From China Town

    A couple of years back I visited Sydney, Australia. Just after 2-3 days of having sandwiches and fruits for lunch/dinner I craved for Indian food. We discovered a place called China Town during one of our expeditions for food! I was all excited to have Chinese food -something to remind me of food at home! The menu boasted of a range of Chinese dishes. We ordered for some Rice and some Noodles. To my utter disappointment the rice and noodles were nothing like the ones we have at home…here in India.The Chinese food served in India is more of a Indo-Chinese fusion.Basic Chinese recipes altered to suit the Indian palette,with lots of garlic and chillies and sauces!I am not complaining, I prefer it that way.I am a great fan of this Indo-Chinese food.Here’s my favourite Veg Fried Rice and Veg Hot and Sour …Indi style..my style

      

For the Veg Fried Rice you need:

1 cup rice, cooked

2 cups finely chopped vegetables (Carrots, French Beans, Green Capsicums, fresh button Mushrooms, fresh green spring onions)

3-4 garlic cloves finely chopped

½ tsp ginger grated

2 tsp green chilly sauce

2 tsp Soya Sauce

¼  tsp white/black pepper powder

A pinch of Ajinomoto (Mono Sodium Glutamate) -optional

2 tsp oil for cooking

Salt as per required  Heat oil in a wok. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 min.Add the ginger and then add the spring onion whites. Sauté for a few minutes on high flame. Then add the carrots and French beans and cook for a few minutes till the carrots and beans become a little soft.Add the green capsicum, Mushrooms and spring onion greens.Cook for a few minutes.Now add some Chinese green chilly sauce, soy sauce, ajinomoto and some salt .Adjust the salt depending on the soy sauce and ajinomoto added. Add the cooked rice mix and cook for few minutes more on high flame.Serve hot.

 

For Veg Hot and sour you need:

1 small cabbage diced. 2 Carrots sliced (in thin rounds)

1 medium sized green Capsicum cut into thin strips

2-3 sprigs green onions (bulbs as well as greens)

½ tsp ginger grated

2 tsp green chilly sauce

2 tsp Soya Sauce

1 tbsp hot and sweet tomato sauce (or just add some red chilli powder to tomato ketchup)

2 tsp cornflour

½ cup water

¼ tsp white/black pepper powder

¼ tsp sugar

Salt as per taste.

2 tsp oil

     

Heat oil in a wok. Add the ginger and chopped onions (white part).Sauté for few minutes.Add the carrots and then add the cabbage.Cook for a few minutes then add the capsicum.When the veggies are just cooked add the sauces, salt and sugar.Add some water to the veggies.In a small bowl mix the cornflour with little water.Add it to the veggies and mix nicely.Cook till the gravy becomes little thick and saucy.Sprinkle pepper powder. Serve hot with Veg Fried Rice.