Quinoa and Buckwheat

1.       Wash Quinoa and Buckwheat

2.       Add water (double portion.  i.e. 1 quinoa/buckwheat:2 water)

3.       May add other ingredients such as red dates (sliced, without seed), pumpkin (sliced), corn kernel, chicken/pork (small pieces).

4.       Cook on low fire without the lid for about 20min until water dries up.

5.       After 10min, stir a little.

6.       After 15^th min till cook, need to monitor water level.  Add a bit of hot water if you find it’s not cooked and yet the water is drying up. Therefore, at step 2, I usually add a bit more water. But too much water will make your quinoa/buckwheat too mushy.

7.       Between 18^th to 22^nd min, when water dries up and Buckwheat/Quinoa is cooked (Quinoa opens up with its white 'tail'), turn off the fire.

8.       Add chopped small onion, a bit of salt. Mix well.  Cover the pot and leave it for 20min before it’s ready to be served.

8 Treasure Rice

8 treasure rice (Mix of 7-9 ingredients with pumpkin & roast pork being key items)

Ingredients:

1. garlic and small onion - minced

2. Dried scallop - soak in hot water and minced.   Keep the water to cook the rice. 

3. Dried shrimp - soak in hot water and minced. Keep the water to cook the rice. 

4. Dried mushroom - soak in hot water and minced/sliced. Marinate with sugar, dark soya sauce, Chinese rose wine, pepper.  Keep the water to cook the rice. 

5. Chinese sausage - soak in hot water and remove the skin.  Cut into thin slices. 

6. Roast pork - cut into cube 

7. Pumpkin - remove seed/skin, cut into cubes. 

8. Chestnut - boil in hot water and remove the covering. 

9. Other optional: corn kernel, diced carrot. 

Step:

a. Heat a bit of oil in a wok, fry ingredient 1-3 until fragrant.   Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. 

b. Add rice and mix well. Add water (same portion as rice ie 1:1). Can use the water that is used to soak scallop,shrimp and mushroom. May add some seasonings (salt, sugar) to the water. 

c. Transfer to a metal container and steam for 40-45min on medium fire.  After 30min, turn the contents and see if need to add more water.   May use rice cooker but it’s unlikely to be cooked with one round of “cook” function - need to press the “cook” function a few times.  Similarly, turn the contents to ensure they are cooked evenly.  

d. When serve, may add cashew nut/pine nut on top.