Shrimp Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 20 pcs small shrimp
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 1/4 white onion minced
• 2 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 2 tbs butter
• 1 egg scrambled
• salt pepper

Method:

1. Clean the shrimp, remove the shells and the vein at the back.
2. Put 1 tbs butter in a hot pan. Saute the shrimp and garlic until shrimp changes color.
3. Wash the peas in hot water and drain.
4. Add  in onion and peas and saute for 1-2 min.
5. Add the rice.
6. Push the mixture to the side and add 1 tbs of butter in the pan.
7. Pour in the scrambled egg and cook til it settles at the bottom.
8. Mix the egg with the rice. Mix well
9. Put in soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and cook for another minute.

#4. Shrimp Fried Rice Lunchbox

This is the lunchbox I made for today. It's a shrimp fried rice. Then, I included 4 sides: cucumber muchim, soy bean sprout muchim, baby potato jorim, and carrots cut into wedges. If you notice all the sides are veggies. Two of them are fresh and the other two are boiled. This gives me license to use butter in my fried rice...^^

Algamja Jorim (알감자 조림) / Baby Potato Jorim

Another common side dish is algamja jorim (알감자 조림). It has a mild sweetness from the caramelized sauce. This is similar to gamja jorim except that it uses baby potatoes. I actually prefer this one cause i can keep the skin on, and it tastes better with it.

Ingredients:

• 15 baby potatoes
• 2 cups water
• 4 tbs soy sauce
• 2 tbs corn syrup
• 1 tbs sugar
• 1 tbs cooking wine, mirin

Method:

1. Wash the baby potatoes and scrub them clean.
2. Put into a deep pan or wok and pour in the water.
3. Boil on high until the water is reduced to half.
4. Put the remaining ingredients and turn down the heat to medium. Boil for 20 min.
5. Turn off the heat and sprinkle sesame seeds. The sauce should have caramelized.

Oi Muchim (오이 무침) Cucumber Muchim

Oi Muchim (오이 무침) is  a typical Banchan (반찬)  that usually goes well with grilled meat. It has a slightly sour flavor that subtles the grease in grilled meat.


Ingredients:

• 2 small kirby cucumbers
• 1/4 med white onion
• 2 ts red pepper powder
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1/2 tbs apple vinegar
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp roasted sesame seeds

Method:

1. Wash the cucumbers in cold water. Cut diagonally in to thin pieces.
2. Put into a glass bowl and add the remaining ingredients.
3. Mix by hand.

Kongnamul Muchim (콩나물 무침) / Soy bean Sprout Namul

A typical Korean meal comprises of soup, 4-5 sides (including rice) and a main dish like fish or meat. Side dishes or Banchan (반찬) are staple to every meal.

Kongnamul Muchim (콩나물 무침)  is a very common side dish. You can prepare it this way and use it in bibimbap, too.

Ingredients:

• 1 pack soy bean sprouts
• 2 cloves garlic crushed
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tbs sesame oil
• 2 green onions chopped
• 1/2 tsp red pepper powder (optional)

Method:

1. Wash the soy bean sprouts in running water. remove bad parts.
2. Put the soy bean sprouts in a pot. Add 2 cups of water and salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 15 min.
3. Drain the soy bean sprouts and cool down a bit.
4. Add the remaining ingredients and mix it by hand.

Ganjang Omuk Bokkeum (간장 어묵 볶음) / Soy sauce Fish Cake Bokkeum

Ganjang Omuk Bokkeum (간장 어묵 볶음) is a common side dish served in restaurants. It has also a spicy variety.




Ingredients:

• 1 sheet fish cake
• 1/4 white onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• 2 tbs oil canola/ olive oil
• 1 tbs green onions
• sesame seeds

Method:

1. Wash the fish cake in warm water to remove odor.
2. Cut the fish cake into 4 parts crosswise. Put it in a pile and cut inti thin strips.
3. Put oil in a hot fry pan. Add the fish cake and stir fry for 15 sec at med high.
4. Put in the garlic and onion and saute til translucent.
5. Add the green onions and soy sauce and stir fry for another min.
6. Turn off the heat and add sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

Sweet Valentine

I made this heart shaped chocolates for Valentine's Day. Pople might wonder why I am the one giving chocolates to my man. Well, he's from Korea and their custom is that women give men chocolates on Feb. 14. Sounds unfair? Well women have their day too. It's called White Day and it falls on Mar. 14. I don't know what's with the name. On this day, men give women candy instead of chocolates. It still sounds lame to me that women only get candies. It's not like candies could be sophisticated... I'm not really what people call touchy feely, but sometimes I like to do stuff like this for my man... (it seems to be the social convemtion) ^^