Eggplant in garlic sauce

1. Clean and cut Chinese eggplant into serving size (Halved along the length first, then cut into half moon or strips). 
2. Heat oil in a wok, stir fry the eggplant with minced garlic, salt and chili flakes (or minced dry red chilis) until soft but not mushy.
3. Add low-sodium soy sauce and oyster sauce in a cup with water. Mix well and pour on the wok evenly and simmer to reduce the sauce.
4. You may add 1 tsp sugar. The Chinese variation I had in a restaurant was a little sweet and they added wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots and bell pepper to the braised eggplant.

You may also add a bit of chili oil for flavor.

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Bonus recipe: Eggplant sauteed with mini heirloom tomatoes, green peas, cilantro stem and fennel bulb with salt, turmeric (optional) and Thai chili.

The best Chinese dinner I had

Fried rice with Chinese sausage, Chinese broccoli sauteed in minced onions and red chilies, and whole fish baked with chili-bean sauce.The original recipes are by our friends- Gong and Deng.

Kung Pao Chicken

What should I make for dinner tonight? I'm thinking this:

Kung Pao Chicken

Or chicken stir-fry with mushrooms and baby bok choy?

For Shreya

Dry-roast Szechuan peppers and coriander seeds. Keep aside.

 Use freshly chopped ingredients. Onions and green chilis are optional.

Saute well, adding the baby bok choy stalks before the leaves to give them extra time to cook . Add grated ginger, garlic, dry red chilis, the dry roasted Szechuan peppers and coriander seeds, and soy sauce. Check for salt and hotness. Add ground pepper and green chili sauce if you want it extra hot.

Serve with steamed rice or on noodles.

Basic Chowmein

Egg Chowmein with soya chunks and veggies

This had to be the first recipe I posted, 'cause I remember wanting to make chowmein like my mother made to feed our post-school hunger sessions. She made the most amazing jal-khabar (snacks/small meals) to nourish her active kids.

Veg chowmein with oyster sauce

‎1. Boil water, add chowmein, (green beans too if you are using them). Some people add a spoonful of vegetable oil to avoid stickiness. Drain the boiled chowmein in a strainer, pour cold water if necessary.
2. Add chili oil/peanut oil in another pan.
3. Add grated cabbage, carrots, green peas, celery, parboiled green beans, Baby spinach, romaine lettuce or other crunchy vegetables (a packets of frozen vegetables might be handy but freshly cut vegetables are tastier)
4. Add 1 tsp oyster sauce, 3 tsp soy sauce. Cover and cook.
5. Can add Chinese salt substitute (I like granulated mushroom bouillon)  & cracked pepper to taste.
7. Add the drained chowmein. Add white vinegar/lime juice, soy sauce, MSD substitute.
8. Mix the noodles with the veggies

Can add soya chunks boiled in salt water or chicken breasts or Chinese sausage or scrambled eggs.

Serve hot with your fav sauce. :)