Masak Lemak Daging Salai (Grilled Rump Steak Poached in Coconut Milk)

Grilled Rump Steak (before slicing it thinly)

The Finished product (poached in Coconut Milk)

Ok I know, from where I come from, we poach everything from fish, crab, prawn, duck, chicken in Coconut Milk. So why not beef?

This is one of my all time favourite comfort food. The best part of this dish is the gravy...the turmeric, lemon grass and turmeric leaves lend it the aromatic flavour. The heat from the Chilies is balanced by the creamy coconut milk. 

Ingredients:

800 gm piece of 1" thick rump steak (marinated in salt & turmeric powder)

1 stalk lemon grass

1 inch fresh turmeric

8 fresh bird's eye chillis

1 turmeric leaf ( chopped finely)

1 young mango flesh

2 pcs dried tamarind (asam gelugor)

500 ml coconut cream

1 cup water

1tsp salt

 A slice of lime.

Preparation:

Pre-heat grill and cook steak for 8 minutes on both sides. Set aside to cool for 10minutes. Sliced thinly once cooled.

Meanwhile pound chilies and fresh turmeric in mortar and pestle. Lightly bruise lemon grass. Add lemon grass, turmeric and chili paste into a pot. Saute over medium heat and add coconut milk and 1 cup water. 

Add mango flesh, chopped turmeric leaves and tamarind pieces. Make sure to keep stirring so the coconut does not curdle.

Add sliced beef and continue to stir for another 5minutes. Add salt to taste and add a slash of lime/lemon juice before serving. Best eaten with rice or freshly baked bread.

Malay Curry Mee (Mee Kari)

Its Australia Day today and its a public holiday...so a good day to spend a bit more time in the kitchen. I must say I feel blessed to live in this country with its great community spirit and its breathtaking natural beauty.
This is our fourth year in Australia and we have learned a lot from living in this foreign land. The recent floods in Queensland showed us the true unassuming nature of the Australian people. More than 50,000 people from all walks of life banded together to volunteer with helping the affected ones, cleaning up homes and the streets. The absence of classifications evident in other countries between different levels of society, very little distinction between the upper, mid or low income..no airs, no protocols and no such thing as VVIP (i realised this term only exists in Msia!). Kevin Rudd was hospitalized for an infection while helping with the clean up!

OK I will get off my soap box now and share with you another easy recipe. My mother's old favourite mee kari.

Ingredients:

Gravy

-500 ml coconut milk

-1 red onion (chopped)

-4 cloves garlic (minced)

-1 cm ginger (chopped)

-2 stalks lemongrass

-3 tablespoons curry powder

-1 tablespoon chili powder

-1 cup chopped chicken

- 1 cup fried tofu (cut in half)

-1 piece Tamarind (asam gelugor)

-salt

-a little oil for frying

 Filling

-500 gm yellow noodles (blanched)

-1 cup bean sprouts

-red chili (sliced)

-boiled eggs



Garnish

-fried onions

-sliced green onions

-chopped coriander


Preparation and Cooking:

1. Heat a little oil and then sauté the ingredients until fragrant.

2. Put the curry powder mixed with water, followed by chilli powder.

3. Add chicken pieces and brown for 2-3 minutes

4. Add coconut milk and stir until mixed well

5.Add lemongrass and tamarind., add salt to taste.

6.Let simmer for 10minutes and finally add fried tofu.

7. Place noodles into a bowl, place on top of filling. Then, pour the gravy and garnish with the garnishing before serving.

Buttered prawns

Ingredients:

400 gm prawns (cleaned but leave skin on)
Oil for deep frying
3 eggs (yolks only)
curry leaves
2 cloves garlic(minced)
cili padi (4 pcs)- finely sliced
salt & sugar
50 g butter

Method:

Deep fry prawns for 2-3 mins in hot oil. drain and set aside

Melt butter, add garlic, chilies and curry leaves. Pour beaten egg yolks, break down and stir until brown and crispy. Add salt sugar to taste. Add fried prawns and stir thru.


Trust me its not as complicated as it looks. Your family will love this and you will be making this again and again,

Pizza base recipe

Kids just love pizzas so we try to have Pizza Night once a week. Here's a very simple pizza base recipe and all you need is some Pasta Sauce and toppings of your choice. Personally, I prefer to make my own pasta sauce, creamy or tomato base.

Ingredients:
Base

450 gm flour
1 packet dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1tbsp sugar
1 cup warm water

Method:
Add salt, sugar and yeast into water and allow to stand for 10minutes. Sift flour into a mixing bowl and add yeast mix into a well in the centre and
work the rest of the flour in with your clean, flour-dusted hands. Knead until you have a smooth, springy dough.

Now remove the dough to a flour-dusted surface and knead it around a bit to push the air out with your hands. You can either use it immediately, or keep it, wrapped in clingfilm, in the fridge (or freezer) until required. If using straight away, divide into half as this is enough for 2 medium bases.

Place the dough on a olive oil rubbed pizza tray, and dress with your sauce and choice of toppings, and topped with mozzarella or bocconcini cheese. Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20minutes.

Always have this base handy in the freezer for a quick dinner idea on a busy working night. Cheaper, fresher and better for you than takeout pizzas!