Hakka Abacus Beads

I am very happy that I successfully made the Hakka Abacus (Suan Pan Zi - 算盘子), though I am not a Hakka! I wanted to try this recipe on a vegetarian version, so I called my mum to ask the details of making it out from scratch!

My mum learnt this from her Hakka friend (their version are mainly using yam or taro) and she has made this in many occasions, which I always missed the chance to see the process. Over the phone, my mum also briefly mentioned that her friend once made this using sweet potatoes and the result was quite good.

Not being a fan of yam(due to health reason), I decided to try my sweet potatoes vegetarian version (*o*) ... here's the steps to share:

This is the type of Japanese sweet potatoes used (they are grown in Vietnam, and their inner colour is a little greenish yellow). All ingredients are based on "guesstimating"...so sorry, no exact weight! The colour of dough depends greatly on the type of sweet potatoes used; mine has a green tea colour.

Step 1

Arrange sweet potatoes (I used about 5 medium size) in a steamer and steam for 15 - 20 mins or until soft. Skinned sweet potatoes, mash them with a fork in a bowl. Add tapioca flour, a little salt, little oil and mixed well, knead to form a dough (if too dry, add some water - too wet, add a little more tapioca flour). Knead until the dough is not sticky.

Step 2

Divide the dough and roll into long shape and cut as shown above . Roll it into a small ball.

Step 3

Shape the small ball into abacus bead using thumb and finger.

Step 4

Bring a pot of water to boil with a little oil. Add in the abacus beads but allow some space in between, so that they don't stick with one another. Let it boil until abacus beads float to the surface. Transfer all cooked beads to a plate and set aside.

Step 5

Heat oil in wok, add in ginger and fry till golden brown. Add stripped mushrooms and black fungus, stir-fry briskly until aromatic. Add in some vegetarian minced meat and stir to mix well. Season with pepper, light soy sauce, mushroom essence and sesame oil. Lastly, add in all the abacus beads and stir-fry for 1-2 mins. Transfer to serving plate and garnish with coriander leaves (my mum suggested to stir-fry with lots of cut coriander leaves)...Yum..yum..chewy, chewy!

Remark: My veg. Hakka Abbacus is a dry version; if you prefer more sauce, add in some water in between of your cooking!

Note: I don't fancy mock meat. Therefore, the type of vegetarian minced meat I used, are made from mushrooms and soy beans fiber.

Dhal Curry

I decided to post some of my "NEW adventures" (meaning, new stuff cooked in my kitchen) since some of the readers, on-and-off still visit my food blog. So... here is my 1st attempt of Dhal curry cooked in my kitchen.

Husband and I love Dhal curry; whenever we eat-out at any Indian restaurants or Indian eatery, we would normally ask(or pay) for the second serving of their Dhal curry... a healthy vegetarian side-dish!

And since we love it so much... I have been searching around for the recipe! This ended when I came across a cookbook at one of the bookstore; and came home and did another round of online search. Husband was delighted to learn that I decided to explore Dhal curry cooking and he happily buy the ready made Chapatti from the supermarket ... So, this is what happen in our kitchen....(^o^)

A pot of vegetables cooking....

the colour changes, after turmeric powder added..

Serve with Chapatti, Naan or Rice

Ingredients

A handful of split peas (depending of the amount you prefer, pre-soaked overnight)

1 medium size onion, skin and sliced

1 green chilli, sliced (if you prefer a hint of spiciness, add more chilli)

1 large cauliflower, cut to smaller pieces

1 large tomato, cubed

3 medium size potatoes, cubed

1 large carrot, cubed

2 sprigs of curry leafs

salt to taste

1.5 - 2 ltr of water, depending of the amount of vegetables added

Spices

2 - 3 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp cumin seeds

3 tsp mustard seeds(I used wholegrain mustard from MasterFoods)

Method

1. Heat oil in pot, add in sliced onion and cumin seeds; stir fry till fragrant.

2. Add in the green chilli and curry leafs, stir fry together.

3. Add in tomatoes, potatoes and carrots, mix well.

4. Add in split peas, water and mustard seeds.

5. Lastly, add in cauliflowers, followed by turmeric powder.

6. Simmer for 1.5hrs, or until the split peas are soft.

7. Serve hot with Chapatti, Naan or Rice

Note:

I let it simmered for more than 2hrs as the split peas I used, did not cooked to the kind of softness which I prefer! ** other vegetables such as long beans, eggplant etc. can be cooked together **

My NEW accessories blog

Sorry for neglecting this blog... many things happen during Chinese New Year. Husband had a terrible Chicken Pox "outbreak" at the age of forty plus. The sudden "outbreak" made me real busy during Chinese New Year. Well, it's already months ago....now, I decided not to post any food blog since our family diet has changed to plain vegetable dishes mainly.

I thought it is good that I should post my other hobby which I have stopped for two years ... that's my handmade accessories.

So, please follow my newly created accessories blog at
http://aprettypiece.blogspot.com/

P.S. A Pretty Piece was named few years back when I collaborated with my then office colleague to sell our handmade products. And with her permission, I decided to use back the original name...(some of our then customers may remember us ^o*)

Happy 'Niu' Year

Love Letters

Love letters or Kueh Kapit(in Malay), is a very common type of cookies which you will get to see during Chinese New Year visitings.

In the olden days, love letters are cooked over charcoal stove; the egg and flour mixture are poured into a metal mould which are then peeled from it and quickly rolled and shape, the minute they are cooked.

These days, love letters electric maker became popular which ease the pain of having to squat in front of the charcoal stove the entire day of making them. However, the slight disadvantage of using it is the uneven tones and you gets rolls which are also thicker than made with traditional method. Nevertheless, we managed to make quite a few bottles of our satisfactory love letters with the electric maker! ^o*

Cereal Cookies

Both Christmas and New Year celebrations were barely over... now; the Chinese Lunar New Year is approaching us so quickly!!

The "production" of Chinese New Year cookies started again! This year, sis wanted to make something simple as she had a long holiday just before Christmas. Both she and I are so lazy to bake anything more than last years' "productions".

Her oven heated up last Friday.... the production output were many bottles of cereal cookies sufficient for her distribution to relatives! Sis declared Saturday as rest day for our own CNY preparations ... ... and baking continues on Sunday for 'love letters'.

Vegetarian Rojak

Husband and I went over to friend's house yesterday to make our vegetarian Rojak (a fruits and vegetable dish commonly found in Singapore and Malaysia)!! Since I still have lots of the prepared ingredients left-over, I made my second round of Rojak this evening, again!!! ^^