Uni Pasta x Bulgogi. One of my favourite things in the world to eat is Uni. While only available seasonally, Sea Urchin, as it better known, is decadent, thick, buttery and creamy. Infusing it into a creamy pasta sauce is the perfect way to get more out of it is sold in small portions. My favourite Pasta is Pappardelle, an Egg Noodle which works well with the creaminess of this dish. Pairing this together with Air-fried Bulgogi, Barbequed Korean Beef, is the perfect way to make Uni Pasta even more satisfying. A sumptuous balance of East meets West.
Fun fact: Maurizio Gucci‘s (the central subject in House of Gucci) favourite dish was Uni Pasta.
Ingredients:
1 large tray of Uni
16 oz Ribeye Steak, thinned in half
1/4 cup Korean BBQ Marinade
250g package of Pappardelle Pasta
1/3 cup Heavy Cream
1/4 cup Evaporated Milk
1/4 cup Korean BBQ Marinade
3 tbsp Unsalted Butter
1 tbsp Truffle Oil
5 bulbs garlic, minced
1 tbsp minced scallion
Furikake
Parmesan Cheese, grated
Sea salt, to taste
Instructions:
1. Marinate steak for minimum one hour in refrigerator. Leave at room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking.Gallery:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Feast for a King. We’ve been on our best behaviour and it’s time for a feast! This combines all our favourites, Rib Steak, Sushi, Jumbo U.S. Spot Prawns and of course Uni (Sea Urchin), which is only available at points in the year at your local seafood market. We were so lucky to come across some so we thought we’d splurge a little! Incredibly creamy and umami, Uni might be an acquired taste for some, but it is the most amazing thing we’ve ever tasted. This feast is simple, sophisticated and elegant. And we’ve earned it!
Finish this off with a dead-simple Blueberry Tiramisu which you prepare the day before. No baking – just simple easy-to-find ingredients.
Ingredients:
1 lb Jumbo U.S. Spot Prawns
10 oz Rib Steak
10 pieces fresh Uni/Sea Urchin
1 cup Botan Calrose Rice
3 tbps Seasoned Rice Vinegar
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1/4 tsp sea salt
5 sheets Nori, quartered and toasted
Ground Pink Himalayan Salt
Ground Peppercorns
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce
Wasabi
Instructions:
1. Season steak with Himalayan Salt and Peppercorns, refrigerate for about 3 hours and bring out about 45 minutes before cooking.
2. In rice cooker, prepare rice. Rinse once and add 1 1/2 cups water. Cook fully and unplug once finished. Open lid and season with rice vinegar, salt and sugar. Mix gently and leave lid open to breathe. Once slightly-cooled, scoop into a serving bowl.
3. Pre-heat oven at 200°F. Place Nori on baking sheet (ungreased) and bake for about a 1-2 minutes, careful not to burn. You are toasting til crisp. Remove tray from oven right away. Stack on plate for serving.
3. Clean shrimp. Bring pot of salt water to boil and add prawns. Cook medium-high heat for about 2-3 minutes till cooked. Remove from heat and rinse under cold water. Pat dry with paper towels and arrange on plate.
4. Rinse Uni in cold water gently. Pat gently with paper towels till try. Arrange on plate and keep chilled till ready to serve.
5. Pre-heat Air Fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes. Brush steak sparingly with olive oil and fry for about 8 minutes. Once cooked, remove from Fryer and slice into thin strips. Season once more with Himalayan Salt. Arrange on plate.
6. In shallow small dish, combine Wasabi and Soy Sauce to taste.
7. Serve by taking Nori sheet, with one spoon of rice scooped-on. Dip Uni, Steak and Prawns in Wasabi-Soy and wrap in Nori and rice. Eat with hands.
Blueberry Tiramisu
24 Nilla Wafers or about 16 Ladyfingers
473 ml carton of Whipping Cream
250g tub of Mascarpone/Cream Cheese/Smooth Ricotta (room temperature)
2 tbsps Coffee Liqueur
2 tbsps high-grade Instant Coffee (brand suggestion: Davidoff or Maxim)
1 cup fresh Blueberries
3 tbsps icing sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
3 tbsps Cocoa Powder
Instructions:
1. In small bowl, mix equal parts hot water and instant coffee. Add coffee liqueur. Stir well and set aside.
2. In large bowl, use handmixer to mix whipping cream till stiff peaks form. Mix-in cheese, vanilla and icing sugar until smoooth and creamy. Do not over-mix.
3. Dip Nilla Wafers in coffee mixture quickly and layer along bottom of loaf pan/dish.
4. Spoon cream on-top. Stack with layer of blueberries and then coffee-dipped Nilla Wafers. Layer again with remaining cream.
5. Sift Cocoa Powder on-top. Cover with wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight.
6. When ready to serve, scoop onto dish and top with more blueberries.
Gallery:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter. This is as delicious as it sounds. Our life has forever been changed by our Ninja Kitchen Air Fryer and salmon is one of the many things it does well. I love how crisp the skin gets and also how quickly this cooks.
Ingredients:
200g salmon
1. In small bowl, whip garlic, parsley, Worcestershire Sauce, juice of one lemon wedge and 1/8 tsp salt. Take parchment paper and roll into a log and refrigerate till firm.
2. Season salmon in sea salt, paprika and pepper for at least an hour. Keep chilled and leave out at room temperature about 30 minutes before cooking.
3. Set Air Fryer at 400°F on Air Fryer mode. Pre-heat for 3 minutes.
4. Drizzle salmon with a bit of olive oil and fry salmon for 8 minutes, no need to turn.
5. When ready to serve, slice lemon butter and garnish it with lemon and parsley on salmon.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Jumbo Shrimp Pasta in Pesto. Few things are as decadent as Seafood on Pasta. And it can be prepared so quickly! If you can find jumbo Argentinian Shrimp at your Grocer, it’s definitely worth it for this. I stock-up on my Trader Joe’s every time I visit the U.S., but you can use whatever basil-based Pesto you like in this.
Ingredients:
454g Spaghetti
190g jar Trader Joe’s Genovese Pesto (or your favourite)
15 jumbo Argentinian Shrimp, shelled and de-veined
1 cup Arugula/Spinach mix
4 tbsps unsalted butter
12 Grape Tomatoes
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 red chillies, seeded and minced
1 tbsp basil, chopped
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Parsley, minced for garnish
Parmesan Cheese
Instructions:
Gallery:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Fried Periwinkles in Black Bean-Chilli Sauce. Periwinkles are a river snail, hence if you love mussels or clams, these will be up your alley! It’s best to pluck the flesh out with a toothpick but so worth the work!
Ingredients:
2 lbs Periwinkles, cleaned
2 tbsps Lee Kum Kee Black Bean Garlic Sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 red chillies, seeded and minced
2 shallots, minced
1 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsps tapioca starch
1/4 cup chicken stock/water
2 tbsps white/cooking wine
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1 stalk green onion, minced
1/2 sweet yellow pepper, cut into chunks
1 tbsp sesame oil
Black pepper to taste
Coriander, chopped for garnish
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Sautée garlic, peppers, chilli, shallots, green onion (reserving some aside) and ginger till caramelized. Add black bean sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes.
3. Turn heat to high and add Periwinkles and wine. Cover lid.
4. In small bowl, mix soy sauce, sugar and equal parts water.
5. Uncover lid after four to five minutes, add stock/water and stir soy and starch paste into liquid till sauce thickens. Add sesame oil and pepper.
6. Stir evenly. Transfer to platter and garnish with green onion and coriander. Serve with rice.
Fried Clams in Black Bean Sauce |豆豉炒蜆. This is a favourite of mine and my mom totally approves, giving this a big thumbs up! Something about the combination of garlic, savoury black bean sauce and clams is a perfect marriage. And I love the way the clamshells just scoop up the sauce and minced pork bits, so nothing gets lost. I could eat this every day!
Ingredients:
3 lbs Manila Clams, cleaned and scrubbed
1/3 lb minced pork, cleaned
1 3/4 tbsps Lee Kum Kee Black Bean Garlic Sauce
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 green chillies, seeded and minced
2 shallots, minced
2 tbsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsps tapioca starch
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1 stalk green onion, minced
1 tbsp sesame oil
Black pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.
2. Sautée garlic, chilli, shallots and ginger till caramelized. Add black bean sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add pork and stir well. Cook till pork is browned.
4. Turn heat to high and add clams, covering lid.
5. In small bowl, mix soy sauce, sugar, starch and about 2 tablespoons of water.
6. Uncover lid after clamshells cook open (about five minutes) and using spatula, stir soy and starch paste into liquid till sauce thickens. Add sesame oil and pepper.
7. Ensure clams and pork are evenly distributed and remove from stove. Transfer to platter and garnish with green onion. Serve with rice.
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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Maryland Crab Cakes. In celebration of what would’ve been the second leg of the American Triple Crown today, the Preakness Stakes, we salute resilience with this dish, which is the pride of Maryland! The race this year will be contested at Pimlico Race Course 10.3.20. We eagerly await as our favourite sport begins surfacing once again across North America! These are divine – crispy exterior, flaky, tangy interior with pronounced notes of mustard and celery. 🦀
Ingredients:
1 lb crab meat/3 cans of Clover Leaf Crab Meat
2 eggs
3 tbsps mayonnaise
1/4 cup celery, diced thinly
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tbsps fresh parsley/cilantro, chopped
2 1/2 tbsps Dijon Mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp nutmeg
Sea salt and pepper
Canola Oil
Instructions:
1. In large bowl, mix all ingredients, adding crab last. If using fresh crab, ensure there are no shards of claws and shells. If using canned crab, ensure you drain and pat dry with paper towels. As often, canned crab is salted, account for less salt in your recipe.
2. Form mixture into six even patties and place on parchment paper-lined tray. Refrigerate 1-2 hours, covered.
3. Heat canola oil in large skillet till hot, medium-high heat. Fry crab cakes on each side about 4-5 minutes or till golden brown.
4. Transfer to platter lined with paper towels to absorb oil.
5. Arrange on clean platter. Garnish with parsley/cilantro and serve with Tartar Sauce and a lemon wedge.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Curry Fish Balls Skewers. These are a beloved Chinese Street Food, sold at vendors and night markets. Fish Balls if you’ve never had them, are not unlike Hot Dogs when speaking to their texture and accessibility. They are made from the flesh of white fish, pounded and combined with starch, boasting a delightful chewy texture. It is common they are cooked in a curry sauce and skewered, or added to your Ramen. Enjoy this part of my childhood!
Ingredients:
2 packs of Fish Balls (fried or not), defrosted
1/2 can Coconut Milk
1/2 block Glico Medium Curry
2 tbsps dark soy sauce
2 tsps curry powder
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp organic raw sugar
1 tbsp Canola oil
Instructions:
1. Sautée garlic and shallots in oil in medium-sized pot till caramelized, on medium-high heat.
2. Add Fish Balls and fry till just golden.
3. Add 1 cup water, sugar, coconut milk, soy sauce and curries. Bring to boil.
4. Reduce to low heat and simmer 15-20 minutes. The Fish Balls may expand, but don’t worry, when they shrink again, they will absorb even more of that superb sauce.
5. Serve on skewers.
Gallery:
Singaporean Chilli Crab on BBQ Pork & Scallop Fried Rice. Mildly-spicy and tangy, sauce bursting each bite!🌶🦀
Crab:
1 2 lb live Snow Crab, cleaned and sectioned
2 tomatoes, sectioned
2 tbsps ketchup
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsps soy bean paste/Miso paste
1 tbsp tamarind paste (or a few seedless candied tamarind)
1 medium white onion, minced
1/2 sweet red pepper, sectioned
1/2 sweet orange pepper, sectioned
1 stalk green onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 green chillies, seeded and minced
2″ cube ginger, minced
1 egg, beaten
Coriander
Lime wedge
BBQ Pork & Scallop Fried Rice:
4-5 cups cooked white rice, chilled overnight
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup green peas
1/4 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup Chinese BBQ Pork, diced
1/2 cup Bay Scallops, brined in salt water
1/4 cup sweet red/orange peppers
1 cup Chinese Broccoli, minced thinly
1 stalk green onion, minced
2 tbsps Crab Tomalley (green gunk from crab)
2 tbsps soy sauce
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Banana Leaf
Instructions:
1. With larger skillet on medium-high, heat oil. Once hot, throw-in peas, corn, Chinese Broccoli and peppers. Cook till wilted. Add pork and scallops. Cook till scallops lose translucence; don’t overcook. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Add egg, Tomalley. Cook till almost done. Add rice. Stir with spatula and add soy sauce. Cook till rice is about to caramelize, about 5 minutes, medium-high heat. Top with green onions.
3. Line bamboo steamer with banana leaf, covering base fully. Transfer rice onto leaf.
4. Boil a bit of water (do not fill too high) in a large skillet/wok with a dome lid. Once boiled, place bamboo steamer in and cover lid. Steam medium-low while prepping crab.
5. In large skillet/wok heat oil till hot. Add ginger, garlic, chillies, soy bean paste and onion. Fry on medium heat 2 minutes.
6. Add tomatoes, sweet peppers, tamarind paste, ketchup, sugar, salt and 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil and add crab pieces. Cover and cook 8 minutes medium-high heat.
7. Remove cover and add beaten egg, stirring gently till egg is wispy, thickening sauce. Remove from heat. Transfer some of crab mixture over rice, not too much sauce. Serve.
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Creamy Baked Lobster x Cheese. Cheese and Seafood I’ve been told are a big no-no, but rules were meant to be broken, especially when they taste this spectacular! Enjoy this decadent dinner, which is a lot more simple to prepare than you’d think.
Ingredients:
2 lb lobster, cleaned and sectioned (reserve a tablespoon of Tomalley)
450g package spaghetti
4 cups Baby Spinach
1/2 cup shredded Old Cheddar
1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cup 5% cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 stalk green onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 strip bacon, diced
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons flour
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Cilantro, chopped to garnish
Instructions:
1. Prepare spaghetti, cooking till al dente. Strain in colander. Place spaghetti in a deep 13×9″ tray.
2. Boil water and cook spinach till it wilts, drain and gently squeeze out water. Place aside.
3. Preheat oven at 375°F.
4. In sauce pan, melt butter and sautée garlic. Add bacon and green onion, salt and pepper. Cook till bacon is done.
5. Add spinach, cook one minute and add-in cream. Bring to a slight boil. Add tablespoon of reserved Tomalley (fatty goop) into sauce and stir throughout.
6. Mix 2 tablespoons of flour and mix with equal parts water to form a thick, smooth paste.
7. Add a bit of paste into cream sauce, stirring till sauce reaches a thick consistency. Remove from heat.
8. Arrange lobster pieces on-top of spaghetti. Sprinkle sea salt, to taste.
9. Pour cream sauce over lobster pieces.
10. Combine both cheeses together and sprinkle over lobster. Then sprinkle some grated Parmesan.
11. Bake for 25 minutes, till cheese turns golden. Remove from oven, garnish with cilantro and let sit for 15 minutes before serving
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