1.5 tbsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (not dark soy)
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sugar
White pepper , one dash
3/4 cup (185ml) chicken stock / broth , low sodium
3 tbsps cornflour / corn starch
Crispy Noodles
200 g / 8 oz fresh chow mein noodles (Note 2)
4 tbsp water , separated
2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable or canola)
Stir Fry
150 g / 5 oz chicken , thinly sliced
1 tbsp peanut oil , if needed (or vegetable or canola)
2 garlic cloves , finely chopped
1/2 onion , sliced
1 carrot * , small, halved lengthwise then sliced on diagonal
1 bok choy * , stems and leaves separated with stems cut vertically into sticks
2 shallots/scallions * , cut into 5cm/2″ pieces
2 cups cabbage * , cut into 2.4cm / 1″ squares
1/2 cup (125ml) water
Instructions
Sauce & Chicken Marinade
Mix the Sauce ingredients EXCEPT cornflour and chicken broth/stock.
Remove 1 tbsp Sauce and mix through chicke. Leave to marinate 10 minutes+.
Mix cornflour into Sauce until lump free.
Crispy Noodles
Turn oven onto low (to keep noodles warm while you cook the topping).
Divide noodles into 2 then shape into 20cm/8″ rounds. Keep them tangled – this holds them together while cooking.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in skillet over medium high heat. Place 1 noodle cake into pan then drizzle over 2 tbsp water.
Wait until the water evaporates (steam cooks the noodles), then pat down lightly and let the noodles cook for a further 1 to 2 minute until the bottom of the noodles are golden brown (lift up with a spatula to check).
Slide noodles onto a plate, then flip upside down back into the pan. Cook for a further 1 1/2 – 2 minutes until golden brown, then transfer to tray and place in oven to keep warm.
Repeat with remaining noodle cake.
Saucy Stir Fry Topping
Add an extra 1 tbsp oil if needed, increase heat to HIGH. Add garlic and onion, cook for 30 seconds.
Add chicken and cook until it changes from pink to white (still raw inside)
Add the carrot and bok choy stems, cook 30 seconds.
Add cabbage and leaf of buk choy, cook for 1 minute until they start to wilt.
Add chicken broth, water, then Sauce and stir. Let it simmer for 1 – 2 minutes until the Sauce thickens to a syrup consistency (see video).
1/2 tbsp chilli garlic sauce or sriracha (optional)
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/4 cup water
White pepper
Instructions
Prepare noodles according to packet instructions (usually soaking it in boiling water).
Combine tofu with marinade and set aside for 5 minutes.
Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl.
Heat oil in wok over high heat, add garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds.
Add tofu and stir fry until starting to caramelise – about 1 minute. Stir fry gently so the tofu doesn’t break.
Add the cabbage and carrot and stir fry until the cabbage starts to wilt.
Add the noodles, scallions/shallots, bean sprouts and sauce and stir fry until the noodles are warmed through and sauce evenly coats the noodles – about 1 minute. Don’t cook it too much – the bean sprouts should still be quite crisp, not wilted.
Serve immediately.
Directions using homemade Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce
If you have a jar of homemade Real Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce, you do not need to make the marinade or sauce for this recipe.
Substitute the tofu marinade with 1 tbsp Stir Fry Sauce
Substitute the Sauce ingredients with 1/4 cup Stir Fry Sauce and 1/4 cup water.
200g /6 oz chicken breast or thigh fillets , thinly sliced (Note 1 tenderise option)
4 cups green cabbage , finely shredded (Note 3)
1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil (or other cooking oil)
2 cloves garlic , finely chopped
200g /6 oz chow mein noodles (Note 2)
1 carrot , julienned
1 1/2 cups bean sprouts
3 green onions , cut into 5cm/2″ pieces
1/4 cup (65 ml) water
Chow Mein Sauce:
2 tsp cornflour / cornstarch
1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce , all purpose or light (Note 4)
1 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce (sub Hoisin)
1 1/2 tbsp Chinese cooking wine OR Mirin (Note 5)
2 tsp sugar (reduce to 1 tsp if using Mirin)
1/2 tsp sesame oil
White pepper (sub black)
Instructions
Sauce:
Mix together cornflour and soy sauce, then mix in remaining ingredients.
Alternative: Use 1/3 cup Chinese All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce, if you have some in stock.
Chicken & Noodles
Marinate Chicken: Pour 1 tbsp of Sauce over the chicken, mix to coat, set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.
Noodles: Prepare the noodles according to the packet instructions (my pack says soak in boiled water for 1 minute), then drain.
Cooking:
Heat oil in wok or large fry pan over high heat.
Add garlic and stir fry for 10 seconds or until it starts to turn golden – don’t let it burn!
Add chicken and stir fry until the surface gets a tinge of browning but inside is still raw – about 1 minute.
Add the cabbage, carrot, and the white pieces of shallots (i.e. from the base of the stalk). Stir fry for 1 1/2 minutes until the cabbage is mostly wilted.
Add the noodles, Sauce and water*. Stir fry for 1 minute, tossing constantly.
Add bean sprouts and remaining shallots/scallions. Toss through for 30 seconds or until the bean sprouts just start to wilt.
Lemon garlic paste – Mix the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Slather onto the top and sides of the salmon. If time permits, marinade for 1 hour. Otherwise, proceed with recipe.
Preheat oven grill / broiler to 280°C/525°F or as high as yours goes. Place the oven shelf 20 cm /8″ from the heat source.
Prepare tray – Toss the asparagus and cherry tomatoes with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out on a large tray then clear space for the salmon. Place salmon on the tray leaving a bit of space between each. Spray surface of salmon with oil.
Cook – Grill/broil for 11 minutes or until the salmon is done – the flesh should flake, the internal temperature should be 50°C/122°F (Note 5).
Serve – Transfer salmon and vegetables to plate. Grate parmesan over the vegetables. Squeeze lemon juice over the salmon, sprinkle with parsley. Eat!
600g / 1.2lb white fish fillets , patted dry (Note 1)
Oil spray (olive oil or any plain)
Crumb
1 1/2 cups (75g) panko breadcrumbs (Note 2)
1/4 cup (25g) parmesan
2 tsp paprika , optional
1/2 tsp salt and pepper , each
Batter
1 egg
1 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt and pepper , each
Instructions
Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.
Crumbing:
Toast breadcrumbs: Spread breadcrumbs on tray. Spray with oil, bake 4 minutes until golden. Transfer toasted breadcrumbs into bowl, add remaining Crumb ingredients and mix.
Increase oven to 220°C / 425°F (fan 200°C). Spray used tray with oil.
Batter: Mix Batter ingredients in a separate bowl.
Cut the fish into strips 1.5 x 11 cm / 3/5 x 4.5″ (they shink 30% in length).
Place fish in Batter, gently mix with rubber spatula to coat. Do not leave sitting around (will become watery), coat immediately.
Breading: Pick up fish with tongs, place in breadcrumbs. Spoon over crumb, use fingers to press to adhere.
Baking: Transfer to baking tray. Spray with oil, bake 13 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
Serve immediately with lemon wedges, Tartare Sauce or other Sauce of choice – see here for recipes, any of these great for fish fingers! Also Note 3 for few quick sauce options.
1 lb / 500g white fish fillets , skinless and pin boned, cut into chunks (Note 1)
3 tbsp red curry paste (Note 2)
1 tbsp cilantro/coriander leaves , chopped
1 tbsp fish sauce (sub soy sauce)
1 tbsp lime juice
1 egg
1/4 cup (40g) rice flour (or cornstarch / corn flour)
6 green beans , finely sliced (optional, Note 3)
4 – 6 tbsp oil (vegetable, canola, sun flower)
Instructions
Place fish, red curry paste, cilantro/coriander, fish sauce, lime and egg in a food processor. Whizz until the fish is minced and it looks like a paste. (See video)
Transfer to a bowl and stir through rice flour and green beans until flour is all incorporated. (Note 4)
Measure 1/4 cup of mixture (I use an ice cream scoop – Note 5), form 1cm / 2/5″ thick patties.
Heat enough oil in skillet over medium high heat to cover the base (4 tbsp or so)
Place in oil, cook 2 minutes until deep golden brown, then turn and cook the other side for 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towel lined plate.
Repeat with remaining mixture, adding more oil into the skillet if required.
Serve with Sweet Chilli Sauce, garnished with cilantro/coriander leaves and lime wedges on the side. Add a side of Thai Fried Rice or even just plain jasmine rice to make a meal!
Dry skin: Pat skin dry with paper towels. For extra precaution, leave the fish fillets in the fridge skin side up, uncovered, for an hour. (I rarely do this)
Scoring skin (Note 5): For Thick Fillets, score the skin by cutting slashes into the skin as pictured in post. 4cm slashes 1cm apart, 2 – 3mm deep, through the skin and ever so slightly into the flesh (1.6″ long, 0.4″ apart, 0.1″ deep)
Season fish: Sprinkle the flesh and skin with the salt and pepper just before cooking.
Heat oil well: Heat oil in a non stick pan over medium high heat until you see the first small wisps of smoke.
Press fish down: Place one fillet into the pan skin side down, then use your fingers or spatula to press down lightly for 10 seconds to allow the skin to seal flat against the hot surface. Repeat with the other fillet (PROS: Do both at the same time!).
Cook skin 2 – 3 minutes: Cook the skin side for 2 to 3 minutes until it’s crispy in the centre and golden. Lift up to check.
Transfer Thick Fillets to oven: Transfer to oven for 10 minutes (do not flip, keep skin side still down – goes crispier!) or until the internal temperature is 55°C/131°F. (Note 6)
Thin fillets: Turn and cook the flesh side in the pan.
Rest 3 minutes: Transfer fish to a rack with the skin side UP. Rest for 3 minutes.
Serving: To serve, place on a plate skin side UP. Do not pour sauce on the skin until just before serving else it will soften the fish skin. See ingredients above for suggested sauces and sides!
330g / 11 oz thin white fish fillets (~1cm / 0.4″ thick) , skinless, cut into 6cm / 2.5″ (or so) squares pieces (Note 1)
1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
1/4 cup rice flour or ordinary flour (Note 2)
2 tbsp canola oil
Sauce:
2 tsp sesame oil
2 garlic cloves , finely minced with a knife (Note 3)
2 tsp ginger , finely minced with a knife (Note 3)
1 tsp chilli flakes / red pepper flakes (Note 4)
2 tbsp sriracha (Note 4)
2 tsp light soy sauce or fish sauce (Note 5)
3 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp lime juice
Garnishes (optional):
2 tbsp coriander/cilantro leaves
1 tbsp large red chilli , finely sliced
Lime wedges
Instructions
Fish:
Dust fish – Sprinkle with salt, dust with rice flour, shake off excess.
Cook fish – In a non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook the fish until golden on each side then remove to a plate.
Fish cooking times – Thin fillets 1 cm / 2/5″ thick: 1 1/2 minutes each side; thicker fillets 1.5 – 1.75cm / 0.6 – 0.75″ thick 2 minutes each side) or until the internal temperature is 55°C / 130°F. Remove fish to a plate and set aside.
Sauce:
Sauté aromatics – In the same pan, add sesame oil on medium heat. Cook garlic, chilli and ginger until golden – about 20 seconds.
Sauce – Add everything else except lime juice. Stir, simmer, then reduce until syrupy – about 2 minutes. Add lime juice and stir. (If sauce gets too thick, add water)
Coat fish – Return fish into sauce, turning to coat in the sauce.
Serve over rice, with garnishes of choice! Pictured with steamed baby pak choy tossed with Asian Sesame Dressing.