Braised Okra with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

I seldom buy okra before I move to live in UK.  It is because it is quite expensive and sometimes it is not fresh. I am happy that I can always buy cheaper and fresh okra here. Okra is fast gaining a reputation as a so-called 'superfood' for people with or at risk of diabetes or cancer.  It contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid and calcium.  Also it is low in calories and has high dietary fibre content.  I like it very much.

Yesterday I went shopping at Tesco and bought a bag.  It is very fresh and green.  Since I did not want to miss the train, I made a very simple and quick lunch.  It just took me six minutes to cook this yummy dish.

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Cooking time: 3 minutes

Serve: 1

Ingredients:

-         90g okra                                                            

-         1 tsp olive oil    

-         40ml water

-         1 tbsp wine

-         dried skipjack tuna flakes (optional)

Teriyaki Sauce:

-         1 tbsp soy sauce

-         1½ tbsp mirin

-         ½ tbsp brown sugar

Method:

1.	Clean and peel off the skin of the head of each okra.
2.	In a small mixing bowl, mix all ingredients well to prepare teriyaki sauce.  Set aside.
3.	Use a small knife to make some small cuts on each okra.
4.	Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
5.	Spread the okra evenly on the pan, add water and teriyaki sauce. Cover and simmer for 1 minute.
6.	Flip the okra to another side and add wine.  Reduce heat to low-medium.  Then cover and simmer for a further 1 minute.  Remove from heat.
7.	Sprinkle with dried skipjack tuna flakes on top of okra and ready to serve with rice.

Pan-fried Tofu with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce

It is a busy week. Why? Chinese New Year is coming.  It is the best festive to have family reunion and friend gatherings.  I have to do lots before this Saturday.  Cleaning before CNY is a tradition which means to drive the bad luck or the old things away from the house in order to get ready for a new start.  In the past, people would go shopping and buy new clothes after cleaning.  They believe that buying new items and putting on new clothes symbolize welcoming a new start.  During the last weekend, I did cleaning and finished decorating my house like pasting paper-cuts and “Fu” 福 on the main door, hanging Chinese knots and sticking couplets (words on blessings) on the wall. I feel blissful that my mom has written couplets for me and mailed it to me one week ago.  She is new to Chinese calligraphy; she has learnt it just a few months.

Yesterday I went shopping at a very big Chinese supermarket.  It was very crowded.  People were busy with buying fresh seafood and cooking ingredients for making scrumptious meals in the coming days. I bought five packs of different types of flour and a big pack of brown sugar for making turnip cakes and coconut pudding, fresh king prawns, frozen clams, oysters, veggie, tofu and rice dumplings.  Then I have to buy some fresh flowers in the coming two days and busy with making turnip cakes. 

I was tired after shopping so I cooked a simple dinner last night. I pan-fried tofu with homemade teriyaki sauce, a hot pot of veggie and served with brown rice.  

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serve: 2

Ingredients:

-         150g firm tofu (cut into big pieces, about 1 cm thick)

-         2 tsp olive oil

-         1 tbsp corn flour                           

-         1 spring onion (chopped)

-         1 shallot (finely sliced)

-         1 tsp white sesame seeds

-         1 tsp dried skipjack Tuna flakes (optional)

Teriyaki Sauce:

-         3 tbsp light soy sauce

-         2 tbsp brown sugar

-         2 tbsp mirin

-         1 tbsp rice wine (optional)

-         1 tbsp water

-         ½ tsp ginger powder

-         ½ tsp garlic powder   

-         ½ tsp sesame oil

-         ¼ tsp corn flour

Method:

1.	Use a piece of kitchen towel to dry the surface of tofu.  Add a pinch of salt onto a plate and put the tofu cubes on it.  Then add another pinch of salt on the tofu.  Sprinkle the tops with a small amount of corn flour.
2.	Heat a non-stick pan over low heat and add olive oil.  Then pan-fry the tops and bottoms of the tofu to golden yellow.
3.	In a small mixing bowl, mix all ingredients of the teriyaki sauce well.  Set aside.
4.	In the meantime, toss in the shallot and spring onions and pour the well-mixed teriyaki sauce in the pan.  Spoon the sauce on the tops of tofu occasionally until the sauce is thickened. If you like more sweeten, add more sugar.
5.	Place the tofu on the plate and spoon teriyaki sauce around the tofu. Sprinkle with white sesame seeds and dried skipjack tuna flakes on top of tofu.
6.	Ready to serve with brown rice.