Valentine’s Day Food - Sushi Hearts

The day of love is here! Everyone is undoubtedly planning to surprise their spouse with a token of love and admiration. Hope you enjoyed my Valentine’s day ideas for food. My Aunt Poly recently had an awesome trip to Japan. She had to attend her relative’s wedding. The couple planned to go for a week to utilize their visit to the fullest. I think it's a great idea. Yesterday, they came in for tea and were talking about the yummy Japanese food other than anything else. She loved sushi. It suddenly struck my mind to prepare the same for my loved one, this Valentine's Day. Sushi stands among the most popular Japanese food. Sushi is basically a cold roll of fish and rice. The ingredients and preparation methods varies from place to place. 

Day by day, the popularity of this Japanese food is increasing. This results using the recipe in numerous delectable. Some unique Japanese ingredients have been used in the recipe which are readily available in the stores nearby. Nori seaweed sheet is an edible red seaweed that is popular in East Asia. I have used wasabi paste here. Mix equal amounts of wasabi powder and water to make wasabi paste. Wasabi is a Japanese plant with thick green root tasting like horseradish. Wasabi powder is easily available in the market. I have also used sushi ginger AKA gari. This is nothing but thinly sliced young ginger marinated in a solution of sugar and vinegar. So surprise your love with something unique!

Ingredients:-

200 grams cooked Rice,

4 Nori Seaweed Sheets,

4 tablespoons Sushi Rice Vinegar,

For Seasoning:-

1 tablespoon Soy Sauce,

1 teaspoon Wasabi Paste,

20 grams Sushi Ginger (Optional).

For Filling:-

2 thinly sliced Avocados,

200 grams Fish Roe Egg,

200 grams Raw Tuna or Salmon,

50 grams Sesame Seeds (optional).

Preparation Method:-

1. Before you make sushi, prepare the sushi rice that will be used. Just mix cooked rice with 4 tablespoons of sushi rice vinegar.
2. Slice avocado and fish into long, thin strips. Try keeping the thickness of both ingredients upto 2 cm.
3. Take a sheet of nori seaweed and cut it in half before spreading cooked rice on it. Flip it over, such that rice is facing down. Place avocado slices and fish on the nori seaweed such that it’s covered.
4. Take a sushi rolling mat. Compress rolls, so that they are tight and solid. Now push the side of the sushi roll furthest away from you down with the mat so that it starts spreading out.
5. Our goal is to create a teardrop shape with the sushi roll. This will form one half of the heart piece.
6. Then carefully peel away the plastic. Press two teardrop pieces together to create one whole heart piece. Serve the finished sushi to your love.
   

Enjoy the yummzz!

Uber Cup Celebration with Chinese Food

The Chinese women has achieved what their men failed to. Yes, Li Xuerui is very happy with 'Best' Uber Cup Performance. I really enjoyed watching the game. Hope you have not missed it either. The celebration in China was doubled with the favorite traditional Chinese food. Hope you enjoyed my blog Lantern Festival with with sweet and sour dumplings. Today we bring you with top Chinese recipes obviously after the number one dumplings. 

Rice noodle rolls :- If you love rice noodles, you are bound to love this very recipe. These are large sheets of rice noodle that are steamed. They are filled with bits of fried shrimp, beef or pork. They are rolled up and served with sweet soy sauce. Sesame seeds add to the flavor of the delightful treat. 

Deep-fried bacon-wrapped shrimp:- As the name indicates, shrimps are stuffed with pickled jalapenos, wrapped in bacon (whether it's of beef, chicken or pork) and then deep fried. It makes a great appetizers to be served on parties and occasions. It is chiefly accompanied by Chinese sauces.

Chinese broccoli:- Wanna have low-fat and low-carb food? Chinese broccoli is the answer to this. This vegetable is loaded with nutritional benefits. It absorbs Asian flavors and the fresh garlic and oyster sauce, satisfies the taste buds to the fullest. Enjoy the green crunchy broccoli treat. It is among the best stir-fry food!! 

Taro cake:- Taro cake is also known as yam cake and is one of most popular snacks in Hong Kong. These are dense and rectangular slabs of taro and rice flour that are pan fried. They are studded with bits of pork. The recipe is crispy outside and soft and mushy within. The cake is slightly sweeter than flavor of taro.

Fried sticky rice:- Fried rice is my all time favorite and I am sure it's your favorite too. Fried sticky rice is a bit different. It is traditionally steamed in lotus leaves and contains that mild soothing aroma. Then this rice is fried, making it easy to chew. It is studded with sweet and fatty bits of mushrooms, peanuts and Chinese sausage. Yummzz!!

 Enjoy the Chinese treat!!

 

Dry Fruit Fried Rice or Kashmiri Pulao

Here comes the yum yum rice, Kashmiri Pulao!!! Perfect recipe for zapping a bad mood. With richness of cashews, almonds and walnuts, the Kashmir origin dish has a unique flavor of its own. The mild and sweet flavor comes from aromatic spices making the recipe simply irresistible. 

 

The aristocrat rich saffron is a perfect booster for the tingling taste buds. Dry fruits give warmth and are perfect for cold climate of Kashmir, India. Pulao is cooked with dry fruits and can be garnished with fresh fruits such as pineapple, cherries and pomegranate. So say cheers to winter with the hot and mildly sweet Kashmiri pulao.

Ingredients:-

For the Rice:-

2 Cups good quality rice, soaked for 30 mins,

1 Inch cinnamon,

1 Tsp caraway seeds,

1 Bayleaf,

3 Cloves,

3 Green cardamoms,

2 Black cardamoms,

½ Teaspoon dry ginger powder,

1 Teaspoon fennel powder,

2 Pinches of saffron,

2 Tablespoon clarified butter,

41/4 Cups water,

Salt as required

For garnishing:-

1 Medium sized sliced onion,

12 Cashews,

12 Almonds,

12 Walnuts,

2 Tablespoon oil

Preparation Method:-

1. Heat clarified butter in a deep pan. On a low or medium flame, add all the whole spices. Fry till the oil becomes fragrant.

2. Now lower the flame, add the ginger and fennel powder and stir. Add the soaked and drained rice and stir gently.

3. Add crushed saffron and saute for a minute. Pour water and salt. Stir and cover the pan tightly. When the rice is cooking, prepare the garnish.

4. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a frying pan. Add the sliced onions. Also add a pinch of salt and fry the onions till they are golden or caramelized and crisp.

5. Remove and drain on paper tissues. In the same oil, first fry the almonds till they become crisp.

6. Now fry the cashews and walnuts till they are crisp and lightly browned and cook the rice till all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.

7. When done, fluff the rice. Chopped stir fried seasonal fruits can be added.

8. Serve dried fruit fried rice or kashmiri pulao hot. Garnish with the fried onions and dry fruits. 

 

Enjoy the aromatic rice!!!