Category: healthy meal

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Spiced lentil stuffed peppers with halloumi and honey drizzle

One of my absolute favorite things to cook for the last few months has been roasted bell peppers. My mom always makes me eat them fresh and raw back home, (which isn’t too bad) but roasting really does bring out all the natural sweet juice and flavor from them, and I think it is the best way to eat bell peppers. I never use green peppers though, because these unripe peppers are not as sweet as other ones even when they are cooked. Continue reading Spiced lentil stuffed peppers with halloumi and honey drizzle

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Summer/Autumn meal – Spiced chickpeas, quinoa, mint & basil

Summer is finally fading away here. Although temperature is still close to the mid-summer weather of most non-tropical places on earth, it is so much less humid and breezy with clearer sky. And that really makes a huge difference in Hong Kong. Most importantly I don’t feel like melting while I’m cooking in my kitchen any more, yay! For this post, I thought I’d make something that reminds me of late summer and early autumn at the same time. A dish that has the freshness and lightness of summer but also has the warm earthy flavor of autumn. Continue reading Summer/Autumn meal – Spiced chickpeas, quinoa, mint & basil

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Spinach, feta and pomegranate salad with lentils

I will be taking my annual spring trip to Korea soon. I normally do this in May because it is the best time to visit Korea in terms of weather and my mom’s birthday usually falls in May (her birthday is based on lunar calendar so it changes every year, I am not kidding)…Anyways, this means it is time to clean out the fridge and cupboards. I don’t always get lucky with what I find, but this time a bag of organic red split lentils and a gorgeous pomegranate caught my eye, yay! Instead of trying to remember what I was going to do with them in the first place or come up with a fancy recipe I just decided to go with something simple and fresh. Besides, I was a little busy packing… Continue reading Spinach, feta and pomegranate salad with lentils

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Coconut miso chicken breasts with toasted sesame seeds

To be honest, I used to hate chicken breast. I just could not understand why anyone would ever eat that tasteless dry meat. I am a huge fan of fatty and flavorful cuts of meat like pork belly, rib eye and duck breast (with skin on of course), so the idea of having chicken breast as main protein in my meal seemed too boring. It was only last year when I started to care more about eating healthy that I decided to give a go with chicken breast. I had tried as many cooking techniques as I could find for months, but perfectly cooked juicy chicken breast I wanted seemed almost unachievable. Continue reading Coconut miso chicken breasts with toasted sesame seeds

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Baked ricotta and smoked salmon dumplings in Gyoza skin

I believe almost every food culture in the world has some form of dumpling. It can be essential comfort food sometimes, but it can also be celebratory food for special occasions. The dumpling I grew up with called ‘mandu’ is a great example. It is one of the most popular comfort food you could find anywhere in Korea but it is also something my grandmother and aunts spent all day preparing for big family holidays. They are commonly boiled and served in the soup or steamed and served with soy sauce based dipping sauce. I was a good girl helping my family of course, but only to stay near the steamer and get my hands on delicious piping hot homemade dumplings before anyone else. I have to admit, making dumplings is not the easiest job in the world. Continue reading Baked ricotta and smoked salmon dumplings in Gyoza skin

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Citrus whole wheat penne salad with tomatoes and sweet basil

Recipe for another light and healthy meal today. Although I am dying to recreate my slow roasted pork belly I made 2 days in a row over X-mas and Boxing day, I really feel like I should stay away from a naughty food group for a while (probably just until New Year ;-)). Besides, it is nice to be reminded that simple food made with the freshest ingredients will never disappoint even during the holiday season. This dish is so quick and easy. And you can always add what you like and be flexible with it. As long as you stick with good quality ingredients, the result will always be stunning and refreshing. Continue reading Citrus whole wheat penne salad with tomatoes and sweet basil

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Soybean paste chicken with rice and broccolis

I had the most amazing holiday in New Zealand earlier this month, and thanks to all the delicious meals I had there, I came home feeling like a big balloon :-(. In order to prepare myself for even more rich and festive meals ahead this month (don’t you just love December? ;-)) I decided to take a little break from indulging too much and trying to eat healthy whenever I can. Naturally my mind goes straight to Asian, especially Korean ingredients that I’m familiar with when I plan a healthy meal. And the fermented soybean paste (Doen Jang) is probably the heart and soul of ‘wellbeing food’ in Korea. Continue reading Soybean paste chicken with rice and broccolis

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Miso and ginger poached salmon with warm soba noodles

Salmon is something I cook at least a couple of times a month, especially when I want a light and nutritious meal with lots of flavors. I really enjoy poaching salmon because it keeps its flesh ever so delicate and moist as well as being healthy. For me the best part is to be able to play with poaching liquid with different ingredients. In this post I will be sharing a recipe with classic Asian flavor combination of miso and ginger. No matter what you have in the liquid, the key is not to poach your fish in a boiling hot water. Let’s face it, there is nothing worse than tough and overcooked fish (well, besides overcooked chicken)… Continue reading Miso and ginger poached salmon with warm soba noodles

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Cold soba salad with avocado and roasted cashew nuts

Sometimes I just can’t be asked to do anything. Especially in a crazy hot Hong Kong summer day like today, last thing I want is to get cooked up in front of a hot stove. This dish is perfect for a day like this. It’s extremely simple since there’s not much cooking involved besides boiling some noodles and veggies, but still doesn’t compromise on flavors. This recipe, if I can call it a recipe, is based on everything I have in my cupboard and fridge. You can use any vegetables and nuts you have instead of what I listed. Just remember, you will want something crunch with your soba. Continue reading Cold soba salad with avocado and roasted cashew nuts

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Orange vinaigrette quinoa salad with candied walnuts

Quinoa is such a joyful ingredient to cook with and eat. It’s versatile, healthy, and delicious with wonderful texture. This salad recipe requires a little more effort than ones you just toss everything in and mix. But when it’s done I promise it will be a showstopper. Great as a light main or an appetizer served at a dinner party. Continue reading Orange vinaigrette quinoa salad with candied walnuts