Friday, October 19, 2012

Fruit Tart

It was my niece birthday and I baked this fruit tart for her. I was goggling for a pastry tart recipe and decide to use Okashi recipe instead. 




Receipe Source: Okashi by Keiko Ishida Pg.122

Short Pastry Crust
60g Cold unsalted butter
100g Pastry flour or top flour
1/4 tsp Castor sugar
1/8 tsp Salt
50g Ice-cold water

1. Combine butter cubes and flour in a plastic baf. Place in the freezer overnight.
2. Using a food processor, pulse butter and flour mixture, sugar and salt until the mixture resembles coarsr breadcrumbs. Add water and mix until a smooth dought is formed.
3. Place dough on a floured surface and knead lightly. Leave dough to rest in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Roll our dough to a thickness of 5mm on a floured surface. Brush away excess flour, then place dough over a 20cm or 22cm fluted tart in with a removable base. Gently press dough into the tin. Roll a rolling pin over the top of the tin to trim any excess dough. Prick dough with a fork, then leave to rest for abt 5 mins in the freezer before baking.
5. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
6. Place a sheet of aluminium foil over the chilled dough(w/o vovering the edges of the dough), pressing it well into the bottom edges. Place baking weights into the tart tin and bake for 20 mins. Carefully remove weights and aluminium foil when pastry just begins to change colour around the edges, then continue baking until light golden brown for another 10 mins.
7. If tart shell is to be filled and baked again, cover with aluminium foil and fill with pie weights, and bake only 10 mins, then bake according to instructions in recipe.
8. Remove from heat and leave to cool on a wire rack.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Fish Head Curry & Saffron Rice


Fish Head Curry & Saffron Rice


   Ingredients for the Fish Head Curry 


   Fish Head Curry
Ingredients

1 Fish Head ( Ang Ko Li)
2 Large Onios, Peeled and cut into strips
4 Tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 Cup Coconut Milk
1 to 2 Green or Red Chillies, Sliced
1 to 2 Sprigs of Curry Leaves
3 Cloves of Garlic } pound togegether
1/2 inch of ginger  }
1/2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
6 to 7 okras, whole or halved
5 to 6 pcs Tau Pok
5 to 6 pcs Lady's Fingers
1 carrot
a bunch of long beans
1 tsp sugar (optional)
 cups water
1/4 to 1/2 cup tamarind juice

Dry Spices

6 to 7 heaped tsp Indian Fish Curry powder
1 tsp corinder powder
red chilli powder to taste
salt to taste

For the Garnish

some mint & coriander leave chopped
spring onion leaves, chopped

Method 

1.  Wash the fish head and marinate with 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp turmeric powder and a tbsp of cooking vinegar.
2.  Mix the dry spices together with hald the tamarind juice, 1 tbsp oil and some water to form a smooth
     paste.
3.  In a pan, heat abt 4 tbsp oil and suate the sliced onions. Add the fennel, cumin and fenugreek seeds and
     fry until fragrant. Add the curry leaves, chillies and dry spices.
4.  Fry well for a few mins until the mixture starts to release oil.
5   Add the tomatoes (keep some for later use), tamarind juice, coconut milk and sugar to taste.
6.  Add abt 2 cups of water and bring mixture to the boil at a low-medium heat. Stir well and add the  fishhead. Bring to the boil again and simmer until the fish is half cooked.
7.  Add the vegetables and the remaining tomatoes, Cook until the fish and vegetables are tender.
8.  Garnish curry with mint, coriander and spring onions.



   Saffron Rice
   Ingredients
  • 2 cups white rice
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 1  cup water
  • 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp. saffron threads
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  Methods

1.  Place the water in a pot and set over high heat. Add the saffron threads, salt, lemon juice and
     cumin to a boil.
2.  Saute the garlic with 1 tbsp olive oil. Add the white rice and stir fried.
3.  Add the rice and coconut milk and stir continuously ( to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom)
4.  When the liquid is gently bubblin, reduce heat to low and stop stirring. 
5.  Cover pot tightly with a lid and cook for abt 15 mins our until liquid has been absorbed.
6.  Turn off heat, but leave the pot on the burner to steam for another 5 to 10mins.
7.  Before serving, fluff rice with a fork.
8.  Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with Fish Curry.

ENJOY!