Graeme's Chiang Mai Pork Balls (GF, TMX)

my boss's partner shared this recipe with me and I finally got around to making them. a much milder flavour than i expected but definitely very yum and surprisingly quick and easy to make (especially when you don't need to run out half way through to buy whatever mangy coriander woollies has in stock after 2 public holidays...). anyway here's the recipe with a few minor changes from me

1 tspn coconut oil
1 tspn ground coriander
1 tspn ground cumin
1/2 tspn ground turmeric
1 stick lemon grass
2 cloves garlic
1 inch ginger
2 green shallots / spring onions
roots and stalks of 1/2 bunch coriander (washed well!)
chilli to taste
2 kaffir lime leaves, or one piece of lime peel
around 500g pork and veal mince
2 tspns coconut oil
satay sauce of your choice - Graeme recommended masterfoods
1 tin (400ml) coconut milk / cream
snowpeas or other vegies of your choice
chopped coriander leaves to serve

 melt coconut oil & heat bowl - 2 minutes, varoma speed soft
add spices and cook 3-4 minutes varoma speed soft
add in lemon grass, garlic, ginger, shallots, coriander roots / stalks, kaffir lime and chilli and chop on speed 6 until it stops hitting the sides. scrape down and repeat.
add mince and mix by turning knob to closed lid and pressing turbo several times until well mixed
melt 2 tspns coconut oil in fry pan then shape mince into large balls and add to pan. cook over med-med high until browned all over
add coconut cream and several large dollops of satay sauce to taste (you don't want a strong satay taste, just mild). turn heat down and simmer gently for about 5-10 mins
add vegies and cook just long enough for vegies to be slightly soft.

serve sprinkled with chopped coriander. serve over rice, or if carb free i think you could either eat it on its own, or eat over shredded wombuk (chinese cabbage)

photo soon!

Vietnamese Style Pork and Kale sour soup (GF)

pork mince - around 300-400g
1 onion
2-3 tomatoes, roughly chopped (skins removed if you prefer)
bunch of kale, finely sliced, tough stems removed
stock concentrate or salt
ground black pepper (lots)
splash of balsalmic vinegar or lemon juice to taste
boiling water
2-3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

fry pork and onion over a medium high heat, breaking them up quite well
add tomato and kale and stir until it just starts to soften
add all other ingredients and simmer until the kale is tender

serve - you may like to sprinkle with some fresh coriander.

this is based on a soup my vietnamese boyfriend at uni used to make, though changed to fit the yeast free / anti-candida diet thing...

BBQ Pork Rice Paper Rolls (GF)

I just made these for dinner and they were sooooo delicious! i was shocked to find nothing left at the end of the meal! i wanted to record what i put on the pork so I didn't forget ;)

1 pork fillet
3-4 chopped garlic cloves
juice of half a lemon
ground black pepper
around 2 tabs fish sauce
1 tab brown sugar
around 1+ tspn five spice powder

mix all ingredients and marinade from 30 mins to overnight
BBQ fillet until cooked to your preference
let rest 5 minutes then slice

1/2 cup raw peanuts
1/2 bottle gluten free hoisin sauce (we used Ayams brand)
around 1 tspn sesame oil
rice paper
1/2 packet rice vermicelli
1 large cucumber, julienned
1 carrot, grated (optional, i don't like this but my family do)
shredded lettuce
fresh coriander
fresh vietnamese mint leaves
fresh mint leaves

dry fry the peanut over a medium heat. let cool then rub the skins off and chop coarsely
place in a small bowl, add hoisin sauce and sesame oil and mix well

dip 2 rice papers into a bowl of boiling water (obviously don't let small children do this part!)
place on a plate and top with small amounts of each filling inlcuding the sauce mix, fold the bottom side over, fold the ends in and then tightly roll up. eat :)

NB usually you woud have a dipping sauce with the rolls, but we find this the easiest way to eat them with children :)

video on how to roll ;)

David's Pork

my ex was vietnamese and this is his recipe...


spareribs - boil til cooked
garlic - fry, add sliced pork
carrots - slice finely, add and fry til brown
hoi sin sauce - add & heat
shallots - slice finely and sprinkle over to serve

Nem Nuong (GF, TMX)

Last night's dinner was a big (italian style lol) salad with Nem Nuong

i didn't have any pork - i though the recipe needed pork and veal mince but spaced it and bought double amounts of veal and no pork lol. it made them a little dry but they were still yum. I made a double batch and there was not one left after feeding 3 adults and 3 kids (SIL was here for dinner).

i won't worry about C&P this recipe across as the one i have in my vietnamese recipe book is almost identical :) this recipe was a CINCH in the thermomix though - i just roasted then ground the rice in it first, then chopped the garlic and chives (i'd run out of shallots / green onions) and then added in everything else (i actually had a coarse ground mince so didn't need to make my own)

i love these made quite small and put in the rice paper rolls, or served with rice vermicelli and salad, and nuoc mam.

Links - Meat Dishes #2

link to first lot

homemade breakfast sausage

asian peanut butter pork - slow cooker

Chicken & Cider Stew w/ Apple & Potato Mash

five spice pork belly

gosht do piaza (lamb with double onions)

dal gosht - spiced lamb with lentils

mongolian beef

chicken stewed in wine, garlic & cinnamon

caldo gallego (spanish soup with bacon & chorizos)

honey ginger chicken

truman capote's chicken hash

chicken with bacon, rosemary and lemon

leek and cheese (and mince) soup

a varoma adventure!

dimsims in the varoma tray, vegies in the base of the varoma

rice in the basket in the bowl of the thermomix

the full story is over here but there are more pictures here than there ;)

Links - Meat Dishes

Beef Chimichangas

broccoli beef

chicken bean & tomato soup

chicken enchilada throwdown

chicken poppers

Costa Vida Chicken (good for entertaining)

garlic chicken with white wine

Greek Chicken (thanks susana ;) and chris lol)

kerala style chicken curry

Old Fashioned Fried Chicken - want to try this for chicken nuggets for the kids

Spicy Shredded Pork - for enchiladas etc

taco soup

NEW Wednesday Night Chicken Delicious

and still more...

yes i had a very busy afternoon.

reduced fat and healthier sausage rolls (i dont' think they can ever be really low fat lol)

i made a HUGE batch of meat mix, so will halve it here, but it will still make a lot, just put them in your freezer and warm through when needed :)

4 sheets reduced fat puff pastry

250g pork and veal mince
350g premium beef mince
oatmeal, maybe about 1 cup
mixed or italian herbs, or any fresh herbs finely chopped
1 carrot finely chopped or grated
1 zucchini finely chopped or grated
1 large onion finely chopped or grated
1 egg

mix very very well until the meat starts to get a bit lighter in colour (i did mine in my thermomix but pre-thermo days i did it by taking handfuls and squeezing them through my fingers)

take handfuls and form into a sausage on a sheet of puff pastry - you want it to be around 1.5-2" high. roll pastry up and gently cut through into 6-8 pieces. stab the top of each roll a few times

put on baking tray lined with baking paper. if you aren't lazy like me brush the tops with milk or beaten egg.

bake at around 200' until golden brown and meat cooked through (this will take longer if they are thicker)

serve with tomato sauce

slow cooker Pork & Apples

pork and apples - yum! 4/6/06

no real recipe - i used

pork chops (but wouldn't again as it was too fatty) quickly sealed over a high heat
2-3 red onions, caramelised over a low heat with some olive oil and
around 1-2 tablespoons of fennel seeds
sweet potato cut into chunks
half a bag of red lentils
chicken stock powder / cube
jar of apple sauce or apple puree or pie apple
dried apples
enough water to just cover everything

cook until the lentil are soupy and mushy

emelia and i just ate it on it's own with the pork broken up and mixed through it