Mongolian Beef

Sorry for my lack of action in the past few weeks. Been super duper busy with work and study and haven't had time to do anything. I leave home in the morning and only come home to sleep and do the same cycle the next day. do forgive me. The story behind this was that I was craving some Asian food and didn't have enough money to go get take out so I decided to make some at home with ingredients I had lying around. Anyway, this recipe is a mix between a Mongolian beef and a beef in oyster sauce, because I'm an oyster sauce addict and thought it would taste better with some oyster goodness. Either way, it's yummy.

Your challenge: Mongolian beef to go head over heals.

Ready --- Steady --- Cook!

Mongolian Beef

(Serves 4) 

Ingredients

300g Beef tenderloin, thinly sliced against the grain

1 Red bell pepper, sliced 

2 Green onion, sliced 

2 Bunches of Bok Choy, cut

50g Cornflour

2 Cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp ginger, grated
1 Teaspoon chilli flakes
1 Tablespoon Corriander, chopped 

4 Tablespoons soy sauce
3 Tablespoons oyster sauce

3 Tablespoons agave nectar (or sugar)

3 Tablespoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry or any red wine

3 Tablespoons water

1-2 Tablespoons oil for the pan

Method:  

1. Stir together soy sauce, agave nectar/sugar, water, and Chinese rice wine/dry sherry. Set aside. 

2. coat the beef in cornflour

3. Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Make sure the oil completely coats the bottom of the pan. Add the beef and quickly sauté until lightly browned.

 

4. Add garlic and ginger. Sauté for a few seconds. 

5. Add onions, bell peppers, bok choy and cook.

6. Add the sauce from step 1. The sauce should quickly come to a boil. Lower the heat a bit and allow it to bubble. Keep stirring. Reduce until it becomes thicker and glazes the beef. It should happen very quickly, within minutes. 

serve with steamed rice

Note: The corn starch helps to brown the beef and thicken the sauce once the sauce is added to the pan. 


Challenge Accepted ??? 

Enjoy!

Tosakanth 

Chicken with Balsamic Cream Sauce

Pretty simple stuff really. Saw the recipe on this blog that did healthy recipes with low carbs. Since I was going through my balsamic vinegar phase and my diet week, thought I'd give it a go because I was super hungry and didn't have anything at home to eat. As usual I added my own twist to it. Didn't have heavy cream so used milk instead and added corn flour to make it thick. It was super. It didn't have a very strong balsamic flavour but it had a yummy gravy-like flavour. Therefore I think this would be a really good alternative for gravy during Christmas. Just a thought. Up to you.

Your Challenge: get on this awesomic balsamic trick!

 

Ready---Steady---Cook!

Chicken with Balsamic Cream Sauce
(Serves 2)

INGREDIENTS:

2 pieces Chicken Breasts

1/2 Onion, thinly sliced

4 Mushrooms, sliced
1/4 Red Bell Pepper sliced

1/2 Cup of Chicken Broth

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream or milk

5 tablespoons Butter

6 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
2 teaspoons Corn Flour  (if using milk instead of cream)
1 bunch coriander, chopped
1/2 Cup of Parmesan Cheese (optional) 

Salt and Pepper
  

METHOD:

1. Saute onions over medium heat in 2 tablespoons of butter until they are nice and caramelized - About 15 Minutes. Add the mushrooms and bell peppers and cook. When the onions are a nice golden brown and mushrooms and bell peppers have cooked, remove from the heat and set aside

2. In a separate pan, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat.  Place the chicken breasts in the pan.  Brown on both sides, remove from the pan and set aside (Note - they will not be all the way cooked at this stage)

3. De-glaze the pan with the chicken stock.  Use a rubber spatula to make sure you get all the chicken bits and butter off the pan. This helps to flavor your sauce

4. Add the heavy cream/milk, balsamic vinegar and corn flour and stir immediately. (so the corn flour mixes well)

5. Add mushrooms, onions and bell peppers and a little S&P, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes

6. Add the chicken back to the pan, turn heat back up to medium and saute until the chicken is cooked all the way through.  About 10-15 minutes.

7. Remove chicken breasts from the pan and plate. Add the Parmesan and coriander to the sauce and keep stirring until the cheese is completely melted in.

Note: Only add corn flour if you are using milk instead of heavy cream to make the sauce thick. If you are using cream you do not need to use corn flour as your thickening agent.

Challenge Accepted???

Enjoy!

Tosakanth 

Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Bacon

As I mentioned in my French Onion Soup Post, I cooked a romantic 3 course meal for my friend who I'm going to name DashGlowPrincess for anonymity. So the main course was Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Bacon with a side of Crispy Herbed Baked Potatoes. It was so super good. I seem to say that for all the stuff I cook and post on this. I'm just that awesome I guess. If that romantic dinner was actually for a potential lover/suitor, I would be married with a child or two by now. One would be a food baby and the other would be a love child. It was THAT good. You must agree that bacon makes anything taste awesome.

Your Challenge: get stuffed eating the good stuff.

Ready --- Steady --- Cook

Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Wrapped in Bacon

INGREDIENTS:

4 chicken thigh fillets

8 slices middle bacon

50g softened butter

Half of a large brown onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1/4 cup parsley leaves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons Oregano

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Toothpicks for assembly

1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese

Dash of lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:

1. Preheat oven at 180 degrees.

2. Mix butter, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, parsley, oregano, cheese, lemon juice and breadcrumbs together to form a dough of stuffing.

3.Grab a generous handful of stuffing and press them onto the middle of a chicken thigh fillet.

4.Roll the chicken fillet over the stuffing and wrap the chicken roll with 2 slices of middle bacon.

5.Cook them in a pan until brown and chicken is cooked

6. put it in the oven for approx. 10minutes or until bacon is browning.

Serve with anything you like e.g. roasted balsamic/garlic potatoes, mashed potatoes with veggies, or salad and chips, or if you're like me, you can just eat them on its own and not feel guilty about it because of its deliciousness it's so worth it, 

Challenge Accepted ???

Enjoy

Tosakanth!