Fine Chinese food for dinner

Fine Chinese food for dinner

JAKARTA (JP): Chinese cookbook writer Mary Winata shares her
recipes for asparagus soup, which is one of the most popular
Chinese soups and Ma Po bean curd. The soup makes an appetizing
starter before a heavier course, while the spicy Ma Po's bean
curd is best served with warm rice.

Asparagus Soup

* 3 tbsp cooking oil
* 2 tbsp soya sauce
* 2 tbsp cooking wine or sherry
* 250 g crab meat
* 1 can of asparagus, shredded
* A pinch of salt and pepper
* 1/2 tsp sugar
* 5 tbsp cornflour mix with 10 tbsp water
* 3 whisked eggs
* 1/2 tsp sesame oil
* black vinegar

(Makes 10 servings)

1. In a cooking pot, heat the oil, add the soya sauce and cooking
wine. Add chicken stock and cook until it simmers. Add the crab
meat, asparagus, salt and sugar and cook for another three
minutes. Drizzle in the cornflour mixture and stir until it
thickens.
2. Gradually add in whisked eggs, mix well. Stir in pepper and
sesame oil, mix well. Serve with a few drops of black vinegar.

Ma Po's Bean Curd

* 10 g preserved bamboo shoot, finely chopped
* 2 tbsp cooking oil
* 2 cloves of garlic, finely crushed
* 2 shallots, finely chopped
* 1/2 tsp ginger, finely minced
* 100 g minced beef
* 1 tbsp chili bean sauce
* 1/2 tsp finely ground chili
* A pinch of salt and white pepper to taste
* 1/2 tsp sugar
* 300 ml water
* 2 pieces of bean curd, cubed
* 1 tsp cornflour, mixed with 1 tbsp water
* 1/2 tsp sesame oil
* 1 tbsp shredded green onion

(Makes 6 servings)

1. Soak preserved bamboo shoot in water for 5 minutes. Drain.
2. In a cooking pan, heat the oil, add the garlic, shallots and
ginger and stir until fragrant. Add in beef, stir until it
changes color. Add in chili bean sauce, ground chili and season
with salt, pepper, sugar, water.
3. Add bean curd, cook for three minutes. Put in bamboo shoot,
stir for one minute.
4. Thicken with cornflour mixture. Stir in sesame oil and
sprinkle with green onion.

--Recipes courtesy of Aneka Hidangan Tahu dan Telur and Aneka
Sup Lezat dan Sehat by Mary Winata (PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama).