Roasted Sweet Potato, Brassica and Kimchi Bowl

November 11, 2019

I used to think that I needed a protein with every meal to make it a substantial one. during my early days of cooking, I would have to plan out exactly what type of meat, vegetable, and carb I had to buy at the grocery store. if I didn’t have all 3 components, the meal was incomplete. it’s been years since I’ve shopped and cooked that way, and now it seems only intuitive to grab what’s fresh and what’s in season.

this bowl is great for this frigid time of year as you can utilize any root vegetable and brassica available. feel free to sub the sweet potato with carrots or squash, the broccoli and brussel sprouts with other brassicas, and the noodles with any other grain. kimchi adds the perfect tang, spice, and crunch to brighten all the deeper notes. if you do want the protein, add a poached or sous-vide egg for extra unctuousness.

with a well-stocked pantry of grains and sauces, plus the addition of well-seasoned vegetables, it’s extremely easy to have super delicious and filling meals at your fingertips! this is just one version of what you can do.

Grilled Lamb Chops with Minty Nuoc Cham

October 23, 2019

another favourite from saigon star (see singaporean curry crab post), these grilled lamb chops are served with a minty, sweet, tangy, and punchy dipping sauce. you can definitely change up the protein here, but the classic mint-lamb combo is a classic for a reason as the vibrant mint marries well with the gaminess of lamb. serve as an app, or with some lettuce and rice vermicelli for a more substantial meal.

mango pie custard gf graham cracker crumble gluten free food blog my bf is gf

Mango Custard with Graham Cracker Crumble

October 8, 2019

I recently made a mango pie for one of my pop up dinners and ended up with both leftover filling and crumble. I divided the extra filling into small serving bowls and let it set for the same amount of time as my pie. then I thought to myself, why bother with making pie next time if this is 10x easier? there’s no need to prebake a crust, no need to cut out slices. just drop the finicky parts and you’re left with this - a delightfully bright mango custard with a crispy, crunchy graham cracker crumble. serve with coconut whip and mixed berries, and polish that bowl clean! simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

dan dan mian gluten free food blog my bf is gf

Gluten-Free Dan Dan Mian

September 11, 2019

‘dan dan mian’, a symbol of sichuanese food, translates to ‘street vendor noodles’ or more literally to ‘carry carry noodles’ as this iconic bowl was sold off of bamboo shoulder poles back in the day.

consequently, it is not a soupy dish and relies on the incredibly savory ground pork for most of its flavour. these are the types of dishes that I want to make more accessible to reid as traditional restaurants will always make it the way its been made. with some minor tweaks to ingredients, asian dishes like this can easily be made gluten free.

we use soba king millet and brown rice noodles as they have the same ‘al dente’ springy texture as ramen.

you can sub the pork for ground round and the chicken stock for veg stock for a vegan version.

Thai-Style Chicken Wings

August 21, 2019

by far my favourite wings in the world, these thai style wings are the ultimate umami bomb. they’re crispy, sweet, sour, salty, not too saucy, and finger lickin’ gooood. serve them as is, or make it a full hands on meal with steamed sticky rice and grilled corn. make a double or triple batch of the sauce as it easily keeps in your freezer for up to 3 months (but probably longer). add to literally any protein (not just chicken wings) and you’ve got yourself a quick meal. be cautious though as a little goes a long way.

Indonesian Corn Fritters (Bergedel Jagung)

August 15, 2019

a couple of years ago, reid and I spent 3 months backpacking around southeast asia, planning our days around eating all the food we possible could. our mission was to find locals who could give us lessons on what they cooked at home.

my bf is gf gluten free food blog beef and broccoli

Leftover Steak and Broccoli

August 8, 2019

I love the simplicity of this classic chinese dish, and using leftover steak makes it even simpler! if you’re in TO, my favourite version of this is served at maple yip in scarborough where they use fresh chinese broccoli, and the beef slices are the most velvety and tender I’ve ever had. (they are currently in the process of relocating, but my parents will let me know once they announce it on fairchild radio) simple yet flavourful, this dish is perfectly paired with white jasmine rice.

no fry pad thai gluten free food blog my bf is gf

Fresh Noodle Salad with Tamarind Peanut Dressing

August 6, 2019

at one point I wanted to serve pad thai for lunch at my work but didn’t have the equipment or time to do it à la minute, so I took out the stir fry aspect and made this version instead! the ingredients are more or less the same, but this version is served cold like a salad.

plus, burners in home kitchens aren’t powerful enough to get the desired char and wok hay anyway (the flavour from the breath of the wok), so save yourself the hassle from ending up with a gloppy and broken pile of noodles.

this can easily be bulked and prepped the day ahead, just toss the salad in some dressing to keep the noodles from sticking together in the fridge. great option as a packed lunch!

Kimchi Fried Rice

July 31, 2019

there are a couple of tricks to ultimate fried rice:

1 - use leftover cooked rice rather than freshly cooked rice and store it uncovered in the fridge - the more it dries out, the better the fried rice will be!
2 - use the hottest setting on your stovetop at home
3 - when in doubt, add oil (加油!)

with those tips, you’ll be getting charred, crispy, chewy fried rice in no time!

Lemongrass Pork Patties

July 22, 2019

another one of my favourite things to eat, this dish is inspired by the classic vietnamese ‘com tam’. it’s herbaceous and fresh from all the delightful herbs and veggies, yet rich and nourishing from the savory pork patties, the perfectly yolky fried egg and the luscious coconut rice. top with some pickly and crunchy bits for punch and texture, and everything is singing in haaaarmonyy! crack open that egg, mix everything together and dig innnn.

Vibrant Steak Noodle Bowl

July 4, 2019

this is the type of food I want to eat all summer long! vibrant, fresh, simple, and easy. this recipe is great when your a/c is on full blast, as you won’t unnecessarily warm up the house with blazing kitchen appliances. the veg can all be tossed in a bowl and the grilling can be done outside! best enjoyed with a crisp cider in hand.

alton brown sardine avocado toast gluten free my bf is gf

Alton Toast (Avocado Sardine Toast)

May 23, 2019

alton toast (named for inimitable alton brown who created the original version of this recipe) is our go-to breakfast/lunch/dinner/snack when we need something filling and delicious that feels good. it's easy to throw together as long as you keep a couple cans of sardines on hand and have an avocado ripening at home, and it's packed with all the best kinds of fat from fish and avocados. as a bonus, because they're low on the food chain sardines are super sustainable, so you can chow down free from guilt. if you're unsure about canned fish, this recipe will make you a true believer and may even turn you (like us) into an obsessive canned sardine hunter whenever you visit a new grocery store! for the least fishy flavour, try to find small sardines like brislings.

sauteed chili jam kale with fried egg gluten free my bf is gf

Sautéed Chili Jam Kale with Crispy Fried Egg

April 25, 2019

tbh, this recipe came about when I wanted to make a colourful stir fry with lots of veg and realized I only had kale in my fridge. happy surprise! I’m glad to now have this one in my back pocket for an easy meal to whip up when I’m feelin’ something simple. hope you enjoy it too.

Homemade Chili Jam

April 25, 2019

when I first discovered thai chili jam a couple years back, my mind was blown. I had finally found an all-in-one flavour bomb that could instantly transform any stir fry into magic. the store bought version looks like this, but it contains some added flavour enhancers and colouring (if you’re not into that).

traditional homemade chili jam requires deep frying your own garlic and shallots, but this recipe uses store bought versions of those - cutting your time in half. store in the fridge for up to a month, or in the freezer for up to 6, and use with veg, seafood, meat, rice, noodles - the possibilities are endless!

Thai Green Apple Salad

April 11, 2019

do you love thai mango salad but live in a place where mangos don’t grow naturally? ‘cause I do! and green apples are a great substitute. they give a similar crunch and tanginess that green mangos have, plus, they don’t need to travel 11,000 km to get to your plate. pair this with our chicken and squash penang curry and maybe even this coconut chia pudding, and you’ve got a thai feast ready in no time.

gluten free kung pao chicken my bf is gf easy asian

The Real Deal Kung Pao Chicken

March 15, 2019

it wasn’t too long ago that I had my first real deal kung pao chicken. I always thought of it as an americanized-chinese-mall-food-court thing, often looking way too electric orange for comfort, and always mixed with an assortment of previously frozen vegetables (including the dreadful baby corn) note: fresh baby corn is actually amazing but really difficult to come by in north america

5-Ingredient Coconut Tom Yum Soup

March 7, 2019

this soup is as easy as combining 5 ingredients in a pot and waiting for 10 minutes! I highly recommend tracking down tom yum paste as this is the base of your flavour. plus, you’d need even more ingredients to substitute it in order to find the right balance. tom yum paste should be available in the international aisle of your major supermarket or at your local east/southeast asian grocery store. if you’re looking for a quick, and I mean rrreeaallyy quick appetizer with not much effort and all the gain, you’ll win with this one. add a little rice vermicelli to make it more filling, or a lot to make it a full meal. we all deserve an easy fix sometimes!

Banana Fiber Muffins

February 14, 2019

banana muffins baking in the oven has got to be one of my favourite smells in the world. as the maillard reaction goes down and the bananas begin to caramelize, an intoxicating, golden aroma fills the room and brings me right back to early memories of the first thing I ever baked. this version (based off a recipe from reid’s mom) is extra fibrous and filled with lots of good stuff for when you’ve been eating too much take-out and need a gut cleansing. perfect for an on-the-go breakfast, or as a snack, any time of day. we sometimes sub the bananas with pumpkin or chestnut purée to mix it up a bit. serve with a knob of butter for extra unctuousness.

gluten free chinese sausage dried shrimp fried rice

Simple Chinese Sausage and Dried Shrimp Fried Rice (JLo's 糯米飯)

February 7, 2019

even though I grew up cbc (canadian born chinese), cooking cantonese always seemed so technical and intimidating, until I realized that it can actually be pretty simple.

sure, some dishes can have a lot of components, but simple dishes are really simple. and that’s how my mom likes her food. hot and simple.

once I figured out that all it takes is a hot wok, I mean screaming hot, and a little flick of the wrist (practice makes perfect with uncooked rice in a pan), I knew how to make food that she’d truly enjoy.

Miso Tahini Pomelo Slaw

January 28, 2019

one upside of it being the dead of winter is that it’s also citrus season!!! from pomelos to clementines, blood oranges to navel, we’ve got some beautiful, tropical imports that remind us that there’s still colour in the world. this slaw uses one of my favourite citrus fruits - pomelo! it’s a sweeter, milder grapefruit that’s less bitter. combine that with easily available winter veg and a dressing that’s shelf stable for a week, and you’ve got an easy, healthy option for lunch or dinner. for added protein, toss in some cooked chicken.