Papaya, Carrot & Sweet Corn Soup

Home style Chinese comfort food. This is great to drink in Summer or Winter for hydration

Ingredients

½ papaya, peeled and chopped into large chunks
1 sweet corn- chopped into large chunks
1 carrot, chopped
750ml-1L water
80g rock sugar
2 honey dates
1 ginger slice
1 white fungus (optional)

Method

1. Add all the ingredients into a pot and boil for 10 minutes
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes
3. Serve warm or cool

Chow Mein

Recipe adapted from The Australian Women's Weekly Kid's Cooking book, page46

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
500g lean beef mince
1 medium brown onion, chopped finely
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 cup frozen carrot, pea & corn mix
150g rehydrated shitake mushrooms
1 cup (250ml) chicken stock
⅓ cup (80ml) oyster sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
450g fresh thin egg noodles
½ small Chinese cabbage, shredded coarsely

Method

1. Heat oil in wok or large frying pan; stir fry mince, onion and garlic until mince is browned. Add curry powder; stir-fry about 1 minute or until fragrant. Add frozen carrot, pea & corn mix, mushrooms; stir fry until vegetables soften.
2. Add stock, sauces and noodles, stir-fry until combined; bring to a boil. Add cabbage, reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, tossing occasionally for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are just soft.

Chinese Cabbage Stir Fry

Smell the wonderful aroma of the vegetables cooking in hot garlic oil as you stir fry this quick and easy Asian meal.

Serves 2

Ingredients

4-5 cups Chinese cabbage, sliced into 1 inch lengths
1 cup carrots, julienned or cut into thin strips
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
2 tbsp oyster sauce
½ tsp sugar
½ cup water
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp oil

Method

1. Pour oil into wok and heat it over high heat until it starts to smoke slightly.
2. Put in the garlic and stir until slightly golden
3. Put in the cabbage and carrot and hear the loud sizzle in your wok.
4. Stir fry quickly for about 2 minutes.
5. Add water, give the vegetables a good stir and cover the wok for about 2 minutes.
6. Remove cover and put in the rest of the seasoning. Turn off the heat and serve immediately.
   

Notes & Tips

Vegetarians: Substitute oyster sauce with vegetarian oyster sauce 

Pot Sticker Dumplings

When I make dumplings, I like to make double batches and freeze some for later use. You can steam, boil or pan fry these dumplings. The choice is yours really! I personally like them pan fried :P

Makes approx. 60 pieces

Ingredients

2 x 4cm pieces ginger, peeled
250g Chinese cabbage, finely shredded
350g minced pork
2 green onions, finely chopped
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tbs oyster sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbs Shaoxing rice wine*
cornflour, for dusting
2 x 275g pkts gow gee pastries wrappers
 peanut oil
Chinese red rice vinegar**

Method

1. Finely grate 1 piece of ginger, then finely shred second piece. Place cabbage in a bowl. Sprinkle with 1 tsp salt then leave for 30 minutes. Squeeze handfuls of cabbage to remove excess water then place in a bowl. Add 1½ tsp grated ginger, minced pork, onions, sauces, sesame oil and wine and combine well.
2. Line a large tray with baking paper then dust with cornflour. Using a finger, wet edge of a wrapper with a little water. Place 1 level tsp of filling in centre. Fold wrapper in half and, using your thumb and index finger, pleat one edge, then press edges together to seal. Place, in a single layer, on prepared tray. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Dumplings can be made up to 6 hours in advance, store covered in the fridge.
3. Preheat oven to 150°C. Heat 1-2 tbs peanut oil in a non-stick frying pan over medium high heat. Add 12 dumplings, pleated side up in a single layer, and cook for 1-2 minutes or until brown underneath. Carefully add ¼ - ½ cup boiling water, then cover partially with a lid and cook for a further 4-5 minutes or until water has evaporated.
4. When the water boils off, remove the lid and reduce the heat to medium or medium low. This allows the potstickers to dry out and crisp up.
   
5. Transfer to an oven tray, cover with foil and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining oil and dumplings. Serve with bowls of red vinegar combined with shredded ginger, for dipping.

Notes & Tips
 
To boil: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add dumplings to pot. Boil the dumplings until they float.

To steam: Place dumplings on a single layer of cabbage leaves or on a well-greased surface and steam for about 6 minutes.

To pan fry: Place dumplings in a frying pan with 2-3 tbsp of oil. Heat on medium high and fry for a few minutes until bottoms are golden. Add ¼ -½ cup water and cover. Cook until the water has boiled away and then uncover and reduce heat to medium or medium low. Let the dumplings cook for another 2 minutes then remove from heat and serve.

To freeze: Assemble dumplings on a baking sheet so they are not touching. Freeze for 20-30 minutes until dumplings are no longer soft. Place in ziploc bag and freeze for up to a couple of months. Prepare as per the above instructions, but allow extra time to ensure the filling is thoroughly cooked.

*Shaoxing rice wine is a rice based cooking wine and can be found in Asian grocery stores.

**Chinese red rice vinegar is made from glutinous rice and coloured red. It is most commonly used as a dipping sauce.