The 514 from Simply Asia Recipe

The 514 is a noodle dish from a Thai restaurant Simply Asia. The dish is called Ba-Mee Prik Phao which is roasted chilli paste and cashew nut noodle.

For One Serving:
1 packet of 2 minute noodle soaked in boiling water (but dont let it soak for too long it must still be a little bit firm). I use the Alhami brand.
1 small chicken fillet thinly sliced
About a quarter of an onion and green/red pepper (or a little bit of both if you like) sliced
Sliced springonion
A few roasted cashews
1 heaped dessert spoon of roasted chilli paste.
I couldn't find roasted chilli paste where I live so I made my own. Here's the link http://www.food.com/recipe/thai-roasted-chili-paste-nahm-prik-pao-469694
I substituted the shallots for red onion, the whole dried chillies for a tablespoon of crushed dried chillies and the tamarind juice for one tablespoon tamarind paste only because i couldn't find these ingredients here.
1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon red chilli paste or crushed dried chllies
1 tablespoon Suree pad thai sauce
1 tablespoon light soy sauce

Method:
1. Heat a wok with some vegetable oil. Add your garlic and red chilli paste or crushed dried chillies and fry for a couple of seconds.
2. Add your chicken and stir fry till cooked through.
3. Add your sliced onion and greenpepper and stir fry for about a minute.
4. Add your roasted chilli paste, pad thai sauce and soy sauce. Make sure your roasted chili paste is stirred through your chicken and veg properly without any lumps since its a thick paste.
5. Stir through your noodles then lastly add your springonion and cashews.
6. Serve and enjoy! :)

The 508 from Simply Asia Recipe

The 508 is a noodle dish from a Thai Restaurant called Simply Asia called Pasta Khi-Mao ( linguine with basil). This is one of my favourite noodle dishes.

For One Serving:
100g linguine (if i dont have liguine I use the thin spaghetti)
1 small chicken fillet sliced thinly
Sliced onion, but not too thin, about 1cm thick. I use about a quarter of an onion.
Sliced green pepper, i also use about a quarter of a big green pepper
Green beans sliced length ways
A few bamboo shoots from the tin (optional)
5 basil leave finely chopped
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed dry chilies or red chili paste ( i use Aminas Red Chili Paste)
1 tablespoon Suree Pad Thai sauce
2 tablespoons light soy sauce

Method:
1. Cook your pasta till al dente, it mustn't be too soft. Keep a bit of the pasta water.
2. Heat your wok and add some vegetable oil. Add your crushed garlic and stir fry for a few seconds then add your crushed dry chilis or red chili paste. Stir to mix then add your chicken. Don't let the garlic burn!
3. When your chicken is cooked through add your onions and stir fry the onions till it becomes a bit soft and see through.
4. Add the green pepper, the green beans and the bamboo shoots. Stir fry the veg for about a minute. If it becomes a bit dry add a very little of the pasta water to create a little sauce.
5. Add your pad thai sauce and soy sauce then add your pasta. Stir through the pasta then finally add your chopped basil, stir through, then serve. Enjoy! :)

Marinade - For oven or braai (bbq)

I am never satisfied with the ready-made braai (BBQ) marinades that I buy in the shops. However I do buy certain ones...then "doctor" it :)

For The Marinade:

4 tbs tomato sauce (I use All Gold or Heinz)

4 tbs Woolworths Original Braai Marinade

2 tbs honey

2 tbs mayonnaise

2 tbs Nandos Medium Peri-Peri Sauce

1 tbs dry thyme

1 tbs dry origanum

2 cloves garlic roughly chopped

Mix all ingredients together and add to your chicken or meat.

Enjoy!

Sticky Chicken Wings

2kg wings cleaned and seasoned

For the Marinade:

2 tablespoons tomato sauce

2 tablespoons mustard sauce

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 tablespoon paprika

Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl.

Add the wings to the marinade and allow to marinade for at least a half an hour but you can do it the day before and let the wings marinate overnight.

Place in a baking tray and place in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees.

Wings cook very quick in the oven so keep a close eye on them.

Or you can fry it in a large saucepan.

Butter Chicken

This recipe I got from a friend and I must say that after a long trial of experimenting with various butter chicken recipes and after almost giving up I finally found one that I really enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 kg chicken fillets

100g butter

1 onion

Garlic (as much as you prefer)

Small can of tomato paste (about 2 Tbs)

sugar (to taste)

3 heaped tsp chicken spice (any kind)

2 tps jeera (cumin)

2 dessert spoons of Amina's Wonder Chicken Tikka Paste

250ml freash cream

Coriander (dhanya)

Method:

1. Melt the butter and braise the onions in it until nice and brown.

2. In the mean time cut the fillets into cubes.

3. You can either marinate the chicken with the spices and garlic, or braise the spices and garlic with the onions.

4. Add the chicken and the tikka paste to the pot and simmer for about 3-4 minutes.

5. Add the tomato paste and sugar and allow to boil.

6. Pour in the cream and give it a nice boil.

7. Add the chooped dhanya just before serving.

Chicken and Veggie Pot-Pie

This is a recipe I got from my cousin and it was an instant hit with my husband. And the best part is that after you bake it it will still taste good the next day. Just reheat in the oven :)

It takes a little bit longer. I like to cook it nice and slow so that the veggies are nice and soft but still intact.....not mushy. Or actually you can just pop some of the veggies in the microwave till soft :)

Ingredients:

4 chicken fillets cut into cubes

500g ready rolled puff pastry

2 carrots

1 large potato

8 mushrooms

1 onion

1 tsp garlic

1tsp dried crushed chillies/chopped fresh chilli....however hot you want it.

black pepper

2 Tbs soy sauce

2 tsp Louisiana Cajun spice from the Robertsons Spice Range or any other nice tasting spice

salt to taste

1 cup water

Method:

1. Place the carrots and potato in the microwave or boil till soft but not too soft.

2. Once they are soft cut the carrots into rings and the potatoes into small cubes.

3. Slice up your mushrooms.

4. Braise your onion in a medium size shallow pot till brown.

5. Add your garlic and chillies.

6. Add the chicken and cook till half done.

7. Throw in your spice, black pepper, salt and soy sauce and stir.

8. Add the water and cook on medium to low heat till all the flavours are cooked through.

Note: To make a nice thick gravy add 2 tsp of cornflour to your chicken-veggie pot.

Once your chicken-veggie pot is done place it into your ramekins ( about 4 ramekins), you can just judge, then place the pastry on top, make slits and bake in the oven on 200 degrees celcius till pastry is done.

The Easiest White Sauce Ever!

My sister taught me how to make this white sauce and I've been using this recipe ever since. I make it in the microwave.

From this white sauce I make a range of different sauces.

Ingredients:

1 Tbs butter/margarine

1 Tbs plain flour

1 cup milk

salt to taste

Good grinding of black pepper

Method:

1. Melt the butter

2. Add the flour and whisk through

3. Add the milk and whisk through

4. Place in the microwave for 2 minutes stiring every 30 seconds until nice and thick.

5. Add the salt and pepper.

Makes about between 300ml-400ml

Cheese Sauce:

Once your white sauce is done and still hot add a handful of either cheddar or gouda cheese and a 1 tsp of bbq spice (optional). This sauce is great with pastas like macaroni topped with cheese and into the oven till cheese is golden....yum yum.

Garlic and Black Pepper Sauce:

Add 1tsp of crushed garlic and a good grinding of black pepper to your white sauce. This sauce goes great with fried chicken and steamed veggies.

Mushroom Sauce:

Slice up about 6 button mushrooms. Quickly fry them with some garlic and bbq spice (optional) then add to your white sauce.

I actually use this sauce as a pizza base topping when I make chicken and mushroom pizza but then I just make the sauce a bit thicker.