Rice and Coconut

I made this simple appetizer shrimp chimicurry with mango apple salsa to cater my friend dinner,  I thought the presentation was cute on white Asian style soup spoon but the important thing that everyone love the food, That's makes me happy. Ingredients: - Fresh cooked cocktail shrimps medium size (20 pieces) - 1/2 cup chimichurry sauce - 1 mango - 1 green apple - 1/4 red onion - bunch of cilantro - 1 lemon juice - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp honey Directions: Marinated  cooked fresh shrimp cocktail with store-bought chimichurry sauce for about 30 minutes or so Peel mango and apple skin Dice mango,apple,onion and chop cilantro mix all in a medium bowl add one lemon juice,salt and honey, stir all together until combine Fill the Asian style soup spoon with a tablespoon mango salsa and top with marinated shrimp on top and ready to serve as appetizer.

Suffed tofu or we called tahu isi, Is indonesian snack can be find easily in street side vendor serve with chili or any hot sauce. Made out of soy puff filled with ground meat and chopped vegetables, dip into batter mixture and deep fried until golden brown. "TIP" for the vegetarian-vegan version just omit the ground meat. Ingredients : - 2 Tbsp vegetable oil - 3 cloves shallots/ chop - 3 clove garlic/chop - 1 teaspoon grated ginger - 1 lb ground chicken - 2 cups chopped mushroom - 1 carrot / grated - 2 cups chopped cabbage - 2 cups beans sprout - 2 stalk green onion - 1 teaspoon salt - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper - 1 1/2 Tbsp sweet soy sauce - 18 soy puffs/tofu - vegetable oil for deep fry Batter ingredients : - 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour - 1/2 cup corn meal - 2 Tbsp rice four - 2 eggs - 1 1/2 cup cold water - 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Direction : In medium skillet heat vegetable oil,  Fry shallot,

In a previous post I made this  Sun dried tomato pesto  and I start to use it as a part of ingredients in my recipe. I made fried tempeh sandwich in mini slices  cocktail rye bread  , spread with  homemade sun dried tomato pesto  mayo sauce ( sun dried tomato mixed with mayonnaise half and half ) Ingredients : - 1 block tempeh - 4 Tbsp vegetable oil for fry - 3 Tbsp homemade  sun dried tomato pesto - 3 Tbsp mayonnaise - lettuce - 12 slices cocktail  rye bread, or any bread cut in cube. Direction : Cut 1 block of tempeh  into six slice / large cube Heat vegetable oil in skillet, fry until golden brown both side in a small bowl mix the sun dried tomato pesto and mayo until combine spread both slice rye bread  with the sauce mixture,layer with lettuce and arrange as a sandwich cut triangle served as finger's food or appetizer.

Risoles are Indonesian snack, called  risol  (pronounced 'riss-ol'). They are commonly filled with chicken, egg, carrot, common bean, potato, and eaten with  chilli sauce  ( wikipedia ) It is  similar with egg rolls except the risoles skin is softer, made out of flour mixed with egg and milk or coconut milk, it's like pancake batter but lighter, brush with egg wash and coated with bread crumb before it fry. As an experiment I try to add mozzarella cheese in it, It was delicious. Served as appetizer, snack or side dish. Filling Ingredients : - 2 carrot / dice - 2 chicken breast / cooked  / dice ( I use leftover rotisserie chicken breast) - 1 cup green peas or thinly slice green beans - 1 yellow onion ( chopped ) - 2 clove garlic ( chopped ) - bunch of green onion - 2 Tbsp  flour - 1 cup milk - 2 cube chicken bouillon - 1/2 tsp celery salt - 1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg/half of fresh nutmeg - 1 teaspoon black pepper

I like the combination of pears,goat cheese and spices walnuts  in the salads or sandwiches, I made  combination of these ingredients into quesadilla, the spreadable goat cheese, fresh pears and spices walnuts slightly grilled in flour tortilla, It taste so perfect.  Need only four ingredients and ready in less than ten minutes. Ingredients : - 4 sheets flour tortilla - 1 pears/ dice - 1 cup goat cheese - 1 cup  spices walnuts - oil spray Direction Mix dice pears and spices walnuts, heat non stick skillet in medium heat temperature, spray with oil grill a flour tortilla, add  2 Tbsp goat cheese, layered with mixed pears and spices walnut and add more goat cheese on top,  cover with another sheet flour tortilla, flip it and cook for a minutes until looks slightly brown and ready ti serve.

Spice up wonton chips for more taste and spicy flavors ,can be bake or fry,either way don't take much time to prepare, fry the wonton chips for light crunch, The wonton chips can be add on the soup,salad or snack. *TIP* Wonton sheets are very thin, just fry in few second until golden brown, You can use any ground spices you like, anything with garlic powder it will be tasty. Ingredients : -  1/2 package wonton wrappers/ 6 oz -  vegetable oil for fry/ estimates -  pinch of black pepper -  1/2 teaspoon chili powder/chayenne -  1/2 teaspoon paprika powder -  1/2 teaspoon garlic powder -  pinch of curry powder - pinch of ginger powder - pinch any hot spicy powder ( optional ) Direction In a skillet heat vegetable oil, cut wonton wrappers in strips,fry in few second or until golden brown place in container on pepper towel. Sprinkle dry spices powder into wonton chips, Shake it,  and ready to serve and store leftover in the jar.

Tofu and tempeh has always been my favorite foods since I was a kid, It is something related to my home country Indonesia, we can find tofu and tempeh easily in traditional market and It's cheaper too than any other protein foods. This time I created simple recipe with   soy puffs  / fried tofu, This soy puffs in the package is ready to eat, great use for soup,stir fry or be creative with it. I made this simple appetizer with diced cucumber, carrot and basil and serve with peanut sauce on top. It's like very small portion of  tofu salad,great idea for healthy appetizer. Ingredients : Estimates - soy puffs - cucumber/dice - carrot/dice - Thai basil/cilantro/green onion/chop - peanut sauce/soy sauce or any Asian spicy sauce. ( cut the soy puffs really thin,to make a pocket scoop with a teaspoon just a little bit,you can add them to the filling mixture if you like or just fill with diced carot,cucumber and basil, ready to served with peanut s

A slice Indonesian Tempeh, coated with Japanese teriyaki sauce arrange with vegetables and fresh herb, and roll them tight in Vietnamese spring roll wrapper, Serve with homemade soy spicy peanut sauce,simply healthy recipe. This Asian signature dish just perfect for appetizer. Ingredients : - Vietnamese spring roll wrapper - 1 block tempeh/8 oz - 2 tablespoon vegetable oil for fry tempeh -  1/2 cup teriyaki sauce - 1 carrot - 1 cucumber - lettuce - handful basil - handful cilantro Direction : cut tempeh into stick, not to thin , fry them until golden brown ( not too crunchy ) and coat cook tempeh with teriyaki sauce or marinate for about 5 minutes. Cut cucumber and carrot in julienne,set aside,and place them together with basil,cilantro and lettuce To make it easier to arrange on the spring roll wrapper. Pour warm water into a large bowl dip spring roll skin in water for 3-5 second ( one sheet at a time ) place  the filling,tempeh,cucumber,carrot and herb

This baked tofu cheese balls in an experiment in my kitchen, I blended tofu with Parmesan and mozzarella cheese and bake them, serve with soy spicy dipping sauce. I never thought tofu and cheese work well together but it turn out really Yummy  recipe, I already made a second time and will make it again for sure. Today I'm honored to be featured blogger at  Yummly's blog  so please click the link for the recipe http://www.yummly.com/blog/2013/07/cheesy-baked-tofu-with-spicy-soy-dipping-sauce/ And thank you YUMMLY to share my recipe with the readers :)

I need to use leftover eggplant in the fridge because It doesn't look fresh anymore,so I made eggplant crust chips, thinly slice eggplant coated with panko bread crumb and grated parmesan cheese and drizzle with olive oil Ingredients : - 1 eggplant - 1/2 cup panko bread crumb - 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese - 2 tablespoon olive oil  - pinch of salt and pepper Directions : preheat oven in 375 F peel eggplant, cut thinly slice/round drizzle with  a tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper in a bowl combine panko bread crumb and  grated parmesan cheese coat slice eggplant with bread crumb mixture arrange into baking pan,drizzle with olive oil,bake about 30-35 minutes.

Mexican food with Asian flavored Ingredients : estimates - 1 block firm tofu - 2 eggs - 3 stalk green onion/thinly slice - pinch salt+pepper - pinch of curry powder - 1 tsp sriracha hot sauce ( optional ) - 1 bag/10 Flour tortilla medium/large size - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese - 1 tbsp olive oil Preparation : In a bowl crumbled firm tofu with hand add eggs and mix them together Heat skillet on medium high with a tbsp olive oil cook mixed egg and crumbled tofu in few minutes add thinly slice green onion and season with salt,pepper, curry powder,and hot sauce if you like,and set aside,,,, In large skillet heat a teaspoon olive oil lay a flour tortilla,and spread mixed scrambled tofu,shredded cheese on top cook until the cheese are slightly melted and cover with another sheet a flour tortilla and flip it,cook another 2 minutes or until golden brown for a crunchiness. make about 5 quesadilla,cut and serve immediately

Finger food idea for potluck or party,,,,,you can use any small size potato such as petite, red potato or fingerling potatoes,topping with any kind of shredded cheese you like :) and slightly melted on top,,,, Ingredients : estimates - any small size grade C potatoes/petite/fingerling - chopped garlic/powder - salt - ground black pepper - chopped thyme - olive oil - shredded cheese/Parmesans/ cheddar or any shredded cheese you like. Direction : preheat oven on 400 F Cut potato in half,put in a bowl mix them with dry spices ingredients and drizzle with olive oil transfer into the pan and bake into the oven for about 40-45 minutes take out from the oven, flip flat side of potato add shredded cheese on top,back into the oven for couple minutes or so until cheese are slightly melted * serve warm is best *

I had such a great time hosted  dinner party for foodbuzz 24x24 last weekend,and I'm glad my guests are enjoyed this appetizer,mango berry on skewers with spicy tamarind palm sugar dip ( Indonesian style dip) sweet,sour and spicy or we call it  Rujak  or Rojak ( Malaysian and Singaporean spelling ) Basically is fruits salad,you can use any fruits you like the only different is the dipping /sauce is represent of south east Asian country, the dish is very popular in Malaysia and Singapore As for appetizer that evening I serve this mango berry on brochettes skewers with dip/sauce on the side. Now is time to me to share diping sauce recipe,the only ingredients is hard to find here in the US is Greater galangal  but you can skip,or substitute with grate lime/lemon zest, I brought  greater galangal from my country last time. After I strained,no chunks of tamarind, it looks smooth. Spicy tamarind palm sugar dip(Indonesian dip style) for  Rujak /Indone

The spread ingredients on this crostini, are crumbled feta cheese mixed with avocado. As an experiment the spread mixture taste really good together with cucumber and chopped mints. crumbled feta cheese is salty,so I add just little bit honey to reduce the saltiness in the spread mixture and avocado adding creamy taste to it.  Ingredients : - Ciabatta bread or french baguette - Olive oil for drizzle - English cucumber - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese - 1 small ripe avocado - 1/2 tsp honey - little bit chopped mints Preparation : preheat oven on 350 degree F slice ciabatta bread or french baguette in 2 inch thick drizzle slice breads with olive oil, Bake In the oven for about 2-3 minutes,let them cool. Meanwhile, cut avocado in half and pitted,and scoop with spoon into small mixing bowl mix them with crumbled feta cheese and just little bit of honey to reduce the saltiness from cheese,and smash with fork or spoon until the mixture are smooth

I've been busy at work lately that why I skip blogging for a while, I do have one recipe to post,before I get away to New York city for few days for spring vacation, so see you all in the next post :) This fried catfish with simple mango salsa is one of appetizer idea for potluck or party,if you guys like fish or seafood with crunchy taste from wonton skin.the recipe it work with any type of fish or seafood, and the wonton can be bake or fry.  Ingredients : - 1 lb catfish fillet - 1 cup flour - 1/2 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp black pepper - 1/2 tsp garlic powder - 1/2 tsp paprika powder -  1/4 cup vegetable oil for fry - 16-20 sheets wonton skin simple mango salsa : - 1 mango/ cut into small cube - 1/2 cup cherry tomato/cut in quarters - 1/2 of lemon /juice - 2 stalk green onion/thinly slice - salt+pepper to taste - 1 jalapeno or sweet pepper / thinly slice for garnish ( mix all ingredients together,set aside ) Preparation : preheat oven on 350 F,spra

In my previous post  about a week ago I made peanut sauce for lettuce bowl salad for dinner with friends, and I still have leftover need to use up,so I use them for "salmon tempura salad " as a *tip* you can serve as appetizer menu,,,  Or serve as a dinner meal,,,,add fried tofu or tempeh is best :) Peanut sauce recipe are  Here for the salad you will need : - lettuce - English cucumber/ cut in strip - shredded carrot - thinly slice red onion Salmon tempura : - 1  fresh salmon fillet about 6 oz - canola/vegetable oil for fry - 1 cup tempura batter mix - 3/4 cup ice cold water preparation : Heat vegetable oil in medium high temperature about 350 Degree F cut  fresh salmon fillet into thin strips mix tempura batter mix with ice cold water and stir in mix quickly drop salmon strip into tempura batter mix,fry about 2 minutes each side or until golden brown and crispy drain tempura on paper towel ready to serve as topping into a salad mix