Some interesting Asian Food Recipes (Part 2)

I have been to Thailand and had a change to try an interesting dessert dish called Sticky rice with mango. This dish is extremely easy to make and the ingredients are very to find in the market. Besides that, I would like to introduce a dish from Singapore which is Singapore noodle style. 

1. Thai Mango Sticky Rice

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups glutinous (sweet) rice
• 1 1/3 cups well-stirred canned unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted lightly
• 1 large mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into thin slices (at least 24)

PREPARATION

In a bowl wash rice well in several changes of cold water until water is clear. Soak rice in cold water to cover overnight.

Drain rice well in a sieve. Set sieve over a large deep saucepan of simmering water (sieve should not touch water) and steam rice, covered with a kitchen towel and a lid, 30 to 40 minutes, or until tender (check water level in pan occasionally, adding more water if necessary).

While rice is cooking, in a small saucepan bring 1 cup coconut milk to a boil with 1/3 cup sugar and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved, and remove from heat. Keep mixture warm.

Transfer cooked rice to a bowl and stir in coconut-milk mixture. Let rice stand, covered, 30 minutes, or until coconut-milk mixture is absorbed. Rice may be prepared up to this point 2 hours ahead and kept covered at room temperature.

While rice is standing, in cleaned small pan slowly boil remaining 1/3 cup coconut milk with remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, stirring occasionally, 1 minute. Transfer sauce to a small bowl and chill until cool and thickened slightly.

To serve, mold 1/4 cup servings of sticky rice on dessert plates. Drizzle desserts with sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Divide mango slices among plates.

2. Singapore Style Noodle

INGREDIENTS

• 8 ounces dried rice vermicelli, soaked in water until pliable
• 24 small tiger shrimp, heads removed, peeled and deveined
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, cut into thin wedges
• 1/2 cup fresh shelled green peas, or frozen peas, thawed
• 2 teaspoons Indian curry powder
• 6 ounces Cantonese roast pork or thick slice of ham, diced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 sprigs cilantro, trimmed

PREPARATION

Bring a pot of water to a boil over high heat and cook the noodles until tender yet firm, about 10 seconds. Use a strainer and tongs to pick up the noodles and transfer them to a bowl. In the same water cook the shrimp until opaque, about 1 minute, and drain.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat. Stir-fry the onion until golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, the noodles, and peas, and sprinkle the curry powder over the top. Toss well, making sure all of the noodles become yellow. Add the pork, shrimp, and fish sauce, and continue to stir-fry until the noodles are heated through, about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary, and serve garnished with cilantro.