Sushi Balls

It has been another busy weekend for me and my family, so I didn’t get a chance yesterday to post my new recipe. I know some friends missed and I owe them one.

Today I came up about something a little new innovation, I was looking at my pantry what I can prepare for my children and thought it was a good idea to make sushi, seems both of them love sushi. When I started this website, I posted a sushi recipe. As I remember it took me more than an hour to make those.

I asked myself instead of wrapping, rolling and filling them in seaweeds sheet why not to combine the rice and seaweeds together, my preparations will be easier. So, I came with the idea combining the rice and the seaweed and add some flavors.

I really love the outcome of this recipe, and I think it was a genius one! My children love it and so do I. This is an effortless sushi I ever made.

Try and share me your thoughts on the recipe.

 Ingredients:

1 cup Japanese sushi rice, steamed

4 Tbsp. Sesame oil

1 cup crumbled dried seaweeds- I used shredded one in package

½ cup crumbled seaweeds sheets or nori sheets

1 tsp. dried green onion

1 tsp. sugar

Roasted sesame seeds

Salt

Procedure:

1. Mix the sesame oil in rice and season with salt.

2. In a large bowl, combine the seaweeds, green onion, sugar and roasted sesame and crumble and mix well. Reserve a half of it for topping.

3. Place the seasoned rice and the flavored seaweeds in a large bowl, mix them together.

4. Use a plastic wrapper to form a rice ball.

5. Roll the rice balls in remaining flavored seaweeds.

6. Serve.

Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is one of my favorite dishes from Africa. The dish is widely served in various countries in West Africa and so variations in cooking jollof rice.

What I love about this dish is so flavorful; this is a Biryani version in India as the ways of preparation are almost similar.

I remember those days back in China every time I visited my Dad in Guangzhou, it’s a city where he lived, I can’t forget to pass by in downtown known as “Little Africa”. Many African restaurants, settled around the area, and where many busy businessmen as traders. If I remember clearly, the street called San Yuan Li was located my sister took me in one famous restaurant mainly serves African food. We had lunch there, and they served a big plate of Jellof rice, which two people can share. It was so delicious with stewed goat meat and fried plantain.

I bet you, this is a very satisfying dish. Try and let me know what you think.

Ingredients:

6 cups rice, cooked

3 Tbsp. olive oil

1 onion, minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup diced tomato

3 oz. tomato paste

½ lb. chicken breast, diced

2 cups chicken broth, low in sodium

½ cup mixed diced green and red bell pepper

½ tsp. chicken powder

½ tsp. chili powder

½ tsp. curry powder

Salt

Dash of nutmeg powder

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in a saucepan and brown the diced chicken.

2. Sauté in the same pan the garlic and onion until fragrant.

3. Next, the diced tomatoes.

4. Pour in the chicken broth and add the tomato paste.

5. Season with chili powder, chicken powder, curry, nutmeg, and salt.

6. Add the diced bell peppers, and simmer until sauce gets thicken.

7. Lastly, add the cooked rice and mix very well to incorporate ingredients.

8. Simmer over low heat to allow to steam, need a gradually stirring.

9. Best serve with either fried, grilled chicken or fish with greens.

Red Beans and Rice

Red kidney bean is one of my husband's favorites. If we talk about beans, honestly, I'm not a good cook. I was skeptical to try out this recipe, but it turns out a perfectly delicious dish. Yes, it was a big deal for me to make this. Now here, I want to share how I made this spicy red kidney beans and rice in one.

Ingredients:

8 oz - 1/2 lb Dried kidney beans soaked overnight and boiled
1/2 lb Ground beef
2 c Basmati rice, steamed
3 c Cloves garlic minced
1 Medium red onion chopped
1 Red bell pepper chopped
a thumb size ginger grated
1/2 stick butter
1 Tbsp. curry powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper powder
1 cube beef bouillon
1 Fresh lemon
alt and pepper

Procedure:

1. In a nonstick saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Saute the fresh ginger, garlic, onion and the chopped red bell pepper.

2. Add in the ground beef, saute until it turns brown. Add the boiled kidney beans and put in all the spices. Add water if necessary. Simmer for 5 minutes.

3. Add the steamed rice and mix them evenly, Squeeze it with lemon and season with salt and pepper. Give it to simmer for another 3 minutes.

4. Place in a plate and serve. You can garnish it with chopped cilantro if available.

Spicy Beef Biryani

Alright, why not to try this Indian recipe. Beef biryani is a spicy and aromatic dish whereby can found mainly in Indian and Pakistan cuisine. I tried to cook this before, but I'm reluctant to post because I didn't get yet the perfect taste. Now, here we go with the help of a good friend where She is a chef in one restaurant back in Singapore where she worked. She is not Chinese, though Indian but I'm telling you She is nothing but a very good cook. Let's get down the business with this long procedure of cooking the spicy beef biryani.

Ingredients:

8 cups Basmati white rice, uncooked
3 lbs. Pot roast beef, cut in small chunks
Olive oil
2 Red onion, finely sliced
8 Cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. Grated fresh ginger
8 Fresh roma tomatoes, chopped
2 Fresh lemon
1 can Chick peas
a can of garlic tomato sauce
4 cups Plain yogurt
a handful of raisin
chili powder
curry powder
coriander powder
paprika
cumin powder
turmeric
cajun powder
ginger masala powder
ground pepper and salt to taste
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup Fresh cilantro, chopped

Procedure:

1. Cook the 8 cups of basmati rice, set aside.
2. In a big wok, heat oil, saute the garlic, onion, ginger and fresh tomatoes.
3. Put the beef and cook until tender.
4. Pour the can of garlic tomato sauce. Simmer.
5. Add in the plain yogurt and stir well till the mixture is even.
6. Put all the powder spices, estimate and taste the sauce if perfect.
7. Put the cinnamon sticks.
8. Pour in the chickpeas and raisins.
9. Dash with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Squeeze the sauce with fresh lemon.
11. In an aluminum pan mix the rice and the sauce evenly.
12. Top it with the remaining chopped tomatoes and cilantro.
13. In 350 degrees oven, bake the rice for 30 minutes.
14. Serve while its hot.

Easy Yangzhou Fried Rice (扬州炒饭)

Yangzhou Fried rice or known in China as Yangzhou Chao Fan (扬州炒饭) is one of the famous ways of frying rice. Anywhere in China you can order this fried rice in many local restaurants. This dish's main ingredients are left over rice, egg, green onion, carrots, peas and the sweet pork barbecue. Here in my recipe I added some ingredients to enhance the taste of Yangzhou fried rice. This an easy recipe you can try out at home.

INGREDIENTS:

5-6 cups plain rice (left over or new cooked)
Mixed Vegetables: 300 g
diced carrot
peas
corn
cut green beans
lima beans
10 oz smoked ham or smoked sausage chopped
2 large eggs
3 Tbsp. corn oil
1 tsp. chicken powder
4 stalks green onion chopped
salt to taste

PREPARATION:

1. In a wok, heat oil over medium heat. Fry the eggs and beat it over the oil.
2. Add the sausage, saute for 2 minutes.
3. Turn the heat over high then mixed vegetables and continue sauteing, season with chicken powder and salt.
4. Add the rice and keep mixing.
5. Sprinkle it with chopped green onion.
6. Serve while its hot.

TIPS:
To have aromatic and sweet Yangzhou fried rice, you can use chinese chorizo or longganisa.