Bak Choy with Fried Dace

Bak Choy with Fried Dace

Hello Whimsical Readers,

F~ So how many of you have like having a nice meal but just couldn't be bothered to stand in the kitchen toiling away over your meal which will be gone within 15 minutes of munching, chewing and swallowing..You? You too? And yes you too in the back, well I thought so, because I can be like that too. Sometimes you think, why bother? Since its going to look like mush when it reaches my stomach anyway. Oh Ho Ho, that's where you're mistaken. Did you know you can eat with obviously your mouth, nose and also eyes?

Yes, your mouth taste the food with your tongue, your nose smells and your eyes see the food, sending signals within micro-seconds telling your brain "YUMM! Drool*" or "IEW! I'm SO not having that" and even "Sigh* This again" So I think it is important to a certain extend how our food looks like, that's why I always try to make my food as presentable and pleasing to the eye as my skills take me.

Dont's fret, its not difficult to make your food look good even if it is just a simple dish like this dish I am going to share with you, which is Bak Choy with Fried Dace. Bak Choy is easy enough to cook as well as it is to over cook. Fried Dace has never looked good when I open the can but that does not mean I can't work with it. The rule of thumb is keeping your plate keep clean and not let it be dripping with sauce and drops of oil on the side of the plate. (check back next week for more detailed tips and tricks)

Ingredients: Serves 4
Bak Choy
1 can Fried Dace with Salted Black Beans (shred fried dace)
2 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Salt & Pepper (to taste)

Method:
1. Boil some water in a Pan/ Wok, adding in a pinch of Salt and 1 Tbsp of Sesame Oil.
2. In another heated Pan of medium flame, add in 1 Tbsp of oil from the can of Fried Dace and let it heat up before adding in the shredded Fried Dace and Salted Beans. Lightly fry them for 3 minutes until the Fried Dace becomes a nice dark brown. Turn off flame. Keep Fried Dace aside warm.
3. Once the water has come to a boil, put in the Bak Choy neatly in and blanch it for 1-2 minutes. They should turn into vibrant green.
4. Drain water and place Bak Choy neatly on a plate. Place Fried Dace and Salted Black Beans on top. Pour the remaining oil from the Pan and Sesame Oil over the Bak Choy.

That should not take more that 10 minutes to make and the results would be what you see above. the Bak Choy has a fresh and vibrant colour with the dark, rich brown from the Fried Dace. If you like more taste on your vegetable, dish out the Fried Dace, leaving the oil in and toss the Bak Choy in the same Pan. Enjoy!


Yours Truly,
The Whimsical Buddies