Bean Sprouts with Salty Fish

Ingredients:
500g of Bean Sprouts (or Soy Bean Sprouts)
30g Salty Fish
30g Garlic (finely chop)
2 Tablespoon Oyster Sauce

Steps:
1. Deep fried the salty fish till it is crispy and golden brown.
2. Break salty fish into desire sizes to sprinkle on top on the bean sprouts later.
3. Boil bean sprouts in hot boiling water for 3mins.
4. Remove bean sprouts from boiling water.
5. Heat up wok and add oil to wok.
6. Add garlic into wok and stir fry garlic till golden brown.
7. Add bean sprouts into wok and stir fry for 2mins.
8. Add oyster sauce and salty fish to wok. Stir fry for another 2mins.
9. Plate and serve.

Notes:
The salty fish can be prepared 2 days ahead of time. As for the beansprout, buy it the day you would like to cook it as it does not last for long.

Cost:
The cheapest vegetable to cook. The above only cost $3 and it's good for 3 to 4people. Just double up the portion if you would like to cook for more people.

Stir Fry Chinese Watercress with Fermented Bean Curd

Ingredients:
1kg Chinese Watercress (It is called KangKung in Malay)
70g Garlic (finely chop)
50g Fermented Bean Curd

Steps:
1. Heat up wok and add oil to wok.
2. Add garlic into wok and stir fry garlic till golden brown.
3. Add fermented bean curd and smash it up.
4. Add chinese watercress into wok and stir it for 1 min.
5. Add 1/2 cup of water into wok and let vegetable steam in wok by covering it. Let it be for like 5mins.
6. Open up cover and continue to stir fry the vegetables for another 2 mins.
7. Plate it and serve it.

Notes:
Chinese Watercress does not last long. Suggest buying it on the day you would like to cook it. If it is really fresh, it would probably survive another day. This vegetable is not commonly found in the US. Suggest looking for it at the Asian grocery store.

Cost:
The above only cost $10 and it's good for 3 to 4people. The reason it is more pricely compared to other vegetables is because it is not that commonly found in the US.

Penang Rojak

Ingredients:
1 Green Mango
1 Pineapple
1 Jicama (Sengkuang)
1 Cucumber
1 packet Tofu
1 Rojak Sauce

Steps:
1. Cut tofu 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch size.
2. Heat up oil and deep fried the tofu.
3. Cut up green mango, pineapple, jicame and cucumber to desired bite size.
4. Plate ingredients and drizzle rojak sauce on top.

Notes:
There are other types of fruits that can be used as well. Such as green apple and guava. This particular dish is like a salad that can be eaten as an appertizer or a dessert.

Cost:
All the ingredients above is about $15. The above ingredient is good for at least 4 people.

Nasi Kunyit

Ingredients:
5 to 7cm Fresh Tumeric (Thin Slices)
2 tablespoon Tumeric Powder
500g Glutinous Rice
3 slice Asam Slices (Or Lime Slices)
10 to 15 Pepper Corns (White Pepper)
2 Pandan Leaves
125ml Thick Coconut Milk
1 teaspoon Salt

Steps:
1. Wash glutinous rice and soak it with tumeric, tumeric powder and asam slices for at least 3 hours or overnight.
2. Rinse soaked rice under a running water and drain it.
3. Put rice in a steamer with pepper corns and pandan leaves and steam over boiling water for 20 to 30mins.
4. When the rice is cooked, dished it into a large bowl and mix it with the thick coconut milk(add salt to coconut milk) so that the rice grains are loosened.
5. Return rice to the steamer and steam for another 10mins.
6. When the rice is well cooked, it is soft, shiny and in loose grains.

Notes:
This is just to make the rice. This rice is usually served with curry chicken but can go well with anything curry that has coconut milk in it..

Cost:
Recipe is good for 10 people. Cost is about $6 to make. Most of the ingredients can only be found at the Asian grocery store.

Yam Pudding (Or Kuih)

Ingredients:
Part A
50g Dried Shrimp
1 tablespoon chopped onion and garlic
3 tablespoon oil

Part B
475g Yam Diced
1/2 teaspoon Five Spice Powder

Part C
170g Rice Flour
675ml Water
1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Steps:
1. Fry combined ingredients in Part A.
2. Add in ingredients in Part B and cook.
3. Mix together ingredients in Part C.
4. Mix Part C into Part A and B.
5. Put mixture in steaming pan and cook for 1 hour.

Notes:
Fresh red chili and green onion can be sprinkle on top after it is cook. Best served with thai chili sauce or any asian chili sauce. Cut pudding vertically to create diamond shape design.

Cost:
Makes about 20 pieces which is good for 10 people or more. Total cost is about $10 to make.

Otak-Otak

Ingredients:
Part A
125g Onion
50g Garlic
5 pieces Candle Nuts (Buah Keras)
15 pieces Dried Chilles
7cm Tumeric
50g Galanga
1 tablespoon Shrimp Paste (Belacan)

Part B
Cha Plu (Daun Kadok)
Kaffir Lime Leaves (Daun Limau Perut)
1/2kg Fish

Part C
3 Eggs
140ml Thick Coconut Milk
1 tablespoon Sugar
1 teaspoon Salk
1 tablespoon Chicken Granules
1 1/2 tablespoon Corn Oil
2 tablespoon Rice Flour
Dash of Pepper

Steps:
1. Blend Part A until fine paste.
2. Lay Part B into a steamer bowl.
3. Mix Part A and Part C together and mix it evenly.
4. Pour Part A and C mixture on top of Part B.
5. Steam for 1 hour.

Notes:
Otak-otak is a fish cake found throughout Malaysia. Also known as Fish Omelette to some people.

Cost:
The above is good to feed approximately 12 people. Cost to make with the above ingredients is about $15.

Penang Lobak

Ingredients:
4 lb Chicken Meat
1 can Water Chestnut
15 Dried Shitake Mushroom
1 packet Fresh Bean Curd Sheets

Steps:
1. Finely diced the chicken meat.
2. Finely diced the dried shitake mushroom.
2. Chop water chestnut and add to the chicken and mushroom.
3. Add soy sauce and white pepper into the paste.
4. Mix it all together.
5. Lay out the fresh bean curd sheets. Cut it down to desired size.
6. Place mixture onto bean curd sheets and roll it. Start from the sides, roll both side in. Then roll it from the center till it is tight.
7. Heat up oil and fry it till the bean curd sheet is brown to ensure that the mean in the middle is fully cooked. (Instead of frying it, you can also steam it for 15mins.)

Notes:
Best serve with thai chili sauce. Other types of meat can also be used (for example, pork).

Cost:
All the ingredients above is about $10. The above is enough to make about 20 to 30 pieces of lobak.

Kerabu Pasta

Ingredients:
1 packet of Spaghetti (Cooked according to packet instructions)
10 large Shrimp Shelled

Ingredients A:
4 Shallots (Thinly sliced)
1 tablespoon Coriander Leaves (Chopped)
1 tablesppon Ginger (Finely sliced)
1 tablespoon Mint Leaves (Chopped)
1 tablespoon Spring Onion (Chopped)

Seasoning:
4 tablespoon Sambal Belacan
4 tablespoon Lime Juice
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon Fresh Chicken Stock
1 tablespoon Sugar

Steps:
1. Bring one cup of water to boil and add in shrimp.
2. Remove once they are cooked.
3. Mix Seasoning in a large mixing bowl.
4. Toss in shrimp, spaghetti and ingredients A to mix roughly.
5. Serve immediately with extra sambal belacan.

Notes:
See sambal belacan post to make the paste. Other pasta can be used, for example, angel hair pasta.

Cost:
The above cost about $10 to make and it is good for at least 5 to 8 people.

Kuih Bahalu

Ingredients:
6 Eggs
175g Castor Sugar
120g Plain Flour
120g Self Rising Flour
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 1/2 teaspoon Corn Oil

Steps:
1. Lightly grease the bahalu moulds with corn oil and place them in preheated over 380F.
2. Beat eggs and sugar until the mixture is creamy and ??
3. Sift flour and baking powder into egg mixture.
4. Stir well to mix.
5. Add corn oil into batter.
6. Fill up to surface level of the moulds.
7. Bake in preheated over 380F for 13mins.

Notes:
Add sugar to taste.

Cost:
The above makes about 40pieces. The cost is about $4 to make.

Muar Chi

Ingredients:
450g Glutinous Flour
150g Green Bean Flour
760ml Water
190g Powdered Sugar
40g Vegetable Shortening
100g Roasted Groundnut
110g Fine Sugar
20g Roasted Sesame Seed
20g Fried Shallots

Steps:
1. Mix glutinous flour, green bean flour and water together.
2. Steam mixture.
3. Add powdered sugar and vegetable shortening into mixture.
4. Knead it "Mixture A" together. (Suggest using a mixing machine.)
5. In a bowl, mix the roasted sesame seed, roasted groundnut and fine sugar together. (Mixture B)
6. Pinch a small piece of Mixture A and mix it in Mixture B.
7. Repeat step 6 till you have a nice serving.
8. Sprinkle some fried shallots on top.

Notes:
Do not keep mixture overnight. Eat it up the day you make it.

Cost:
The recipe above is good for at least 6 to 10 people and cost less than $5 to make.

Stuffed Vegetables with Chicken and Shrimp (Yong Tofu)

Ingredients:
1 lb Raw Peeled Shrimp
1 lb Chicken Meat
1 can Water Chestnut
1 Green Pepper
1 Red Pepper
1 Packet of Mushroom
1 Eggplant
4 Okra
2 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
5 Dashes of White Pepper
1 Packet of Fried Tofu

Steps:
1. Finely diced the raw peeled shrimp and the chicken meat. Make sure it is the texture of a paste.
2. Chop water chestnut and add into the paste.
3. Add soy sauce and white pepper into the paste.
4. Mix it all together.
5. Cut vegetables into desired stuffing size.
6. Stuff each end of the vegetables with the paste mixture.
7. Heat up oil and fry it till the paste is golden brown. (Instead of frying it, you can also steam it for 15mins.)

Notes:
Best serve with thai chili sauce. Shrimp and chicken is just a suggestion. Other types of meat can also be used (For example Pork or Fish). The texture depends on the type of meat use to make the fritters. If shrimp alone, the texture will be a lot softer. Other vegetables can be used as well. The list of vegetables above is just a suggestion.

Cost:
All the ingredients above is about $20. The above is enough to feed 12 people at least as each vegetables will have multiple pieces.

A Yummy Noodle Restaurant in New York

A Yummy Noodle
48 Bowery
New York, NY 10013

Another hidden small Chinese Restaurant. At this restaurant, they are famous for their claypot rice. Below are some of the dishes I ordered when I was there.

Wanton Soup

Pork Intestine and Preserved Vegetables

Chinese Sausage and Preserved Duck Claypot

Pork Ribs Claypot

Suckling Pig

Cost:
Main Entree - $5 to $20 per dish.

Suggestion:
Just try one of the claypot dishes. That is a definate must try if you are ever at this restaurant.

Hsin Wong Restaurant in New York

Hsin Wong Restaurant
72 Bayard Street
New York, NY 10013
212-925-6526

A small restaurant in Chinatown New York. Go there early or go there later so that you do not have to wait for a table. The service is fast, so if you have to wait, you do not have to wait long. Below are some of the dishes I ordered when I was there.

Crispy Pig and BBQ Pork

Special Roasted Duck

Beef Brisket

Wanton Soup

Seafood Tofu Claypot

Chinese Watercress

Cost:
Main Entree - $4 to $30 per dish.

Suggestion:
Try the Special Roasted Duck (called Pei Pai Arb in Cantonese). The Special Roasted Duck is not available everywhere. Only certain restaurant have it on their menu. Also the Wanton Soup is a must. I reminds me on the Wanton I get when I am in Malaysia. Definately worth trying but if you do not eat pork, don't order the Wanton Soup. As always, order a variety of dishes and then share your food.

Papaya Dog in New York

Papaya Dog
333 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10014

The best papaya juice in New York. Definately worth dropping by Papaya Dog just for their fruit juice. The fruit juice is cold and they do not add ice to the juices.

Cost:
Fruit juice starts from $1 to $4 depending on the size.

Golden Bridge Restaurant in New York

Golden Bridge Restaurant
50 Bowery
New York, NY 10013
http://www.goldenbridgerestaurant.com

One of many dim sum places located in Chinatown. But this is a large restaurant that has a very good selection of dim sum dishes. They push a push cart around the restaurant with various dishes. Below are some of the dishes that was ordered during my last visit.

Chinese Twist Cruller Rice Creepe

From Top Left clockwise: Stuffed Bean Sheet, Sui Mai, Shrimp Dumpling, Pork Ribs in Black Bean Sauce

Stuffed Bean Sheet with Chicken and Herbs

Bitter Melon Stuffed with Shrimp

Stewed Duck Feet

Cost:
Dim Sum - $4 to $12 per plate.

Suggestion:
Just try whatever that catches your eyes. Order a few dishes at a time. You can always order more if it is not enough. As like all Chinese restaurant, share your food so that you can try more variety.

Maxie's Restaurant in New York

Maxie's Restaurant
723 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
212-398-1118

One of many Deli in New York but this is a restaurant that has offered other dishes as well. Try their Maxie Rueben Knish the next time you are there.

The Restaurant

Maxie Reuben Knish

Cost:
Appertizers - $8 to $14
Main Entrees - $12 to $30

Suggestion:
This restaurant is a bit overprice but their food portion is extremely large. Be willing to pay when you are at this restaurant. Definately go for the Maxie Reuben Knish if you are there.

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant in New York

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant
152 W 49th Street
New York, NY 10019
212-869-8972

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant serves a variety of cooked japanese food from rice dish to noodle soup. Don't expect to see sushi on their menu. Below are some of the dishes that was ordered during my last visit.

Curry Katsu

Oyakodon

Sukiyaki

Miso Ramen

Summer Noodles (Only available during the summer)

Cost:
Main Entrees - $8 to $15

Suggestion:
I have not been disappointed from this restaurant for both my visits to this restaurant during my vacation in New York. I would definately strongly suggest that you try their summer noodles if it is available. Since that one dish is only available during the summer time. Other than that, you can just order anything off the menu.

New Malaysia Restaurant in New York

New Malaysia Restaurant
46-48 Bowery Street
Chinatown Arcade #28
New York, NY 10013
212-964-0284 / 212-964-2257

Like other Malaysian restaurant, the cooking consists of a variety of culture. Below are some of the dishes that I ordered during my last visit.

Homestyle Combination Rice

Nasi Lemak

Pearl Noodles

Dry Wanton Noodles

Assam Skate Wing in Banana Leaves

Cost:
Appertizers - $4 to $8
Main Entrees - $5 to $25
Desserts - $3 to $7

Suggestion:
To share or not to share is up to you at this restaurant. But I strongly suggest sharing. But there are a lot of dishes where you will get to taste a few variety of cooking in one plate.

KL Malaysia Beef Jerky Inc in New York

KL Malaysia Beef Jerky
95A Elizabeth Street
New York NY 10013
212-965-0796

The Shop

Spicy Beef Jerky

Cost:
1/2 lb for $8

Suggestion:
They have all types of meat jerky. Try the minced jerky because it is a lot softer compared to the original jerky. Also try the spicy jerky as it gives a kick to the taste. Definately worth trying and rest assured that this is very authentic.

Garrett Popcorn in New York

Garrett Popcorn
560 5th Avenue
New York NY 10036
http://www.garrettpopcorn.com/

Cost:
Ranges from $8 to $120. (Small paper bag to 6 gallon tin)
Jumbo Paper Bag $13.50

Suggestion:
There is lots of popcorn flavor but their bestseller is the mix. The mix consists of their caramel crisp and cheese corn mix. The sweet and salty has a balance flavor to the popcorn. If you are not a cheese fan, just get the regular caramel crisp or the caramel crisp with nuts.