Tag: food

Caribbean Inspired Spicy Baked Cod

Caribbean Inspired Spicy Baked Cod

This easy to make baked cod recipe is one of my favorite fish and seafood recipes. A mix of different tropical spices, a splash of fresh lemon juice, coconut rum and colorful bell peppers create a mildly spicy, flavourful baked cod fillet with a refreshing 

Pan-Seared Bourbon Ribeye Steaks

Pan-Seared Bourbon Ribeye Steaks

How to Cook Bourbon Ribeye – The Easy way This recipe is perfect for dinner at a busy weeknight, or for a romantic at-home dinner date. This classic bourbon ribeye steak only takes about 15 mins to prep, and only 8 mins to cook. -Yup, 

Brunch Special – Okonomiyaki, Japanese Pancake

Brunch Special – Okonomiyaki, Japanese Pancake

The Asian Street Food that I Miss So Much – Okonomiyaki 

Okonomiyaki is a savory version of Japanese pancake, made with flour, eggs, shredded cabbage. You can add any kind of meat/ protein like beef, pork belly, or octopus. It is very popular street food in Asia, and I miss it so much since I moved to Boston. Recently I found that Okonomiyaki could be a perfect brunch dish as well – just like buttermilk pancakes (who doesn’t like more pancakes??).

Hey so How about making Okonomiyaki for a Sunday brunch? I made one large okonomiyaki that serves 2 humans but you can always make a smaller one if you want to serve the okonomiyaki as an appetizer.

What You Need to Cook Okonomiyaki

Ingredients

Eggs2
Milk1 cup
Salt1 Teaspoon
Shredded cabbageHalf head
All-Purpose Flour2 cups
Scallions
Shaved bonito flakes1 Packet
Vegetable oil1 tablespoon
Beef slices3-4

How to Cook Okonomiyaki

Step 1:

Use a sharp knife to cut the cabbage into thin slices. You can add some scallion as well and put the cabbage and scallion in a big bowl.

cabbages scallion

Step 2:

In a separate bowl, crack 2 eggs, 2 cups of all-purpose flour in, add 1 cup of whole milk, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Whisk and mix them until fully combine – no lumps left (if there are still lumps, add more cold water or milk). I have seen other recipes using 1 cup of flour and cold water, but I like my mixture to be thicker and creamier so I put more flour and milk. But as you know, you can always try other ways, the key is – no lumps!!

okonomiyakipancake mixture

Step 3:

Combine  the cabbages and scallion with the mixture, stir together

Step 4:

Slice the scallions that we will use as toppings

scallion

Step 5:

Yes! we start cooking!!

Turn to medium heat and split the oil in the pan when it is hot.

Put 3-5 slices of Bulgogi in the pan, the bulgogi will help you hold the pancake together also add some crunchy texture.

Step 6:

Pour in the mixture and flatten out the tops into an even round pancake. Turn the heat down to medium-low. Let your big pancake to steam for about 10 mins.

okonomiyaki japanese pancake

Step 7:

Here comes the little challenge part. After 10 minutes, lift up the pancake from the edge and flip it. if it is too hard to flip the whole pancake, don’t worry, cut the big pancake in half and then flip it. You can also prepare another preheated pan, and just flip it to the new pan. Cook 1-2 more minutes, your Okonomiyaki is almost ready!

cutting japanese pancake

Step 8:

Put the bonito flakes and scallion on top then transfer( I didn’t, because I am LAZY) the okonomiyaki to a plate. Put okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise on top.

bonito flakes japanese pancake

Let me know how your cooking goes!! Enjoy the okonomiyaki with a Matcha Latte or boba milk tea, that’s a perfect brunch for sure!

cat and japanese pancake

 

Summer Delight – Avocado Salmon Pasta

Summer Delight – Avocado Salmon Pasta

Avocado Salmon Pasta How’s everyone doing in this hot summer? The hot weather reduces my appetite: every day I feel hungry but also don’t want to eat boring and heavy food. So I was wondering how to make my favorite food more inviting and refreshing 

Recipe – Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

Recipe – Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad

Spicy Thai Shrimp Salad This is a recipe for an authentic and refreshing salad you could make as a gorgeous appetizer, side salad or healthy lunch. What can be more joyful than having a Thai shrimp salad with tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, fresh lime juice, and 

Recipe: Hoppy Chicken, The Perfect Pan Seared Chicken

Recipe: Hoppy Chicken, The Perfect Pan Seared Chicken

Hoppy Chicken Recipe – Pan Sear Your Chicken with Special Beer Sauce

Seriously, if you like beer, or you have too many beers left in your fridge after parties. Don’t just drink them, use your beer to cook this best chicken ever.
Three things to check before we make Hoppy Chicken
A. Do you like beer?
B. Do you have beer left in your fridge?
C. Do you have 30 minutes?
All checked?
Cool! Take this recipe to make the best beer chicken – the Hoppiest Chicken tonight!

Hoppy Chicken

Cooking time: 30 mins;  Serves 2 humans

Ingredients

Beer Hoppy Chicken:
2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Honey
2 tablespoon Beer
6 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds
2 tablespoon Vegetable oil
3 Thymes
2 boneless chicken thighs
1 cup roughly chopped shallots
About 2 teaspoons of salt
Mint (for garnish)

Instructions

Make the secret beer sauce: mix 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce, 1 tablespoon Honey, 2 tablespoon Beer,6 cloves of minced garlic and 1/2 tablespoon mustard seeds in a little bowl for later use. I used lager in this recipe. You could try some hoppier beer, like IPA.

  • Pour 2 tablespoon Vegetable oil into the frying pan to generously coat the bottom. Heat on the stovetop over medium heat until the oil shimmers, about three to four minutes.
  • While the oil heats up, generously season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt.
  • Carefully place the chicken breasts and thymes in the pan. Don’t move the chicken around yet, because a nice golden-brown crust is forming.
  • After about five minutes, flip the chicken. (If the chicken sticks to the pan, it’s not ready to be flipped yet. Wait about a few minutes and then it should release) Cook the second side for about five minutes.
  • Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board (we will cook them with the beer sauce later).
  • Place the chopped shallots in the pan and cook them for 1 minute.
  • Put the chicken tights back in the pan with the shallots and pour the beer sauce in the pan.
  • Simmer the chicken with the perfect beer sauce and shallots until the sauce becomes sticky (about 2 mins). The shallot will bring the sweet and little spicy flavor in the sauce.
  • Check the thickest part of the breasts with the meat thermometer—the chicken is ready when the temperature has reached 160 to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can poke one of the breasts with a knife; if the juices run clear, the chicken is ready.
  • Serve, and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Follow these steps and enjoy your perfect pan-seared Hoppy Beer Chicken! If you want to step up your game a little bit, you can also make roasted vegetables with pesto on the side.

Here are some tips to cook your veggies:

Roasted Brussel sprouts – (400F 15mins)

  • Preheat the oven
  • Cut Brussel sprouts in half
  • Mix them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
  • Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 15-20 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

Don’t forget to have a beer! Cheers!

Authentic Beef Chow Fun  (Stir-fried Rice Noodles) Recipe

Authentic Beef Chow Fun (Stir-fried Rice Noodles) Recipe

Make Your Perfect Brunch – Stir-Fried Beef Noodles and Pineapple Mimosa by Chef Pangcake I have missed chow fun for so long since I moved to Boston… I was thinking what to eat in the morning for Sunday brunch. Instead of just regular pancakes, French