Thursday 17 June 2010

Spaghetti Carbonara 白汁煙肉意大利粉

Spaghetti Carbonara - Rezept auf Deutsch
白汁煙肉意大利粉 - 中文食譜


Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Ingredients for 4 servings
  • 400g Spaghetti
  • 350g La Pancetta
  • 50g Pecorimo Romano Cheese
  • 50g Parmesan Cheese
  • 3 egg yolks
  • few stalks fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and black pepper for seasoning

Preparation

  • Cut the Pancetta into small pieces, chop the parsley and grate the cheese finely. Set the ingredients aside.
  • In a deep pot, cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente according to the packing instruction.
  • Heat olive oil in another frying pan, fry the Pancetta until crispy and golden brown, turn off the heat and set aside.
  • Beat the egg yolks into a bowl, gradually add grated cheese and mix well to form a egg sauce, add some egg white if the sauce is too thick.
  • Turn off the heat when the spaghetti is done, pour out excess water and leave about ¼ of the spaghetti portion. Add the cheese sauce and Pancetta … don't forget the frying oil!!! Finally sprinkle with parsley, salt and black pepper to finish. The mouth watering Spaghetti alla Carbonara flowing with creamy cheese sauce and savory Pancetta. It is an unquestioned perfect comfort food.

    Carlo Buti - Facetta Nera
    This classic Italian dish just can be done by few simple ingredients, if you don't have Pecorimo Romano Cheese, use Parmesan alone also fine.
    Cut the Pancetta in small pieces, and grate the cheese finely.
    Combine the cheese end egg yolk to form a rich cheese sauce.

    Cut the spaghetti in the middle and put it under the light, check the middle uncooked part is thin like silk. Oh! this is what we call "Al Dente".

    ... Sorry! When I mixed all the ingredients, because the Carbonara was too tempting, I forgot to take picture for you. 

    Mini Tips:
    La Pancetta, which is translated to Italian bacon. In fact, the real Pancetta are not smoke processed. The Italian use pork belly, with natural sea salt, nutmeg, pepper, fennel, chili pepper and garlic, to dry-cure the meat for 3 months. The process is difference from the US smoked bacon.

    There are many stories about the origin of Spaghetti alla Carbonara. According to legend, the coal miners using the only ingredients they had "eggs and Pancetta", and prepared with the simplest method. It was said that "Carbonara" came from italian word "Carbone", meaning coal. The story went on until the second world war. At that time italian only received rations of bacon and egg from the american troops, so Carbonara became their main dish. For sure, after the american soldiers tried the tasty Carbonara, they brought the recipe to their hometown, added cream and other ingredients. But I believe, the most basic is the best to experience the simplicity of Carbonara. 


    Sunday 13 June 2010

    Pancake Day 班戟日

    班戟日 - 中文文章
    Pfannkuchen Tage - Artikel auf Deutsch


    In England, Ireland and Australia, people would eat pancakes in Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Christian Lent. As egg and butter are forbidden foods during the lent period, Christians would indulge themselves by making and eating pancakes in the last day, and now becoming the famous Pancake Day.


    In England, many small and large towns hold Pancake Races. Traditionally, women carrying a frying pan, running and tossing the pancakes to reach the crossing line. Now days, young and elderly men and women, some even wearing funny costumes, would join and celebrate the exciting and cute Pancake Day together.


    Traditional Pancake Race

    The Olney Pancake Race held in Bucks, England

    References:
    Pancakes Organization UK
    Olney Town Council

    Saturday 5 June 2010

    Pancakes with Honeyed Apples 蜜糖蘋果班戟

    Pfannkuchen mit Honig-Äpfel - Rezept auf Deutsch
    蜜糖蘋果班戟 - 中文食譜


    Pancakes with Honeyed Apples
    Ingredients for ~ 14 pancakes

    • 225g all purpose flour 
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder 
    • 1 teaspoon sugar 
    • 2 large eggs
    • 30g melted and cooled butter
    • 300ml milk
    • vegetable oil or butter for frying
    Ingredients for Honeyed Apples
    • 2 Apples
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 6 tablespoons Golden Syrup
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    Preparation
    • In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar, beat in the eggs, melted butter and milk, mix well all the ingredients and transfer to a jug. Leave the batter for 30 minutes.
    • In the mean time, core the apples and cut into segments. Melt butter in a frying pan, fry apples in medium heat until light golden, add syrup, lemon juice and simmer for few minutes, turn off the heat and set aside.
    • Heat oil/butter in a non stick pan, pour in the batter until formed a sizable pancake. It takes about 1~2 minutes for pancake become firm, turn it over to another side and fry for 1 more minute then transfer to serving dish.
    • Place the honeyed apples beside the pancakes and pour over the syrup. To cheer your guests, serve with vanilla ice cream is the best!

    The Pancakes - Fing Fing 吓

    Mix all the pancake ingredients.

    Set the batter in room temperature and for 30 minutes, let the baking powder work for a spongy pancake.
    The remains can store in the fridge for few days, thaw to room temperature when you make pancakes again.

    Add Golden Syrup and lemon juice on the light golden apples, hmm... a refreshing sugary aroma rush to the nose.

    When you see bubbles coming up, turn the pancake to the other side.

    References:
    IKEA's Real Swedish Food Book
    Nigella Lawson online recipes
    Music: The Pancakes