Kapitan Lamb Briyani

Kapitan Lamb Briyani, a photo by <3SnowyGirl<3 on Flickr.

This has to be the most wonderful briyani ever, alking about mamak food in Penang. So if you're ever in Penang, please do head over to Kapitan Nasi Kandar in Georgetown for a savoury briyani. They have chicken, beef or lamb. YUMMY!

Fried Beef Briyani Bihun (Vermicelli)

beef briyani fried vermicelli, a photo by &lt;3SnowyGirl&lt;3 on Flickr.

The first time I had this was during a Raya (Eid) visit to my parent's next door neighbour's house in Penang. Auntie A has always cooked delicious Indian-inspired food and always, give some to us. I absolutely love her thosai and capati. And, she makes wonderful Malay kuih as well, like karipap and cucur udang. 

So, during the visit to her house, she served us Bihun Briyani - and I was like "bihun briyani???" I had never tasted it or seen it anywhere else at that point. It was superbly delicious, she made it with lamb which makes it even more special. Who eats bihun with lamb, usually?

Today, I just thought of bihun for dinner, after the tiring day at work and no much time to cook complicated meals. And Auntie A's Bihun Briyani came to my mind.... Thinking of the savoury dish makes me drool all the way home from KL to Shah Alam...

This is my first time cooking it. I wasn't expecting to cook this tonight, and so I used whatever ingredients I had at home. It would have been much better if I was prepared, so I could put in more ingredients to make it more special. Anyway, simplicity is the most important factor for a busy full time working mum like me. It's a challenge to cook simple meals after a long day at work, especially when you're cooking for a 2 year old. Thankfully, she has Wantan Soup prepared earlier for today!

Here's a simple recipe for this delicious Bihun Goreng Briyani. Hope you LOVE it!

1 packet dried vermicelli, soaked in water for 10-20 minutes (I used Jasmine brand, soaked in normal temperature water).
1 packet Maggi Briyani seasoning, mix with 1/2 cup water
300gm thinly sliced beef (I added some chicken too)
1 yellow onion, sliced
3 garlic, sliced
1/2 carrot, julienned
1/3 cabbage, thinly sliced
1 red tomato, chopped
1 stick celery, sliced
Cinnamon stick, 1 small one
Cloves, Star Anise, Cardamon - a mix of these flavourful spices, just a few of each
1 tsp coriander powder (additional, optional)
dash of salt, pepper, sugar
dash of McCormick's Mix Spice
1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped (garnishing)
Some ready made fried shallots (garnishing)
1 large red chili, thinly sliced (garnishing)

Heat up a wok with olive oil and stir fry onion, garlic, adding the cloves, star anise and cardamon. Stir and add beef, chicken, briyani seasoning, coriander powder, and a dash of mix spice.

After aromatic, throw in the vegetables and vermicelli, and stir fry until the vermicelli softens. Add a little of water if needed. Taste, and add salt/pepper/sugar as like.

Fry until vermicelli is dried. Some people loves a soupy bihun goreng, but for briyani it won't taste as good until it's really fried well. So, stir, stir until cooked through. Transfer to a serving plate/bowl and garnish with coriander, chili and fried shallots. Or simply just whatever garnishing you have at home, like scallions or chopped celery or green chilies...

Enjoy!

Mee Goreng Mamak Pulau Tikus Market

This. Is. Awesome. Seriously, the best mee mamak for my tastebuds. For those who have not tried this one, the next time you're in Penang island do head over to Pulau Tikus, this mamak's stall is located in a busy Chinese Kopitiam, just beside the wet market, or behind Nasi Kandar Rafi.

My permanent menu here is mee goreng extra basah, couple with a refreshing siu kam peng from the uncle or aunty in the kopitiam.

Besides mee mamak which is the only halal menu there, non halal street food there seems good too as that kopitiam is always busy, means food is good no??

I am sooo craving for this right now!!


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Tonight's Dinner at Home: Chicken Curry

Guilty. Have not been foodporn-blogging in a very, very loooong time. Blame it on my hectic life, and priorities have changed although cooking, and food - remains as one of my most enjoyable thing, I even cook almost everyday still. Perhaps I shall try to blog more often.

Made simple chicken curry tonight, it's not as hard as it may sound like, and I love having a warm, spicy bowl of chicken curry along with those soft potatoes and carrots in the mix, eat it with a piece of freshly toasted bread, and a side of fresh green salad. What could be better when you're tired from work?

My ingredients are simple, and I cook enough for 2-3 persons. If you click on this Chicken Curry Recipe, you could see my previous post and recipe. And a pretty delicious photo of it :-)

Happy New Year 2013, still not too late to wish! May this year brings the bestest of the best food you've ever tasted, the bestest recipe you ever created or tried, and many more!

Sardines with Mixed Vegetables

This is a simple healthy recipe I made for dinner tonight. Have been quite busy and pregnant-tired, I still cook sometimes, but more of simple foods that I can eat :-) Perhaps I shall add in some healthy recipes to cook during pregnancy in here..

Recipe:: Sardines with Mixed Vegetables

1 small can of sardines, including the tomato juice
1/4 carrot, thinly chopped
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 of a large red bell pepper (capsicum), roughly chopped
1/3 of a celery stick, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 green chili, sliced
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
dash of black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Easy and does not take much time.. heat up the pan with olive and fry the onions, tomatoes, carrots and celery until soften. Add the sardines along with its tomato juice. Throw in the rest of the ingredients in and stir, breaking the sardines to smaller pieces (don't totally mash them tho).
Serve while still hot with brown bread and a glass of cool juice.
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Sardines are very rich in iron, whilst the fresh tomatoes, celery, carrots and red pepper adds all the vitamins that is soo good to help our body absorb the iron. Not to mention this dinner is low in fat! :-)