Thursday 27 August 2015

Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice) and Sambal Recipe

Nasi Lemak recipe by Shea Sonia
Bashed lemongrass 

.::Nasi lemak::.

Ingredients

- 2 cups rice
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 lemongrass (white part), bashed
- 2 fried shallot
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 tbsp margarine (skip if you want pure white rice)
- 2 pandan leaves


.::Sambal::.

Ingredients

- 5 shallots
- 3 cloves garlic
- 10 dried chili
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 tsp tamarind paste
- 2 tbsp palm sugar
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 5 tbsp cooking oil
- a handful of anchovies*
- chili sauce/ chili paste*

Steps

1) Peel, clean, chop & blend (use blender, skip the mortar and pestle) shallots, garlic, dried chili & ginger. Add anchovies.

2) Heat oil, sauté ingredients in step 1 until fragrant. Add in tamarind paste, palm sugar, sugar & salt.

3) Add a little water if too dry, cook until you see some bubbles popping.


Sambal nasi lemak


Cooking this favourite dish of many Malaysians requires some strategising so you don't waste time. You'll want the sambal and condiments to be ready when the rice is cooked so you can have it piping hot!

So... once you have all the ingredients ready- measured and washed, etc. you can start by frying the shallot for rice. Just switch on the electric rice cooker, pour in some oil and add chopped shallot. Let it fry a bit then simply put in washed rice and the rest of the ingredients, close the lid and let cook.

Nasi lemak

Next, boil eggs (if you like your rice with hard-boiled egg) or start frying the peanuts, anchovies and lastly the telur dadar. 

Finally, prepare the sambal and tadaaahh~

Nasi Lemak by Shea Sonia
Serve hot! Okay, maybe let it warm a bit.

I hope you'll enjoy this easy peasy basic nasi lemak recipe!

People who eat pokok, I mean, vegetable, go ahead and cut those cucumbers and add a slice of two to your nasi. My no-veggie gang can start eating already ;) 








Thursday 20 August 2015

Nasi 7 Benua, Koo Boo Kafe

Nasi 7 Benua

Nasi 7 Benua @ Koo Boo Kafe

Phone #: (+6017) 439 7617

Operating hours
1130 - 2300 on Monday - Saturday
Closed on Sunday

Koo Boo Kafe

Penang is food heaven. We know that. 
So it is unsurprising to find interesting food innovation like the Nasi 7 Benua (continents) in Penang. The home of this delicious dish is a humble cafe named KooBoo Kafe.

The cafe is situated right next to the Sg. Ara Mini Stadium. You can get the direction from Waze by typing 'Nasi 7 Benua @ Koo Boo Kafe'. Parking spot availability is limited. 

So what's up with the 7 continents rice? Just some colourful gimmick?

Nope. 

Come over, queue and you'll get a plate with 7 types of rice. The plain rice, nasi lemak (coconut rice), tomato rice, lemuni rice, nasi minyak (savoury rice), dhal rice and nasi hujan panas (colourful savoury rice). Then, you get to choose your preferred lauk (dishes). 

Go ahead and personalised it your way!

Koo Boo Kafe

Nasi 7 Benua, Koo Boo Kafe

I asked my date to choose the lauk for me, thus the heavy-gravy plate. Personally, I'd go for some fried chicken, prawns and maybe a little *really little* gravy.

While I was sitting like a princess waiting to be served waiting at the table, a server delivered complimentary glasses of air sirap (rose drink) and teh o ais (iced tea no milk).

Koo Boo Kafe
FREE - teh o ice, syrup or hot tea (can refill)

Taste - Good! <3<3<3
Price - Fair. Total price depends on the lauk that you take. Ours was RM6-7 per plate.
Ambiance - Family friendly, roof with good ventilation.

KooBoo Kafe
Plenty of tables available but try to avoid lunch peak hour.

KooBoo Kafe
See. Right next to the mini stadium.

The place seemed quite popular with the locals so I guess tourists in Penang can't go wrong choosing Nasi 7 Benua for lunch or dinner. Try it!








Thursday 13 August 2015

Nutty Chocolate Fudge Brownies


Nutty Chocolate Fudge Brownies by Shea Sonia

Hellooo~

If you love chocolate, you probably love brownies too. I have one surprise brownies recipe that I love but it isn't fudgy enough. It gotta be chilled then only it will have that brownies bite. Left at room temp, it tasted more cake than brownie. Recently, I tasted some melt-in-your-mouth brownies and decided to bake one myself. 

And if you know me even just a little, you'll know that I am lazy love easy and delicious recipes. 


Ingredients

2 sticks butter
2 Hershey's semi-sweet chocolate baking bar (226g)
5 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 cup roasted nuts (I used almond & hazelnut)


Steps

1) Melt butter and chopped chocolate bar in a pan or microwave. I suggest using the pan.

2) Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla and flour using electric mixer. Stir in ingredients in step 1 and roasted nuts.

3) Pour mixture into greased and lined brownies pan. Bake at 190ºC for 35 minutes.


That's all, folks!

***

Oh what? The glazing?
Okay I just realised that I haven't share my basic recipes here. Maybe I'll post my go-to basic ganache recipe on a slow day. 

But here's the recipe for a pretty sweet glazing for those without whipping cream in hand.


Ingredients
1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
1 stick butter
6 tbsp condensed milk*
1 tsp vanilla

Optional - 1/2 cup chopped almond

*substitute with evaporated milk/whipping cream and add sugar to control sweetness.


Steps

1) Heat butter, condensed milk and vanilla in a pan. Stop just before it boils.

2) Pour over chocolate chips and stir until smooth.

3) Spread on cool brownie. Sprinkle chopped almond for extra crunch.


Nutty Chocolate Fudge Brownies by Shea Sonia
Had some shaved chocolate left so I sprinkle dumped them on :D

All decorated like a proper brownies...

Nutty Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Nutty Chocolate Fudge Brownies



Thursday 6 August 2015

Dancing Fish, Bangsar Shopping Centre

Dancing Fish

T120 - 122, 3rd Floor,
Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Operating Hours
1130 - 2300 daily

Phone #: (603) 2095 6663


This Malay-Indo cuisine restaurant is popular among KLites for their crispy dancing fish. Conveniently located in the Bangsar Shopping Centre, the restaurant can be quite busy especially during lunch hour and dinner. Making a reservation is always a good idea.

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar

Dancing Fish, Bangsar
Fried calamari <3<3

Dancing Fish, Bangsar
Gulai Pucuk Paku <3<3<3<3

Dancing Fish, Bangsar
Emping Malinjo <3<3<3<3

Dancing Fish, Bangsar
Dendeng Berlado (mildly spicy beef strip) <3<3<3

Dancing Fish, Bangsar
Dancing Fish <3<3<3

Taste - Nothing extra-ordinary except that they use nice, fragrant rice. Dancing fish was crispy but nothing special. My favourite was probably the dendeng berlado. My friends love the gulai pucuk paku (I don't eat veggie so the 4 hearts was given by my friends)

Price - RM375+ for 7 pax

Ambiance - Modern classic decor. Good for smart-casual date and friends gathering.