Being from Hong Kong, I cook a mean ‘Chinese’, and as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am never happier than when I am in the kitchen. If you are planning a birthday celebration, a dinner party or a romantic night in, I’ve put together a selection of dishes that are inspired by the tastes and aromas of asia.
Lots of western people are put off attempting asian cuisine because they are’t too familiar with, or don’t know where to buy, some of the ingredients. These dishes are really easy to follow and the ingredients you will be able to find at your local supermarket. So get cooking … and enjoy.
Honey glazed pork
Honey Glaze Orange Flavoured Pork Steak
Ingredients
- 3 pieces of pork steak
- 5-spices powder
- 2 table spoons of hoi-sin sauce
- 2 table spoons of soya sauce (optional 1 table spoon of dark soya sauce for extra colour)
- Juice from 1 orange (alternative fresh orange juice)
- salt & pepper
- sherry
- corn flour
- honey
Method
Marinate the Pork steak with salt & pepper, 5-spice powder, corn flour, soya sauce, drizzle of sherry and the orange juice for at least few hours or overnight in the fridge;
Drop a little oil on top of the pork steaks and lay them in a wire rack with the baking tray underneath for the excess dripping sauce;
Cook them in the oven as required on the cooking label (usually 160’C for 60 – 90 minutes) according to the thickness of the pork steaks and turn them over at the half cooking time;
Turn off the oven for the last 5 minutes of the cooking time and brush both sides of the pork steak with honey;
Add some orange juice with the gravy on the baking tray on a saucepan to make the serving sauce.
Chicken drumsticks
Chicken Drumsticks in Lemon and Coca Cola Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 pieces of chicken drumsticks or thighs
- 1 medium size onion (sliced)
- 4 pieces of fresh ginger
- 2 tea spoons of dried mixed herbs
- 1 lemon (sliced)
- 1 chicken stock cube
- 1 can of coca cola
- sugar
- salt & pepper
- soya sauce
- sherry
- corn flour
Method
Marinate the chicken drumsticks/ tights with the sugar, salt & pepper, dried mixed herbs, soya sauce, sherry and corn flour and leave it for few hours;
Put a little oil in the non-stick wok or sauce pan on a medium heat and fry the ginger and onions until slightly brown and put it aside;
Pour some oil into the wok and gently fry the drumsticks/ tights on both sides;
When they are nearly cooked; add the sliced lemons (leave 2 pieces for garnish later), cooked onions, pour in the chicken stock and the coca cola to the boil and simmer on heat for 10 minutes;
Thicken it with corn flour mixed with little cold water.
It can be served either hot or cold.
Spicy beef meatballs
Spicy Beef Meatballs in Black Pepper Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 gm) of lean minced beef
- 1 medium size red onion (cube)
- 1 red or yellow pepper (cube)
- 6 pieces of closed mushrooms (cube)
- 2 pieces of fresh ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tea spoons of dried mixed herbs
- 1 egg
- salt & pepper
- chilli powder (optional if you prefer it hotter)
- soya sauce
- sherry
- corn flour
- black pepper sauce
Method
Marinate the minced beef with salt & pepper, dried mixed herbs, soya sauce, sherry, optional chilli powder, corn flour, crack 1 egg, mix well and roll them up like a golf-ball size;
Fry the onions, ginger, garlic first then add the pepper and mushroom cubes for 5 minutes and put it aside;
Gently fry the meatballs in a non-stick wok or saucepan on both side and when it nearly cooked; add the onion, pepper, mushroom, 2/3 table spoons of black pepper sauce (alternatively just use crushed black pepper) and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes and thicken it with corn flour mixed with little cold water.
Mixed Vegetables in Garlic and Chilli Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 sticks of celery (cube)
- 1 medium size onion (cube)
- 1 red or yellow pepper (cube)
- 6 pieces of closed mushroom (cube)
- 2 pieces of fresh ginger
- 2 cloves of garlic
- salt & pepper
- soya sauce
- corn flour
- garlic & chilli sauce
Method
Fry the ginger, garlic, onion, celery first then add the pepper and mushroom, sprinkle salt & pepper and cook for 5 minutes;
Add soya sauce and garlic & chilli sauce (or any other spicy sauce such as chilli bean sauce or hot black bean sauce) and thicken it with corn flour mixed with little cold water.
Ginger and Coconut Fried Rice
Ingredients
- boiled rice
- grind ginger (2 table spoons)
- 2 eggs
- 2 table spoons of dried coconut
- 2 sticks of spring onions (finely chopped)
- salt & pepper
- soya sauce
- sesame seed oil
- paprika (optional)
Method
Fry the ginger and the coconut on a non-stick wok on a medium heat without any oil for 5 minutes;
Add some oil, boiled rice, sprinkle some salt & pepper to fry for 5 minutes;
Make a well in the middle of the wok, crack two eggs into it and gently stir it until nearly cooked and add the spring onion and fry it together;
Sprinkle some sesame seed oil, soya sauce and 1 teaspoon of paprika (optional) for the extra red colour and fry it until they are hot and slightly crispy.
You can see full size images of these dishes in our Chinese Dishes to make at Home Group. Happy Eating!
Last modified: June 10, 2021
