Monday, July 8, 2013

Korean cooking: Ddeokbokki 떡볶이


I'm not much of a cook... more a baker. I love my sweets over my savouries. HOWEVER there is one cuisine that I absolutely lovvveee and really want to learn more about cooking ^^.. that's KOREAN =D =D

One of my favourite Korean dishes I always order at restaurants is DDEOKBOKKI - Korean spicy rice cakes! It's more of a street food in Korea but I just love the chewiness of the rice cake tubes and the flavour of it. Little did I know how easy it was! Don't think I need to order it from restaurants anymore xD

DDEOKBOKKI (떡볶이)
Recipe adapted from Maangchi and Seoul Taste
This is what you need :) The basic ingredients.
Ingredients

500g cylinder shaped rice cake (ddeok)
1 fish cake sliced
2 hard boiled eggs
1 medium onion, sliced
4 cups of water
3 tbsp hot pepper paste (gochujang)
1 tbsp hot pepper flakes (gochugaroo)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp caster sugar
1 packet instead noodles

So you are supposed to have anchovies and dried sea kelp which I didn't have... so I just skipped that part ><"

1. Place water into shallow pot or pan and bring to boil. 
2. Combine hot pepper paste, hot pepper flakes, sugar, soy sauce and honey in a small bowl.
3. Add onions and hot pepper paste mixture to water and gently stir with wooden spoon when it starts to boil. Boil over medium heat for around 5 minutes.
4. Add in rice cakes, fish cake and boiled eggs and continue to boil until rice cake turns soft and sauce thickens and looks shiny (~10-15 minutes).
5. Add noodles and cook until desired texture. Remove from heat and serve.
simmering away~~
My yummy lunch =D
The other day I received a gift from a friend! It was instant Jjajangmyun :D (짜장면) Korean Black bean noodles! I think it's my second favourite dish =p It was PALDO brand! SO GOOOOD!!!! you just boil the noodles and then add the sauce~ I also fried some onions and potatoes :) Made some Hoddeok on the side ^^ for a KOREAN LUNCH FEAST!
Hoddeok with instant Jjajangmyun! what more could u ask for? :)
mix it up all together and sllluurrrpp! just like in the drama XD

OK! last blog entry before my holiday!!! Keep baking =D!!!! 

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Work Catering #24: Pretty pannacotta~

Pannacotta - deceivingly simple!!!
BakingTray work catering is going to take a break for the next couple of weeks... because I'm going to Malaysia/Singapore! so excited to taste all the exotic food =D 

Anyways this week made some "non-bake" recipes for work. First up is a recipe I stole from DK who made these lovely pannacottas for his sister's wedding! They looked so professional but when I found out they were super easy.... I thought I'd give them a go! The recipe is for a basic pannacotta so you can really make up your own flavour by changing the topping! 

Blueberry Coconut Pannacotta
Recipe adapted from DK

Ingredients
1 cup cream
1 cup coconut milk/milk
1/4 cup caster sugar
2 tsp gelatin

Topping
1 cup blueberries
2 tbs caster sugar
1 tbs corn starch

1. Place cream, milk and sugar in saucepan over medium heat. Stir till sugar dissolved.
2. Add some boiling water to gelatin in small bowl and mix to form a gel. Add gelatin mix into cream mixture and stir till gelatin dissolved.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
4. Pour into measuring jug and pour into plastic shot glasses (~2/3 full). Refrigerate for around 1 hour or until set.
5. For topping, place blueberries, caster sugar and ~1/2 water in small pot over medium heat. Allow blueberries to soften and smash with back of spoon. 
6. Strain blueberry juice to remove pulp. Return juice back into pot and stir in corn starch till dissolved. Heat until slightly thickened. Allow to cool slightly.
7. Place tablespoon full of blueberry syrup on top of pannacotta. Place blueberry in centre. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Lil shotglass of pannacotta ^^
Trio of pannacotta
I also made Mango Jelly Slice - same recipe as Strawberry Jelly slice but with mango flavoured jelly =) The base was a little bit crumbly... should not be stingy on the butter next time =p
Bright yellow!!
crumbly base ><
Well see you all soon!! Maybe I'll get some inspiration from Malaysian/Singaporean desserts for when I come back =) HAPPY (non)-BAKING!!!