Deep Fried Wontons
Back then when I was younger, my grandmother used to make 2 plateful of wontons each time we drove miles to see her. She was always making money pockets, which I remember so vividly as I grew into teenage years, I started to make wontons in those familiar shapes as well! To make deep frying job easier, I simply fold the opposing corners of wonton skin together (to form triangle). You'll get a more consistent frying and crunchier skins with that shape.
Once in a blue moon, we had visitors over. So we served money pockets instead. Generally, wonton is a versatile dish which can go well with both rice and noodle. That's why wonton is afterall one of the most popular home cooking dishes ever!
Ingredients:
1 packet of wonton skins
500g pork mince
1 egg, yolk and white to be separated
To marinate pork mince:
1 small brown onion, finely chopped
1 small carrot, shredded/chopped
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
0.5 teaspoon sesame oil
White pepper
1 Egg yolk to bind all ingredients together
Methods:
1. Marinate pork mince over 30 minutes at least.
2. Place 1 teaspoonful pork mince over wonton skin and fold it into half for triangle shape or press the edge together to form a pouch shape (money pocket).
3. Seal the edges with the remaining egg white.
4. Prepare a wok of hot oil, deep enough to cover the surface of a wonton.
5. When oil is ready, deep fry wontons until golden brown before removing from the heat.
Do enjoy cooking!
Roasted eggplant and prosciutto roll
We came to realise one day how boring our cooking was, judging from the fact that the local supermarkets have only a limited variety of vegetables and meats to offer. So a few months ago, Alex came out with this brilliant idea, transforming a dull looking eggplant into an miracleously delicious starter. The roasted eggplant and prosciuto roll!
Eggplant on its own is tasteless. Not when it combined with slightly salty prosciutto. The taste is fabulous! Another great dish as a starter.
Ingredients:
5 Proscuito slices (you can get packaged prosciutto from the frozen section or fresh from the deli)
1 Eggplant, thinly sliced
1 Fresh chopped chilli
1 tablespoon crushed peanuts
Several mint leaves, finely chopped
To prepare the roasted eggplant:
1. Preheat the oven at 180 degree.
2. Slice eggplant thinly to approximately 0.5cm thickness.
3. Dry eggplant slices on paper towel and season lightly with salt and pepper.
4. Put into the oven and grill for 10 minutes.
To make the roll:
1. Place a slice of proscuitto on a flat surface, followed by a slice of roasted eggplant at the top.
2. Sprinkle chopped mint leaves, fresh chopped chilli, crushed peanuts over prosciutto and roasted eggplant slices.
3. Roll up prosciutto and roasted slice gently from the middle.
It is not hard to make at all... is it???
Do enjoy cooking!
Bruschetta
Minerva was the first olive oil in Greece that came in standardised packaging. It has a discrete, delicate taste, fine scent and shiny, clear colour. Minerva Classic Olive Oil is the genuine taste originating from selected Greek olive groves and for generations upon generations people in Greece consider it to be a synonym for delicious family meals. It is a brilliant brand I must say. Lupi? Not quite as good.
To make bruschetta, basil and/or oregano are important for flavours. We used dried oregano for this time. A fresh bunch will definitely produce a more sophisticated flavour.
Ingredients:
1 long bread roll
1 truss tomato, diced
2 slices of honey leg ham
2 slices of red cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 fresh garlic cloves, minced and mixed into olive oil
Black pepper and dried oregano to season
Methods:
1. Slice bread roll cross-sectionally into 1.5cm thickness.
2. Spread a layer of extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic onto bread slices.
3. Top each bread slice with a small slice of red cheddar cheese, followed by a small slice of honey leg ham.
4. Top the layers with 1 teaspoonful of chopped truss tomato.
5. Season with cracked black pepper and dried oregano before toss in oven for 15 minutes at 180 degree.
Bruschetta offers a simple yet appetising course as a starter. It is easy to make, tasty to eat! We love making this every now and then, and even more often now!
Do enjoy cooking!