La Jiao Jiang - chilli paste

I found this recipe whilst browsing on the internet.
You can never have too much chilli so I had to make this side accompaniment.
It is such a delightful chilli paste to add to your meal when served at the table.   It complements egg dishes, fried meat, chicken or fish, fried rice, curried dishes, anything to which you could possibly add chilli.
 

I am a busy woman.  Wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend to many -  there is always something to do and each day is filled with work and activities. 
It is nice to have a chilli dish like this prepared so you can add the chilli taste at the end of cooking which can save you 2 minutes of cooking time.  (Note 2 minutes x 3 times per day x 7 days = a total of 42 minutes saved per week).

Just last weekend I decided to de cobweb the house.  Picture me looking skyward with a broom that just reached the eaves ... neck ache, arm ache and double vision but so rewarding seeing the clean walls and eaves.    Then the oven needed a clean, even though you can burn off a lot of debris, those racks always need a scrub.
I bought a new storage cupboard, a flat-pack, just for hubby to enjoy building.   I closed my ears to his grumbling and then it was so nice to move objects into this cupboard for storage, very satisfying.

Somehow, we still manage to cook for our loved ones and catch up with friends for a coffee...  the small rewards we all enjoy.

 

La Jiao Jiang

7 hot chilli peppers  (as 7 is my favourite number).  I used cayennes and jalapenos.

1 small clove garlic, minced very finely 

1 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 dash salt
1 teaspoon white sugar

1 tablespoon white vinegar

 

Chop the peppers finely or blend them roughly in a mini food processor. Do not discard the seeds. Dried chili peppers can also be used if you rehydrate them in hot water for 20 minutes. Finely mince the garlic or shallot.

Heat oil and a dash of salt in a small sauce pan or wok. Add the peppers and let them fry for a few minutes, stirring frequently. Once the peppers have begun releasing their juices and fragrance, lower the heat and add the garlic. After a few minutes add the vinegar, sugar and cover. Let simmer on lowest heat setting for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until peppers are dark red and gorgeous.

Let cool and store in an air tight glass container.  Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.  It can also be stored indefinitely in the freezer.

 

The flavour is robust, well rounded but some of the heat of the chilli is lost. 

Try it, you will be delighted.

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Tell me dear friend, are you time poor as well?   What is your best time saving tip?

 

Buon appetito, enjoy Merryn xx

Green Papaya Salad - vegetarian version

We have been away recently, travelling to South Australia for our nephew's wedding.
We had a wonderful time, seeing my husband's family, long time friends and watching the union of two beautiful young people.

Luckily the weather was good, warm days with cooler evenings.  When we arrived at Tullamarine in Melbourne and stepped out of the airport building, the winds blew a strong 100kmh so I patted hubby on the back and said "Welcome Home!"

My husband's family are predominantly Italian with a slight German factor and they all cook incredibly well, I did not lift a spatula all week.   Lunch would consist of a pasta course, meat course, vegetable and salad course.  Dinner was very light as you would still be full from your lunchtime.

My brother-in-law is a talented fisherman who offered us beautiful South Australian flake, caught in the cool Indian Ocean and one gorgeous sister-in-law is a chef.  Combined with catching up with extended family, great cooking and warm hospitality, we were glowing with goodness during the entire visit.

It was however still delightful to return to our warmer haven in coastal New South Wales and I was craving light, summer Asian inspired salads.  It was wonderful to see so many green pawpaws and papayas on the trees with the sun dancing through their leaves.  I couldn't wait to pick one for dinner.

I like to take short cuts when I can so I peel the green papaya, quarter it lengthwise and remove the seeds before placing the quarters into the food processor so it can quickly grate them (large disc).

This is a favourite of my family, they especially enjoyed having us return so I could cook for them. (Picture 3 teenagers surviving on frozen meat peas, pizza, maccas and chips whilst we were away.)

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Green Papaya Salad

1 green papaya, peeled and roughly grated

4 snake beans, chopped into 1cm pieces (or plain green beans)
1 red tomato, seeds removed and finely chopped

4 cloves garlic 

2 red chillies, seeds removed and finely chopped  (or to taste)

2 green shallots

juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon fine salt

2 teaspoons white sugar

1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts

1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander

Combine the grated papaya, the chopped beans, tomato and chopped chillies in a large bowl.

Pound the garlic with the shallots, salt and sugar in a mortar and pestle then add to bowl.

Squeeze over the juice of 2 limes, the mix thoroughly.

Sprinkle the chopped peanuts over top.

You can add chopped fresh coriander at this point but I serve it in a separate bowl so guests can help themselves.  

You can also offer a bowl of extra green and red chillies chopped for people like me, who love this recipe hot.  

This recipe is based on one depicted in The Accidental Vegetarian by Simmon Rimmer.  I served this as a side with barbecued chicken thigh cutlets, but it is equally delicious served with prawns or other seafood.

So tell me, do you like your food with extra chillies?  Have you ever prepared green papaya salad?

Buon appetito, enjoy Merryn xx