Cooking with Steven Chinese cooking for college students

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Honeydew Melon Dessert Soup (season 1, episode 5)



Hot or cold, as dessert, breakfast, or a simple snack -- have a taste of a light coconut milk dessert infused with the sweetness of honeydew melon.

[Recipe]

No Comments Tagged as: , , , , , , | Modified: March 29, 2010 at 1:23 am | Steven Cheng

Honeydew Melon Dessert Soup (season 1, episode 5)

[Watch the episode]
Ingredients

No set quantity, all to taste.

Honeydew Melon*, diced (important to let it ripen before use, otherwise the soup will be tasteless)
Coconut milk
Chinese Rock Sugar (sometimes called "Rock candy" or "lump sugar")
Tapioca

Cost: <$5 for a pot enough for at least 4.

*Instead of dicing the melon, if you have a melon-baller, use it to create those intricate spheres to impress; to help your melon ripen, wrap it in a cloth with ripe bananas (should work, like with most fruits).

Instructions

  1. Bring pot of water to boil, and prepare another pot/kettle of boiling water.
  2. Add honey dew melon to pot, let it boil for 5 minutes, then put on simmer.
  3. In a separate bowl, soak tapioca in hot water (from kettle) for 30 minutes.
  4. The tapioca should be translucent on the outside, though the core might still be white, it is fine. Sieve, or at least remove majority of the water.
  5. Bring the pot back to a boil, add the tapioca. Let it boil for 3 -5 minutes.
  6. Turn heat to low, add coconut milk, mix well, and serve. (to avoid clumps, trick is to mix the coconut milk well before adding to the pot).
  7. Serve immediately hot, or cold after a night of refrigeration. Serve as dessert or as breakfast.
1 Comment Tagged as: , , , , , , | Modified: March 29, 2010 at 10:52 pm | Steven Cheng

Dining Hall Specials: Spinach Egg Drop Soup (season 1, episode 4)



Missing a light soup on a cold winter's day?  Or do you want something refreshing on a summer's afternoon?  Try this microwaved approximation of a Chinese family classic.

[Recipe]

No Comments Tagged as: , , , | Modified: March 18, 2010 at 10:08 pm | Steven Cheng

Dining Hall Specials: Spinach Egg Drop Soup (season 1, episode 4)

[Watch the episode]
Ingredients

One egg
Some tomato
Spinach
Onion and mushroom (optional, only to add a little flavor)
Salt

Cost: None, if you are on a meal plan at school.  If not, it should be <$1.50.

Instructions

  1. Put as much spinach as you can in the bowl, add hot water and sliced tomatoes (about 3-4 thumbed-sized pieces for a small bowl). Add mushroom 2 heads, and onion, 3 or 4 slivers if you have them.
  2. Microwave covered on high for about 2 minutes. (Tip is to sandwich your bowl with 2 plates, so you can take the hot soup out from the microwave easily.)
  3. During this time, whip your egg.
  4. Uncover the bowl after 2 minutes, add whipped egg to bowl of soup, cover, and microwave for another 30 seconds.
  5. Salt to taste. Pepper optional.
No Comments Tagged as: , , , | Modified: March 29, 2010 at 10:53 pm | Steven Cheng