Chinese comfort food. Like rice congee, it can be eaten any time of the day and is often served during convalescence. I grew up eating this dish and continue to enjoy it till this day. My mom usually makes the soup with dried anchovies. Occasionally minced [...]

Continue reading about Mee Suah Soup

Beef Balls, Kale, and Soba Soup

Biren on May 2nd, 2011

Chinese or East Asian meatballs are quite different from their Western counterpart. The key difference is in the texture. While Western meatballs are soft and more loosely formed, Chinese meatballs are often dense, smooth, and springy. The more springy and bouncy the texture, the better. These meatballs can be made with beef, pork, chicken, fish, [...]

Continue reading about Beef Balls, Kale, and Soba Soup