Pandan, a type of screwpine, is an essential ingredient in Asian cooking. With its sweet, fragrant, grassy aroma, it is widely used in both savoury and sweet dishes. Pandanus amaryllifolius Pandanus amaryllifolius is the culinary pandan that we know. It is a tropical plant that grows freely in many parts of Asia. I remember it sprouting […]
How to make Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk (Ca Phe Sua)
Vietnamese coffee, you love it or you hate it. Strong, bitter, yet extremely sweet, and a legend in its own time! This particular cup of Java seems to have a massive following worldwide, everyone singing sweet rhapsodies in its name. It’s intimidating and it’s addictive. Coffee, like baguette, was introduced to Vietnam by the French, […]
How to Cook with Coconut Milk
Fresh coconut milk is always best but many of us outside of Asia, unfortunately, do not have this luxury. As with any ingredient, get the best that you can afford, the same goes for coconut milk. Get the one that has the least added ingredients – just coconut milk and water is the best. If […]
Vietnamese Spring Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn) with Salmon and Shiitake
Vietnamese Spring Rolls are very easy appetisers or party food to make. And because they are not fried like the more well known crispy fried spring rolls, they are amazingly healthy as well, filled with fresh ingredients, alongside any cooked meat you’d like to stuff them with. In the West, these tend to be called […]
Japanese Shiso Leaves (Perilla Leaves)
Shiso leaves are from the shiso plant, a perennial herb that is also known as perilla (perilla frustescens) and belongs to the mint family. The leaves come in two colours, green as you see here, as well as red/purple. It is a herb that is widely used in Japan, Korea and parts of South East Asia, […]
Vegan Vietnamese Tofu and Eggplant
This Vegan Vietnamese Tofu and Eggplant (Cà Tím Xào Đậu Hũ) is a really easy recipe to put together. Despite its simplicity, there is so much going for it: the deep earthiness of the black bean sauce, the salty soy sauce, the spicy citrus flavour of the ginger, the sweetness of the palm sugar, all […]
