Pasta & Noodles
I use fresh tomatoes in this homemade spicy Arrabbiata sauce. You can use frozen tomatoes if you prefer, without detracting from the taste too much. Canned tomatoes, however, I found doesn't have the tang that comes with fresh tomatoes. I decided to omit tomato paste to avoid masking the amazing flavors of the fresh tomatoes. Unfortunately, tomato paste also helps redden the color of the sauce, so omitting it causes the sauce to be less red. With Calamari and Basil, this dish is a delicious light tasting meal, perfect for a taste of summer, whether in warm weather or cold. Feel free to substitute calamari for shrimps if you prefer.
This lasagna is full of flavor with tomato sauce, béchamel sauce and cheese alternating with eggplant layers. A fusion of Greek and Italian tastes with a touch of Mexican spiciness.
Asian inspired and made with fresh tomatoes, this sauce tastes great served over any pasta. Light and hearty all at the same time, this dish was a comforting go-to meal in college when I had some time to spare.
This is a grown up version of the pasta sauce I used to make in college. I use fresh tomatoes in this homemade spicy pasta sauce. You can use frozen tomatoes if you prefer, without detracting from the taste too much. Canned tomatoes, however, I found doesn't have the tang that comes with fresh tomatoes. I decided to omit tomato paste to avoid masking the amazing flavors of the fresh tomatoes. Unfortunately, tomato paste also helps redden the color of the sauce, so omitting it causes the sauce to be less red. It's an easy sauce to make, so give it a try! Double the recipe and save some in the freezer. You' won't want to go back to store bought pasta sauce after you have tried this sauce.
A slight twist on the traditional cheesy American comfort food - A smoky flavor added by bacon bits and a hearty flavor added by mushrooms make this a perfect food on a cool night.
The Korean Tofu Soon Soup is my inspiration here. I use the fermented hot bean paste, Gochujang to help flavor the soup.
Jap Chae is one of my favorite dishes. I love the sweetness of the noodles. I'm used to having these vegetarian, but I added some meat to this recipe. And as I do in most of my dishes, I spiced it up, but feel free to omit the spice. Hope you enjoy it.
This recipe uses Gochujang in the vinaigrette to add a layer of flavor that is uniquely Korean. Spicy, sweet, salty and sour.
A simple, light, lemony pasta dish complemented by the sweetness of shrimp and the spiciness of crushed peppers.
This lasagna recipe is somewhat different because I use precooked eggplant to mix into the meat sauce. I find that it makes the lasagna lighter than the usual meat lasagna, but a little heavier than eggplant layered lasagna. There is also some Asian infusion with the use of soy sauce and green onions to enhance the flavors.
A favorite amongst locals in Malaysia - A spicy, tangy noodle dish complemented by the sweet taste of shrimp and cabbage and cooled with a cucumber topping. Perfect for lunch or dinner.
A rich curry gravy bursting with the flavors of coconut and lemon grass served over noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, eggs and shredded chicken. A favorite breakfast in Malaysia. It is a hearty meal and we have it for lunch or dinner.
A favorite in my house. This noodle dish is sweet, tangy, spicy and saucy all at once!
An old hawker favorite - spicy flat rice noodles sauteed to perfection with shrimps, garlic, eggs and soy sauce served with slightly stir-fried, still crispy beansprouts. A favorite street food amongst the locals in Malaysia.
A hawker favorite - thin egg noodles bathed in spicy seasoning sauce, served with blanched green vegetables, vinegar chilli and ground meat or chinese roasted pork (char sieu) with a side of wonton soup. A favorite local street food amongst locals in Malaysia.
This is a variation of the Malaysian Dry Wonton Noodles. It uses Gochujang as a main ingredient of the noodle. The egg replaces the meat as a quick alternate for protein.
This is a variation of the Malaysian Dry Wonton Noodles. It uses Gochujang as a main ingredient of the noodle sauce. I found it to have several layers of flavors. Try it!
I've always liked Pad Thai. It's sweet, it's sour and spicy all at the same time. I use lime juice instead of tamarind in my version, since those are more readily available to me. The lime juice imparts a freshness to the dish, in my opinion.
A Chinese and Italian fusion to create a quick and nutritious blend of pasta, meat and vegetables perfect for a weeknight meal.
These noodles are great on cool day. My family tend to like tangy foods, so I increased the amount of vinegar used, which I find helps lighten the rich flavor of the sesame paste. I use cucumbers as a garnish in this recipe, which, in my opinion, also helps lighten the flavor and cools down the dish. Great for a hot summer day!
Sichuan Style Beef Noodle Soup is one of my favorite noodle soup dishes - and if you know me, you know I like noodle soup. It's a spicy comfort food that is perfect on a cold day. If you have the time to make homemade beef bone broth, your mouth will thank you.
A thick and rich gravy of beef and mushroom over buttery noodles - A classic Russian dish with a twist. Here I add some tomato along with crushed chilli peppers.
This is one of my favorite meals, spicy combined with a little sweetness from the shrimp, onions, leeks and cabbage. Makes a perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner.
This recipe is a meat and potato recipe with a dark gravy; usually served over warm steamed rice. What makes this dish diffferent from the other ones I've posted, is the use of taucheo (preserved soybean paste commonly found in Malaysian dishes). Though it looks similar to other dark meat and potato dishes, the soybean paste gives it an additional dimension of flavor. Traditionally made without the chilli peppers, I find that the chilli peppers adds another layer of flavor, but certainly feel free to omit it, if preferred. It is also traditionally made with onion and garlic blended into a paste for use in the dish, but in the interest of time, I have omitted this step. I have found that using chopped onion and garlic doesn't take anything away from the flavors of this dish. This recipe can also be made with chicken.
This Italian Asian fusion recipe combines pasta and sausage with Chinese ingredients such as soy and Sriracha sauces. It was a hit with my family, and ready in a pinch!
Quick and easy, great with or without the chlli oil. Great for a picnic!
Taiwanese food has always had a hold on me. I love the strong flavors. Being keen on strong flavors, I've increased the amount of spices used. Also being a fan of noodles, I added noodles to the Braised Pork dish to make Taiwanese Braised Pork Noodle Soup. It is a great dish to warm up with on a cool winter's day.
This dish works perfectly on a cold winter's day. It does a great job warming up from the inside. Spicy, rich, sweet and salty, the many layers of flavors goes perfectly with a simple boiled egg and some blanched greens. This recipe yields about 6 bowls of noodle soup. If time is a limiting factor, feel free to substitute with dry garlic, onion and ginger powders. I recently updated this recipe using soybean paste instead of hot bean paste, since it would be easier to adjust the heat according to taste. I use homemade Sichuan Chili Oil to add heat, both while cooking and in the bowl.
Tikka Masala has such a creamy, rich and spicy flavor, it is a wonderful dish for so many different fusion dishes. A fusion recipe itself, it was developed in India as the British colonized it. As part of a lasagna, it contributes a wonderful full-flavor of spice, but yet rich and creamy with a tomato base, like the original lasagna. To make it an easier recipe, feel free to used store or restaurant-bought Tikka Masala. If using store bought, just follow the directions on what to add to make a tikka masala sauce for your lasagna. My recipe below uses garam masala to simplify the spices, which you can purchase at the store, or make at home using this wonderful garam masala Allrecipe by KitchenBarbarian.
This recipe combines Korean Style Jap Chae and Spicy Cucumber Salad in a Vietnamese style Fresh Spring Roll. It's a quick meal idea if using leftovers of Jap Chae and Spicy Cucumber Salad. It makes a wonderful light meal or snack. It can be prepared ahead of time for picnic.
