We're celebrating the launch of Verna Gao's first ever cookbook Have You Eaten? by sharing our favourite Asian-inspired recipes that are great on-the-go!
Recipes:
Pork & Leek Sheng Jian Baos
15 Minute Express Laksa
Mochi
Pork & Leek Sheng Jian Baos
This is the classic Shanghai pan-fried bao with crispy bottom and fluffy top – my (and my family’s) all-time favourite when growing up in the city. I prefer this juicy pork and fragrant leek filling over most others and like to serve the buns with a generous amount of Chinese black vinegar and chilli (chile) oil drizzled over. The dough is half-yeasted, meaning the buns puff up a little when cooked. They are different to the bao buns you may be familiar with, which are fully yeasted and very fluffy with a springy texture when steamed.
15 Minute Express Laksa
Jetlagged after a flight to Singapore, I sat in a hawker centre and enjoyed a bowl of spicy laksa noodle soup with a friend. In such hot, humid weather, it seemed strange to be slurping a hot broth, but the sweat was worth it. A good laksa doesn’t have to take hours to cook (life doesn’t always allow the time to slow-simmer a pot of soup), and my quick version is perfect for a weeknight dinner when you can’t be bothered to stand over the stove for longer than needed. Ready in a flash, this laksa tastes like you’ve made it from scratch.
Mochi
Many of you will be familiar with the filled rice flour balls, known as mochi, thanks to the viral videos of Japanese men pounding mochi dough with a wooden hammer. Though you and I may not be armed with the same tools, I can assure you that it’s entirely possible to make delicious mochi at home. And best of all, no steamer basket is necessary, as I’m going to show you how to make them in the microwave.