The Best of Both Worlds -- Home Made Soy Milk and Soy Bean Idli

I recently joined a chat-room formed by a group of Chinese-Indian couples, and came to know that many of them who stayed in China have problem finding Urad dal (small black bean). The main ingredient for Idli the south Indian Steamed Rice cake.

So I came up with the idea to make this steam cake from Soy and black bean, the common legumes used in China to make soy milk and tofu.

This way I could have my soy milk and my idli at the same time!

Coconut Chutney For Idli and Dosa 【南印椰子酱】

Coconut Chutney is my husband’s favorite accompaniment to go with south Indian snacks like dosas and idlis. He loves his idli and dosa with coconut chutney and sambar.

南印椰子酱是俊爸吃米豆发糕和米豆煎饼时很喜欢的一款沾酱，和酸豆汤还有辣椒豆粉一起堪称为南印点心的金三角哦！

Minced Meat Steamed Egg【肉末蒸雞蛋】

This steamed egg with minced meat was my maternal grand mother's recipe. I loved mixing it with steam white rice before eating.

My son A also loves to eat rice with this steamed egg, he could finished one whole bowl of rice whenever I make this!

Chicken porridge/Congee 【鸡肉粥】

I liked to make a big pot of congee whenever I am home alone, it serves as breakfast, lunch and sometimes even dinner!!

To make it more nutritious, I often add carrot pieces and vegetables, it is very easy to digest and easy to prepare.

我喜欢喝粥，有了宝宝之后更是经常地熬一锅粥和宝宝一起吃。鸡肉粥是经常熬的一种粥，有时也加点胡萝卜，青菜换着花样吃，是个容易消化也很好准备的食物。

【烤箱版"炸“鸡】Oven Baked “Fried Chicken”

这个“炸鸡”食谱是多年前在私房看见的，原食谱已不可考，只记得做法非常好，每次馋炸鸡我就会做一次。我家的配方是根据自己口味配的，偏辣，味道很是不错呢！

This spicy oven baked "fried" chicken is a real treasure I found from a Chinese website, I can't really remember the original recipe anymore. I whipped up this version using the method I remembered from reading the recipe earlier. It turned out sooo yumm!

I particularly love the way it was made without a drop of oil and still turned out to be crunchy, just the way I liked my fried chicken to be!

Masala Dosa/மசால் தோசை【米豆糊馅饼】

Masala Dosa (மசால் தோசை) is a very famous snack/breakfast in Southern part of India.

When I made homemade Idli/Dosa batter at home, I will use it for Idli the first two days as the batter is at its fluffiest form and is less sourish. Dosa/Tosai or Uttapam will be on the menu third day onward when the batter turned a little more sourish and less fluffy.

这款馅饼/Masala Dosa是印度南部的小食，有好几位网友写信问我会不会做，刚好前几天做了一罐的米豆蒸糕/米豆煎饼面，今天就做了这款馅饼做早饭。

Oat & Barley Adai

This Adai is made of whole grains and mixed pulses, it also requires no fermentation, a very nutritious and healthy choice for breakfast or snack time.

Dan Dan Noodle (Spicy Sichuan Noodles)

N and I both loved this Spicy noodles, we will surely order one whenever we visited Sichuan restaurant.

I made a box of Sichuan style spicy minced meat this morning and used it for this Dan Dan noodle, it is so yummy and satisfying!

Spinach Paratha (Palak Paratha)

Spinach Paratha is a good way to sneak in healthy greens into meals, adding a little sesame seeds gave it a hint of nutty flavor and some added nutrients.

A very nutritious and beautiful looking bread it is!

Homemade Chinese/Sichuan Red Oil

Chinese Red oil or fragrance chilli oil is an essential ingredients for many Chinese dishes, it also serves well as condiment and sauce as Chinese Style of Salad/Cold dishes/Starter. 

It is pretty simple to make it at home, just to make sure you use good quality of Chili powder/flakes and spices.

Sambar (Mixed Vegetable Sambar)

Sambar is a very common south Indian lentil dish made with tamarind and fragrant spices, it is a good dish to go with most South Indian snacks/breakfast such as idli, dosa, uttapam and Vada.

Palak Moong Dal (Sprouted Moong bean Spinach Soup)

Pulses when slightly sprouted is at its nutrients height and is generally known to be good for health, together with spinach, this dish makes a complete and nutritious vegetarian dish!

【番茄酸奶】Tomato Raita （Yogurt and Tomato Condiment）

各种酸奶是印度饮食习惯中很重要的一环，印度人相信酸奶营养价值很高，还帮助消化。这道番茄酸奶很简单，可是是很多主食的配菜喔！

Raita is a kind of condiment that goes with almost every Indian dishes. It is believed that it aids digestion and is very high in nutrients.

This tomato raita is easy to make and taste very well, a good side dish indeed.

【印度米豆发糕】Idli/Idly （Idli/Dosa Batter recipe)

这个米豆蒸糕是我在印度的时候很喜欢的一个早餐，健康营养，全天然发酵的做法对肠胃非常的好，很容易消化，是素食很好的一个选择。发酵过的米豆糊带有天然的酵菌，容易消化，对肠胃很好的哦！

Idli used to be my breakfast everyday for a long time when I first visited India, I find it very light and nutritious. I was also amazed by the way the dough was prepared when I started preparing it at home, it is so natural and simple, yet the result is so intriguing.

Homemade idli/Dosa dough is so useful and could be made into different kind of snacks easily, the mix could be used for :Dosa,Uttapam, Besan Uttapam and Fried Idli.

Idli Milagai Podi (Gun Powder）

I had this powder the very first time in Bangalore, in a small tiny Biryani Chain near my then home, and almost instantly fell in love with the nutty, spicy and flavourful taste!

Shanghainese Scallion Oil Noodles

I had this noodle the first time at a gathering with my Chinese friends in NJ.

It was brought in by a Shanghainese friend, it is so tasty that I had way too much of this noodle that evening and made sure I had the recipe before leaving the party!

Teow Cheow Salted Pork Belly 【潮州咸煎肉】

This Teow Cheow Salted Pork Belly recipe was given by a friend, it is a secret recipe passed down for generations in the family.

I didn't think such simple ingredients and preparation method could bring very tasty result.

But oh! Am I pleased that I was so wrong!

Banana Bread Baked By my 3 year old

My son A has been showing a lot of interest in baking lately. Since I have a few ripe bananas lying around at home, I decided to let him bake a simple banana bread.

We had a lot of fun baking and video taping!

Ribs Congee--Grandma's Recipe 【外婆的排骨粥（咸糜）】

This Congee is one fond memory I had with my maternal grandmother, she cooks very traditional and tasty Hokkien Cuisine, and this Congee is one of them.

I used to fight my brother for the ribs, and now... I much prefer the tofu in it.

这个排骨粥是小时候一个很温馨的记忆，外婆（姥姥）家离我们家不远，每个周末我们都要到外婆家玩，外婆总会做好多好吃的等着我们。

外婆做的菜都很传统，有着浓浓的闽南味道。每次做这个粥，外婆都要一大早去菜市场买猪小排和粉肠，然后我和表妹会被安排剪鱿鱼丝。

现在每次自己做这个粥，都仿佛是时光倒流，回到无忧无虑的小时候。外公和外婆已经作古十几年了，可他们留给儿孙们的爱，却是十几年的不变，永远地留在我们心间。

Oven baked Naan bread 【烤箱版印度馕】

I have tried several recipes for homemade naan, and this is by far the best I have made at home.  Add sesame, garlic or cheese to make different types of naan, it is yummy hot bread straight out of your oven!

我尝试过好几个烤箱版的印度馕食谱，出来的效果都不错，但这次用的食谱做出来的食谱最好。虽然家里的烤箱没办法达到印度Tandoor烤箱的800-1000华氏度高温，因此烤制时间被迫加长，因为面团含水量高，烤出来的馕仍然达到外酥内嫩的效果，非常好吃。

食谱根据以下网站调整:  http://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/grilled-naan-recipe

Boondi Raita (Chick Pea Crisp in Yogurt)

Raita is a good thing to have during summer, especially summer in India.

There are many ways to prepare raita and this is one of them. It is easy to prepare with ready made Boondi from the shop, it is also a good side dish to go with rice or Chapati.

Homemade Ginger Garlic Paste

Many Indian recipes called for ginger garlic paste and I normally keep a bottle of shop bought ginger garlic paste at home to serve that purpose.

I saw a few bloggers making this ginger garlic paste at home recently, and was interested to try it out. When the last bit of my shop bought ginger and garlic paste used up,  I went to shop for lots and lots of ginger and garlic and off to make some of my own.

Evverything I made using this homemade ginger garlic paste turned out sooooo good! No kidding!