Asian

Each takeaway barbecued chicken we used in this chapter weighed about 900g; when skinned and boned, this results in 3 cups (480g) of shredded meat, or 2½ cups (425g) of coarsely chopped meat. Note

Deliciously pungent and flavour-packed ginger-shallot chicken dish.

Simplicity is best when it comes to fresh seafood, and fresh is best to match with the sharp, fragrant flavours in this Asian inspired dish.

This tasty Asian style dish can be on the table within half an hour of arriving home in the evening. It's a perfectly balanced meal and full of flavour.

Satisfy your tastebuds with this spicy pork and broccolini stir-fry.

This fragrant and delicious chicken, noodle and kaffir lime stir-fry is a quick and easy mid-week dinner.

Snow peas can be replaced with sugar snap peas, if you like. Hokkien (or stir-fry) noodles are sold in cryovac packages in the refrigerated section of supermarkets. Note

Chinese-style poached chicken with spring onion and coriander from Australian Women's Weekly.

Delicious tender lamb shanks in a rich and mild Massaman curry.

This easy, economical mid-week meal is healthy and delicious. It is also great for lunch the next day.

Tamarind concentrate is available from Asian and Indian grocery stores or in the Asian section of some supermarkets. Adjust the amount of chilli in the tamarind and chilli marinade to suit your taste as it’s very hot. Note

Delicious and tender beef kebabs threaded with red onion and lathered in teriyaki sauce.

This is refreshing and light but deeply satisfying, and it’s fast! Ring the changes with prawns, if that’s what you have. I use Campbell’s fish stock when I don’t have my own and it works a treat.

These bite-sized morsels of trout and pomelo salad are mouth-watering with hits of flavour from roasted peanut nam jim, fresh ginger, coconut and lime.

Loaded with ginger, chilli and herbs, these sticky beef patties with Chinese broccoli make a delicious meal served with steamed rice.

Laksa paste can be made 2 days ahead; keep tightly covered in the refrigerator. Soup is not suitable to freeze. Note

Healthy, fragrant and authentic Japanese teriyaki chicken rice salad.

Light and healthy wasabi, soy and sesame noodles from Australian Women's Weekly.

Healthy and vibrant wok-tossed greens with oyster sauce from Australian Women's Weekly.

For a non-vegetarian option, substitute tofu with lean chicken mince. You could use butter lettuce leaves, if you prefer. For extra heat, add an extra fresh long red chilli. Note

A sweet and nutty beef stir-fry with broccolini from Australian Women's Weekly.

The trick to stir-frying is having all the ingredients chopped, weighed and measured before you start cooking. This is known as mise en place', and translates to everything in its place and ready to go. Trim the snow peas, peeling the stem and string away from the peas, then cut snow peas in half. To […]

Sticky lemon grass beef served in lettuce wraps from Australian Women's Weekly.

A super fast and easy stir fry of egg noodles with chicken in tamari, mirin, ginger and garlic marinade.

Drain the morello sour cherries and reserve the syrup for use in the recipe. Note

This pudding is also great served topped with fresh mango slices, instead of the banana, if you like. Sago is a grain often used in puddings and desserts; it is available from some supermarkets and most health-food stores.

These barbecued prawns with a spicy, Indian-style marinade make a fabulous starter, or a platter of finger food for passing round at a party.

If you don’t have salt-reduced chicken stock, replace 1 cup of the stock with water. You will need to buy a barbecued chicken weighing about 900g for this recipe. We have delibrately made this fast and satisfying recipe without oil in order to make it low fat. So ideally you need to use a non-stick […]

Although it’s called pork neck, this marbled cut comes from the shoulder, suits high temperature cooking, such as barbecuing and roasting and is far nicer than many leaner cuts. If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes first. Pork can be marinated and threaded onto skewers a day ahead. Note

This refreshing, punchy noodle salad makes the perfect healthy lunch or dinner.

Delicious chicken wings in a sweet honey soy marinade; great for sharing with family and family.

For this recipe, we deboned a whole chinese barbecued duck, available from Asian barbecue takeaway stores. Choy sum, also known as chinese flowering cabbage, and tat soi, chinese flat cabbage, can be found at most greengrocers as well as Asian supermarkets

Satay originated in Indonesia, and today features prominently in Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and African cuisines. This satay recipe is quick and deceptively simple, requiring few ingredients and minimal preparation and cooking time.

Here is a classic Asian dish that works every time; steaming will give you a soft, moist and tender flesh that slides right off the bone. Go heavy or light on the chilli, depending on your personal heat threshold.

A quick and easy vermicelli stir-fry with garlic beef and broccoli.

Use a naturally brewed soy sauce or tamari, such as Kikkoman (there are low-salt versions available) rather than cheaper brands which are often made with caramel. I use Bean Supreme tofu, which is widely available.

Whip up this easy prawn and squid stir-fry for a speedy, delicious weeknight meal.

A lip-smackingly good Asian-style braised sweet ginger duck from Australian Women's Weekly,

Onion & spinach pakoras, also called pakodi, are fried snacks originating in India and are found across South Asia.

Pork is a rich and appetising meat, and its cooking aroma is like no other. Pork neck is incredibly versatile and can be prepared in many ways; here the whole piece is braised, and the result is wonderfully moist and full of flavour.

The combination of prawn, lychee and fragrant herbs in this zingy salad will wow your tastebuds.

Fresh or frozen stir-fry vegetables can be used in this recipe. Note

Tamarind honey chicken with asian wombok salad from Australian Women's Weekly.

You can peel and cut two carrots into sticks instead of using baby carrots, try asparagus instead of beans. Only use fresh walnuts, if unsure, use Californian nuts in a vacuum-sealed tin. Note

Loaded with greens and cabbage, this easy beef stir-fry makes a speedy week-night meal served with steamed rice.

Sticky tamarind-glazed riblets with a colourful rice noodle stir-fry from Australian Women's Weekly.

An exquisite Asian starter dish of hoisin pork with salted crackling from Australian Women's Weekly.

Served with a plum dipping sauce, these pork and cabbage rice paper rolls are great for a share platter and require no cooking.

There is something deeply satisfying about making you own curry from scratch. The spice blend we've used for this hot and spicy chicken curry results in a depth of flavour and piquancy that you just don't get from a jar.

We used ling fillets in this recipe, but you can use your favourite white fish fillet. You need to soak eight bamboo skewers in cold water for at least an hour to prevent them from scorching during cooking. Serve the skewers with lime wedges, if you like. Note

Singapore chilli crab is this island nation's unofficial national dish and, like Singapore itself, is an amalgam of the best of its Malaysian, Indian and Chinese past.

Just a little lime and chilli will finish off this perfectly roasted snapper. Serve with roasted vegetables or a light salad, depending on your preference.

There are many versions of hot and sour soup throughout Asia. The common factor, of course, is that they all have ingredients to make them both spicy, and sour. This one also has seafood and noodles and is a complete and delicious meal.

This delicious pork and vegetable soup is packed full of goodness and beautiful Japanese flavours that will leave you wanting more. The tender meat and noodles work perfectly together in this healthy Winter dish.

If snake beans are unavailable, use green beans. Note

Served with udon noodles and a punchy ginger and hazelnut dressing, this pork salad is deliciously satisfying.

Full of flavour, colour and crunch, this Asian-inspired salad is a cinch to make and perfect for a speedy mid-week meal.

This fresh and fragrant Thai beef salad with chilli and lime gets a powerful kick from its fish sauce based dressing. One of the classic dishes of Thai cuisine and a favourite on restaurant menus the world over.

Taking the name from Baltistan, a mountainous region in northern Pakistan, balti curries often include paneer.

While these delicately spicy Chinese omelettes are delectable, it's the sauce that really makes this dish something special.

You can thinly slice rump or scotch fillet steaks instead of using beef strips. Ground bean sauce is available from the Asian section of supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. Note

The flavour you get from just a few cupboard ingredients packs an enormous flavour. It is perfect for deep-fried spring rolls, rice paper rolls, or even drizzled over a perfectly cooked steak.

Tasty little pork filled lettuce cups make a great starter; or serve them up as part of a banquet meal.

Crispy, crunchy and tender twice-cooked duck from Australian Women's Weekly.

sesame dressing Perilla leaves, also known as shiso leaves, belong to the mint family and are available in green and purple-red varieties from Asian grocers. Use the leaves whole or shredded, as an ingredient or a condiment. You can use mint leaves instead. Note

A delicious slow-roasted honey and soy pork neck with complex Asian spices and flavours.

Not suitable to freeze. Not suitable to microwave. Note

Fast and fresh, this pork and green bean noodle stir fry is a great mid-week dinner recipe.

Left over garlic frying oil can be saved and used for future stir-fries, or used for roasting vegetables. Note

Best made just before serving, this bright and fragrant soup with juicy beef dumplings is perfect for cold winter nights. Add some extra chilli if you like more heat.