Kuah Lodeh

Tags

asian, coconutmilk, food, vegan, vegetarian

Today I’d like to share a favourite dish from my childhood called Kuah Lodeh. This beautiful aromatic dish which consists of vegetables, tofu and my all time favourite tempeh, originated in Indonesia and also very popular in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often served during Eid along with many other dishes. 

As much as I love this dish, it tends to be quite watery so here is my version of this simple delicious dish…

Ingredients

• 3 medium shallots

• 1-2 stalks of lemongrass

• 4 cloves of garlic 

• 1 fresh chilli

• half tsp of turmeric powder

• Cracked black pepper 

(Blend all the above ingredients in a food processor)

• Tempeh (cut into cubes and fried till golden)

• Tofu (I used ready fried tofu squares) 

• half a cabbage (roughly chopped)

• Green or French beans

• Fish sauce or salt to taste

• 1 can of coconut milk

Method

1. In a saucepan, bring the minced ingredients and coconut milk to a simmer. (No oil needed) 

2. Add the tofu & tempeh into the saucepan. Simmer for 10 mins before adding the vegetables. Simmer for a further 5 mins. Season well with either fish sauce or salt. 

Garnish with chopped chillies, a little cilantro and serve with white boiled rice. 

I hope you will enjoy this dish as much as I do…💛

Potato & Sweet Potato Stacks

Tags

food, potato, sweetpotato, vegan, vegetarian

So it has been 7 months since my last post. Life took a different turn and after a move back to Spain for 4 months after our year in China, we are now in Houston, Texas! It has been a few months of packing, unpacking, trips to Singapore for family weddings, packing up again and moving here that my blog had to be put on hold. 

Moving itself can be stressful let alone to another country, but I thank God as all the changes has given me the opportunity to live my life in all these different places and experience the lifestyle and culture. I feel so truly blessed. 

Now that I am more settled, I’d like to share this simple side dish that I made a few weeks ago.

Ingredients

• 3 potatoes (sliced thin)

• 1 sweet potato (sliced thin)

• Dried parsley

• Dried oregano

• Garlic granules

• Salt & cracked black pepper 

• Grated parmesan cheese

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tbsp melted butter (optional) 

Method

1. In a large bowl, mix in all the ingredients except the potatoes.

2. Throw in the sliced potatoes & the sweet potatoes and mix well.

3. Arrange the potatoes in a greased muffin tray. Stack to the very top.

4. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees celcius (375 farenheit) for 40mins or until the sides are golden. 

5. Once cooked, remove them from the muffin tray gently using 2 spoons. 

Let them rest for 2 to 3 mins before serving.

Enjoy as a side dish or on their own!

Have a blessed Monday💛

Tofu & Vegetable Soup

Tags

asian, food, soup, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

So I was down with gastroenteritis last week due to a virus going around within the community here and after a trip to the doctors, all I wanted was one of my grandma’s simple tofu soup. 

This soup could not be easier to prepare and fantastic when you are poorly and need to be on a soft, simple diet.   

Ingredients

 • 4 to 5 shallots thinly sliced

• 3 cloves of garlic

• 1 potato (diced)

• 1 carrot (diced)

• 2 stalks of celery thinly sliced

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Tofu (cut into chunky squares)

• 1 litre of water 

• a little oil & a little sesame seed oil

• 1 tbs of fresh chopped cilantro (leave some for garnishing)

Method

1. In a pot, heat about a teaspoon of oil & a teaspoon of sesame seed oil and sauté the shallots and garlic. Once golden, add the celery and sauté for another minute.

2. Pour in the litre of water and let it simmer/boil for about 15-20 mins before adding the potatoes & carrots.

3. Once the vegetables are cooked, gently add the tofu into the soup and simmer till they start floating up. Season well. 

Garnish with the rest of the chopped cilantro, crispy shallots and serve hot…

 
Have a happy healthy Sunday!💛

Beetroot Hummus

Tags

food, hummus, vegan, vegetarian

Hello all! Sorry I’ve been missing in action for a while. Since moving to China, I have been going to see my family in Singapore and Malaysia every couple of months which is a huge blessing seeing as I was never able to do that when we were living in Spain and the UK. 

I recently came back from a month in Singapore visiting my grandma, cousins & relatives and a week at Montigo Resorts in Batam Island, Indonesia with my husband which was 30 mins on the ferry from Singapore. It was a week of fabulous food, massage & spa treatments and swimming. Perfect to relax & recharge.

Anyway, back in China and I’d like to share this simple recipe of Beetroot Hummus with you, inspired by Gordon Ramsay.   

Ingredients
• 300 gms chickpeas

• 1 betroot 

• 2 tsp tahini

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1 garlic clove

• Juice of half a lemon

• salt & pepper to taste

Method

Blitz all in a food processor, (taste to check the balance of flavour) garnish with chopped coriander & some whole chickpeas, serve with pitta bread or flat bread. 

On a different note, I recently came across a website with the same name as mine and I would like to inform all my readers and subscribers, that we are in no way related despite the similarities. 

Thank you and enjoy the hummus!💗

Ube/Purple Yam Donuts

Tags

donuts, food, purple, sweet, vegan, vegetarian

Just thought I’d share a super quick post of these gloriously coloured donuts I made earlier to have as a mid afternoon snack. They are exactly like my Sweet Potato Donuts recipe but PURPLE!💜   

 Ingredients

•  4 to 5 small Purple Yams (about 400gms)
• Self raising flour
• Sunflower oil for frying

Method

1. Peel the skin off the purple yams and roughly chop them. Drop them in a pot of boiling water till they soften before mashing them. 

2. In a big bowl, combine the mashed purple yam with the self raising flour. Not too much or it will make the donuts quite hard. I used about 3 tbsps, just to be able to bind the mixture together.

3. Roll into balls, flatten slightly and with your pinky, pierce a hole in the centre of the dough to shape like a doughnut. Place on a floured surface.

4. In a pan, heat the oil and slow fry them on a medium high heat. Flip over once they are cooked on one side.

5. Once cooked, remove from oil and drain on kitchen towel.

Dust with powdered sugar and serve!

Happy Thursday!☺️

Simple Stir Fried Kangkung (Water Spinach)

Tags

asian, food, hong kong, travel, vegetarian

Hello all! I have now been in China for just over a week and after our weekend trip to Hong Kong, I am now getting back into my routine of cooking again. So today, I am going to share a very simple recipe of stir fried Kangkung, which is a cheap and tasty vegetable that I’ve always loved as a kid!  

Ingredients

•  A bunch of Kangkung (washed & drained)
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 dried chilli (chopped)
• 3 cloves of garlic (cut width wise)
• 1 tbsp fish sauce

Method

1. In a hot wok, add the sesame oil and throw in the garlic & chillies and stir fry for half a minute.
2. Throw in the Kangkung, add into it the fish sauce, a little water and let it cook thoroughly. (for a vegan version, instead of using fish sauce, you can use light soy sauce or salt to taste)

Serve hot on it’s own or with boiled white rice. Enjoy!

Here are a few shots I took of Hong Kong and Lantau Island from our trip last weekend. From where we are in China, it took 3hrs on a coach  (time included at 2 immigration controls). Not bad for about 16 Euros each way per person. 

We stayed at the beautiful Harbour Plaza Metropolis Hotel which overlooked the Hong Kong skyline.  (View from the patio at breakfast)

  (Light show at 8pm every night)

  (Monestary at Lantau Island)

 (Big Buddha in the fog) 
 (Street food vendors)

  (Lantau Island)

  (busy streets of Hong Kong)

  (Hong Kong🇭🇰) 

I have to say, I was a bit overwhelmed in Hong Kong as it was extremely busy but all in all, an experience to be remembered. 
Have a fab weekend ahead!💛

Spaghettini with Baby Plum Tomatoes

Tags

food, Italian, pasta, vegan, vegetarian

Last Thursday I was already busy in the kitchen at 8am whipping up a packed lunch for my husband as there were no leftovers from the previous night’s dinner for him to take to work like he usually does. 

So I made this super simple pasta dish that took 10 mins to prepare.



Ingredients

• 4 to 5 Baby plum tomatoes (cut into halves) 
• 1 to 2 cloves of garlic (sliced width wise)
• Half tsp chilli flakes 
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• Spaghettini pasta, enough for 2 people (takes 3 mins to cook)
• sea salt & cracked black pepper 
• Lots of extra virgin olive oil 

Method

1. In a skillet, add the olive oil & garlic. Let it simmer on a low heat so the oil is infused with the flavour.
2. Add your chilli flakes & dried parsley. 
3. Turn the heat up a little and sauté the halved baby plum tomatoes.

4. Once slightly soft, toss in the cooked pasta and coat with the flavours. 

Add more chilli flakes & dried parsley if you desire! 

I’m also so happy to say that 2 people decided to make this dish that same day after seeing my posts on My Simple Delights’ Facebook & Instagram page! 

Happy cooking!💛

Easy Peasy, Warm & Cosy

Tags

easymeals, food, healthy, vegan, vegetarian

Yesterday was a busy day of running errands and nursing a sick husband. It was a gloriously beautiful day after the rain and snow we’ve been getting here. So, after I prepared Chicken Porridge for my husband, I decided to have a bright coloured late lunch to go with the sunny day.

Ingredients
• Ciabatta
• Red & Yellow Baby Plum Tomatoes (sliced in half)
• Rocket salad
• Mixed Italian herbs
• Dried Parsley
• Garlic granules
• Basil pesto
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt & cracked black peppercorns

Method
1. In a hot skillet, add a tablespoon of the olive oil.
2. Throw in the baby plum tomatoes along with the dried herbs, garlic granules & seasoning. Sauté for just under a minute and set aside on a plate.
3. Take the Ciabatta bread, slice in half and place in the skillet to char on both sides and soak up the now flavoured olive oil. Once charred, take it off the heat & smear your pesto on.
4. Top the warm Ciabatta with a handful of rocket and the soft warm tomatoes and serve.

A simple, bright lunch that’s quick and filling! It’s also perfect for gatherings where instead of charring the bread, just place them in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and the dried herbs.

Happy mid-week!💛

*Here are a couple of shots I took from my neighbourhood from when it snowed last week and the glorious day we had yesterday.

Spinach & Celery Soup

Tags

food, healthy, soup, vegan, vegetarian, winter

As the end of the year draws to a close, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you all for your support, love and friendship. This year has been a truly blessed year for me, I got fitter and can run further, I also made some amazing friends here on WordPress and also on my Instagram.

For my last recipe of the year, I give you, my green soup for these cold winter days….also known as the Hulk soup! Haha!💚

Ingredients
• Spinach (as much as you want)
• Celery (roughly chopped)
• 1 onion (sliced)
• half a potato (roughly chopped, add more if you want a thick soup)
• Cream (optional)
• Salt & cracked black pepper
• a little olive oil & butter

Method
1. Sauté the onions and celery in a little olive oil & butter.
2. Once soft, add the potatoes, water and seasoning.
3. Simmer till the potatoes are cooked.
4. Add the spinach, leave to simmer for another minute or so, don’t overcook the spinach.
5. Process the broth in a blender, place back in the pot and simmer for another 2 mins.

Serve with a drop of cream and homemade herb & garlic croutons! A perfect winter warmer!

Wishing you all a blessed New Year and may the dreams that you dream, be the future that you find.

Feliz Año Nuevo para mi familia en Galicia! Bicos!😘💕

Tofu & Peanut Sauce (Tahu Goreng)

Tags

asian, food, homemade, peanut sauce, tofu, vegan, vegetarian

I absolutely love tofu and each time I go back to Singapore, my grandma would make me either this delicious dish or Sambal Goreng which consists of tofu, tempeh, green beans combined with a beautiful chilli paste. I’ve not attempted to make Sambal Goreng…yet. Partly because I can’t find some of the ingredients here.

So, last weekend, I decided to make this dish of Tofu, Kangkung (water/river spinach) & Beansprouts, topped with a homemade slightly spicy peanut sauce. This is my grandma’s recipe and I love it!

Ingredients
• Tofu (I bought the ready fried tofu to save time)
• Kangkung (water/river spinach)
• Beansprouts
• Groundnuts (with skin)
• Dark soy sauce
• Thick sweet soy sauce or brown sugar
• 1 red chilli (whole)
• 4 cloves of garlic (whole)
• 3 whole shallots or 1 small red onion, quartered

Method
1. In a hot skillet, add some sunflower oil and fry the whole garlic cloves, the shallots & the whole chilli. Once they are slightly soft, remove from the skillet onto some kitchen towel and set aside.
2. With the same now flavoured oil, fry the groundnuts till the skin turns brown. Drain on kitchen towel and repeat the process with the rest of the nuts. I used about 5 handfuls of groundnuts.
3. Place the garlic, shallots & the chilli in a blender, add some water & blitz till it becomes a puree. To that, add the peanuts, both soy sauces and continue to pulse the mixture. You want to keep the crunchy texture of the peanuts. (At this point, taste your peanut sauce until you think it’s perfect. A little sweet, yet a little spicy. If it’s too thick, just add more water and adjust the taste.)
4. If you have bought the ready fried tofu, heat them up in the oven for a few mins. I heated mine till they had that slight crunch.
5. All that aside, boil a pot of water and place the Kangkung in for about 5 to 6 mins or until they soften. They can be chewy if not cooked properly. Drain them, set aside & just blanch the beansprouts slightly.

You are now ready to plate and serve your Tahu Goreng!

Tahu Goreng is usually served as a side dish but I personally love it on its own! Super yummy, lots of flavours & textures and best of all, with grandma’s recipe, you can never go wrong…Simply delicious!

Have a fabThursday to all!💛