Saffron & Pea Risotto in Romano Peppers

Saffron and pea risotto was one of my favourite suppers when we lived in the UK. I would make a big pile of it just for myself and standing there and stirring it is a great way to wind down after a hard day at work. Rediscovering this dish as been great like meeting an old friend you haven't seen for a while and wondering why you lost touch in the first place. 

This dish was too stodgy for Singapore's climate not too mention that I could never find the right rice so it is great to be able to enjoy this recipe again. For this recipe I used Carnaroli rice which makes quite a creamy risotto but you could use Arborio  or even better use Vialone Nano instead. I used to throw in a handful of  cheese such as Parmesan at the end which you can do if you are dairy inclined.

A quick warning to those on a gluten free diet I have read that it is not always advisable to order risotto in Italy or traditional Italian restaurants as it is quite common to use pasta water to feed the risotto rice which will contaminate the whole dish with gluten. Not sure how widespread this practice is but worth being aware of as it is certainly not something I would have thought of.

Nasi Goreng with Sweet and Sticky Tempeh - Indonesian Fried Rice

I love rice. I think that if I had to choose one starchy carbohydrate that I had to eat for the rest of my life it would be rice. Yes, I have given this some thought, I also know what my five vegetables would be. In fact if I ever end up speed dating I think this might one of my questions along with, "If you were a biscuit, what biscuit would you be?". I think you can tell a lot about someone by which biscuit they identify with (I would be a ginger nut). Anyway, back to the point. I have eaten nasi goreng often on our travels as if you can make yourself understood you can generally get someone to rustle up a vegetarian version even if they are incredulous that you don't want some shrimp or chicken thrown in. One of our first trips away was to Bali and I have fond memories of stopping to eat nasi goreng at a little shack on the way to the airport. It was in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by rice paddies.  Our lovely driver found it highly amusing that the spicy food on an empty stomach gave me instant hiccups (this is a seriously annoying trait my body has) and made J's nose run constantly. He laughed most of the way through the meal, all the while piling extra chillies on his plate!

Rice Paddies in Bali made for a memorable setting to eat spicy Nasi Goreng

Fried rice is one of my go to easy meals and if I am cooking rice I always, accidentally on purpose, make too much so I can throw together some fried rice for lunch. And this is the most important thing when making fried rice- always use at least day old cooked rice. Freshly cooked rice has too much water in it and so it goes mushy when you try to fry it. You can throw what ever veggies you like into the mix but I always make sure there is at least one representative from the onion family e.g leek, scallions or onion. Omit the egg if you want it to be vegan or throw in some cubed cooked chicken or shrimp if you like meat. I like this with sweet sticky tempeh, which I have also provided a recipe for.

Vegetarian Kimchi Fried Rice

Having just come back from an enjoyable long weekend away in Hanoi and Halong Bay I was  excited about trying to make some classic Vietnamese dishes suitable for vegetarians and if they were good enough, posting them on this blog. But... I have a cold and the my brain is a little befuddled, I didn't even manage to get around the supermarket without forgetting where I left my basket so trying new recipes was off the cards. Instead I made Kimchi fried rice, my go to dish when I have a cold. Kimchi, fermented vegetables in chilli and garlic, is often claimed to have health benefits and boost the immune system and I always try to have some when I have a cold along with a bowl of miso soup. Not sure if it works but if nothing else this dish is tasty for your jaded, cold suppressed taste buds and is very easy to make.  I like mine topped with a fried egg but vegans can omit and if they want some additional protein can use cubed tofu in with the vegetables. Minced pork, waxed sausages or prawns are traditionally added to this dish so meat eaters can throw a handful of meat in as well.  All I need now is to cosy up on the sofa and watch a few Korean soap operas.