Thai Style Deep-Fried Bananas

Fancy snacking on some fried bananas? This is Thai style Deep Fried Bananas. The bananas are coated with desiccated coconut and sesame seeds batter. Then, fried until light golden brown in color. The coating gives these fried bananas the crunchy fritters outside, whilst the fruit remains creamy and sweet inside. Here, I am using the natural sweet Burro banana variety. This particular variety of bananas are popular for making fritters and other desserts. If you can’t get hold of them, then do substitute with ripe plantain. I am sure they will taste just as good especially for deep-frying.


Thai Style Deep-Fried Bananas
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

12 Ripe Bananas, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into 2 pieces
Peanut or Vegetable Oil for deep-frying

Batter
120 g All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Sugar
½ tsp Sea Salt
25 g Desiccated Coconut
2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
300 ml Water

Method

Combine all the ingredients for batter and mix well.



Pour enough oil into a saucepan or a in deep-fry on medium to high heat. Coat the bananas with the batter and fry until golden brown in color. Remove the fried bananas with a slotted spoon and drain on papers and serve warm.

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Stout-Braised Short Ribs

These hearty Irish Stout-Braised Short Ribs are filled with the rich flavors from the famous dark bittersweet beer. They can be cooked in a slow cooker or in an oven. So, I opted to use the oven method. I also added some beef stock to enhance the taste of the sauce. Anyway, do try making these great tasting ribs and the Colcannon, which I posted earlier. It’s a great tasting combination!


Recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen

Stout-Braised Short Ribs
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

4 lbs Beef Short Ribs
Sea Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
3 Tbsp Canola Oil
2 Yellow Onions, diced
3 Carrots, peeled and diced
2 Celery Stalks, diced
6 Garlic Cloves, sliced
2 Cups Stout
8 Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley Sprigs (optional)

Method

Season the short ribs generously on all sides with salt and pepper. In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil until almost smoking. Working in batches (do not overcrowd), brown the ribs on all sides, 5 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

In the same pan over medium heat, add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

Slow Cooker Method: Transfer the short ribs and vegetables to a slow cooker and add the stout. Cover and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions until the meat is very tender, about 6 hours.

Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 300˚F. Transfer the short ribs and vegetables to a Dutch oven and add stout. Cover the pot with aluminum foil and place the lid on top. Transfer to the oven and bake until the meat is very tender, about 4 hours.

Transfer the ribs to a large bowl and cover with aluminum foil. Skim the fat of the sauce. Using an immersion blender, puree the sauce until smooth.

Transfer the ribs to individual bowls. Spoon the sauce on top and garnish each serving with a parsley sprig. Serve immediately.

Serves 8.

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Colcannon

Next Wednesday is St Patrick’s Day and I thought it would be a good idea for me to post my two favorites Irish comfort food recipes. They are Stout Braised Short Ribs and Colcannon. Today, I am posting a recipe for Colcannon, which is mashed potatoes mixed with cream, butter, sautéed cabbage, kale, leeks, onions, garlic, and bacon. I like the combination of the creamy mash potatoes, the crunchiness of the bacon, and the tender-crisps vegetables in this recipe. Do try this recipe. The addition of vegetables to the usual mash potatoes does make this unique!


Recipe adapted from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen

Colcannon
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

2 ½ lb Russet Potatoes, peeled and quartered
Sea Salt and freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste
8 Tbsp (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter
¾ Cup Milk
4 Bacon Slices, cut into ½ inch dice
4 Large Shallots, thinly sliced
1 Large Leek, white and light green portions, halved lengthwise, rinsed well and thinly sliced
1 Bunch Curly Kale, about ¾ lb, stemmed and coarsely chopped
1 Small Head Napa Cabbage, about 1 lb, cored and coarsely chopped (I used Savoy Cabbage)
1/8 tsp Mace or Freshly Grated Nutmeg

Method

Put the potatoes in a large pot, add water to cover the potatoes by 2 inches and generously salt the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 minutes. Drain well in a colander.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and milk and heat until the butter melts and the mixture is hot, 8 to 10 minutes.

Set a potato ricer over a large bowl and press the potatoes through in batches. Fold in the milk mixture in two additions. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with aluminum foil and set over a large saucepan of barely simmering water to keep warm.

Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until hot. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper tower-lined plate. Set aside.

Pour off all but 3 Tbsp of the fat from the pot. Return the pot to medium heat, add the shallots and leek and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the kale and toss just well wilted but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss until tender-crisp, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the mace and the bacon, and season with salt and pepper. Stir the potatoes into the cabbage mixture and serve warm.

Serves 8.


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Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

This is my first attempt at baking Pineapple Upside-Down Cake and I was extremely pleased with the end result. I had adapted this recipe from Thomas Keller’s “ad hoc at home” cookbook. The cake turned out nice and soft, moist, and had just the right sweetness.


Recipe adapted from Ad Hoc at Home by Thomas Keller

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

Pan Schmear
8 Tbsp (1 Stick; 4 oz) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
1 ½ Tbsp Honey
½ tsp Dark Rum
1 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
¼ tsp Vanilla Paste or Pure Vanilla Extract
Sea Salt

1 Gold (Extra-Sweet) Pineapple

Cake
1 1/3 Cups Cake Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
8 Tbsp (1 Stick; 4 oz) Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
½ Cup Plus 2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Paste or Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1 Tbsp Plus 1 tsp Milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, combine the butter, honey, rum, brown sugar, and vanilla and beat until smooth and well blended. Spread 1/3 cup of the schmear over the bottom of a 9-inch silicone cake pan. Sprinkle lightly with salt. (The remaining schmear can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 1 month; bring to room temperature before using.)

Cut the top and bottom from the pineapple and cut away the peel. Cut the pineapple lengthwise into quarters, and cut off the core from each section. Cut each piece crosswise into ¼-inch thick slices. Beginning at the perimeter of the pan, make an overlapping ring of pineapple slices with the curved side facing out. Make a second ring inside the first one, overlapping the slices in the opposite direction, working toward the center of the pan.

Sift the flour and baking powder together; set aside.

Put the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle and mix on low speed to combine, then beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Mix in the vanilla. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until the first one is incorporated before adding the second and scraping down the sides as necessary. Beat in the milk. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, beating until combined.

Pour the batter into the pan and spread over the pineapple. Bake for 15 minutes. Rotate the pan for even browning and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until a cake tester or wooden skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan on a cooling rack for 20 to 40 minutes.

Run a knife around the edges of the cake, invert onto a serving platter, and serve warm. (Leftover can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.)

Serves 8

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Indonesian Beef Rendang

Rendang is a traditional dish of the Minangkabau ethnic group from West Sumatra, Indonesia. It’s also a popular dish in the neighboring countries, such as, Malaysia and Singapore. It used to be served during special ceremonial occasions to honor guests; but, these days it’s available in the menu of many restaurants and is enjoyed regularly by all. Rendang is usually eaten with glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk or just with some steamed rice.

Beef Rendang is slowly cooked in spiced coconut milk for several hours until almost all the sauce is absorbed into the beef, giving it the fusion of delicious flavors from all the spices like galangal, garlic, chilies, turmeric lemongrass, and ginger. Besides the delicious dark brown spiced beef, the slow cooking process will also naturally tenderize the meat as well.



Recipe adapted from Sri Owen's Indonesian Food

Indonesian Beef Rendang
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients

1.35 kg/3 lb Beef (Brisket, Chuck or Silverside), cut into cubes of about 2 cm/ ¾ inches
6 Shallots, finely sliced
4 Cloves Garlic, sliced
2.5 cm/1 inch Piece of Fresh Ginger, peeled, roughly chopped
2.5 cm/1 inch Piece of Turmeric Root, peeled and roughly chopped, or 1 tsp Ground Turmeric
10 Fresh Red Chilies, deseeded, or 1 Tbsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Chopped Galangal or ½ tsp Ground Galangal
2.3 litres/4 Pints Coconut Milk
1 Salam Leaf or Bay Leaf
1 Fresh Turmeric Leaf or 1 Lemongrass Stem
2 tsp Sea Salt

Method

Put the shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric root, chilies and galangal in a blender with 4 Tbsp of the coconut milk, and puree until smooth. Put this paste and the coconut milk in a large wok or saucepan. Add the meat and the rest of the ingredients to the pan; making sure that there is enough coconut milk to cover.

Stir the contents of the pan, and start cooking, uncovered, over a medium heat. Let the pan bubble gently for 1 ½ - 2 hours, stirring from time to time. The coconut milk will by then be quite thick and, of course much reduced.

If you started in a large saucepan, transfer everything to a wok and continue cooking in the same way for another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. By now the coconut milk is beginning to reduce to oil, and the meat, which has so far been boiling, will soon be frying. From now on, the rendang needs to be stirred frequently. Taste, and add salt if necessary. When the coconut oil becomes thick and brown, stir continuously for about 15 minutes until the oil has been more or less completely absorbed by the meat. Take out and discard the salam or bay leaf, turmeric leaf or lemongrass. Serve warm with lots of rice.

Serves 8-10.

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