There is no other dish (and one might actually consider this a ‘side’) that encapsulates my childhood eating memories more than Tomato Egg Stir-fry (番茄炒蛋). Because this dish is so quick and simple, it’s become almost as much of a staple as white rice at family meals. Mom serves it with almost everything. And yet, despite this fact, I have only recently attempted to make this dish for the first time.
food
Stir-fried Rice Cake with Mustard Greens
The first time I made this dish, I was told it didn’t really count because I didn’t pickle my own mustard greens. This past weekend, thanks to my mom over-buying mustard greens at the store (“it was on sale!”), I tried my hand at a more authentic preparation. I liken this dish to a baked potato – you start making it in hopes that when you’re done (5+ hours later) you’ll actually be hungry for it.
Soba Noodle Salad
Mom has been away on vacation, so in her absence, I’ve been taking a page out of her book and experimenting with some dishes I’ve always wanted to reverse engineer. In this case, we’re tackling Soba Noodle Salad, a Japanese or Asian Fusion dish, depending on who you ask.
Pot Sticker Tofu
This is another of mom’s ‘whip it together’ classics, made from ingredients normally found in the fridge. I should say, normally found in her fridge which, in all fairness, is more well-stocked than most. It’s called Pot Sticker Tofu because you get that crispy edge from pan-frying like you do with a pot sticker dumpling. But unlike real pot stickers, this dish is veggie-friendly and super super quick and easy to make.
Bean There, Done That
This may seem like a healthy veggie dish… but as my mom reveals, all is not as it appears.
Zha Jiang Mian (or Chinese Spaghetti)
There are many names for this classic Chinese dish – Zha Jiang Mian, Chinese Fried Sauce noodles, Spicy Pork noodles, 炸醬麵, etc. Growing up in the Jeng family, however, this dish was most commonly known as Chinese Spaghetti.
Noodles and meat sauce? What’s not to love?!
Pho-tastic
Growing up, I was never a huge fan of noodle soup or really any clear broth soup. What a fool I was. Now I make or eat noodle soups any chance I get… like today’s lunch – this homemade Vietnamese pho.
Spicy Tofu Meat Magic
First off, please pardon the naming of this dish. There is a real authentic Chinese name for it (香乾肉絲) but unfortunately no perceivable English translation (see Lost In Translation). So for now, we’ll call this Spicy Tofu Meat Magic. Yum!
Winning Pork-and-Shrimp Wonton Recipe
This is one of my favorite Chinese dishes to make because a) it’s relatively easy and fun to do with a group, b) once you assemble them, there are multiple ways to serve them (more to come later) and c) look how cute!!!!
#NomsFromMom Quickfire: Clay Pot Rice
Mom invented yet another dish tonight, inspired by this hole-in-the-wall restaurant we went to when we were in Hong Kong earlier this year. Mom did not love the ambience (she refused to touch anything and insisted they turn off their fans), but I guess the memory of the clay pot rice stuck with her.
Here’s what she whipped up tonight – clay pot rice (cooked to crispiness at the bottom) with homemade salted pork, bok choy and leeks. We ate every last bite.
Noms From Mom 