Stir-fried Spicy Thai Holy Basil* Minced Pork

Get yourself a big glass of water

I like spicy food. I guess it is in the genes of many Asians. I have been cooking spicy dishes lately and my husband is 'suffering' (the day after); if you know what I mean. Haha! Try this if you fancy a perk-me-up dish in your meals.

Ingredients
300g of minced pork (you can replace with beef or chicken)
2 packets of store-bought Holy Basil seasoning sauce (I got them from the Asian store)
2 pcs of fresh bird's eye chillies (you can replace with the regular chillies if you fancy a less spicy version)
2-3 tsps of chilli flakes
A handful of fresh Thai basil* (I bought the Italian type from local ICA but you can always get the Thai basil from an Asian store)
4 cloves of minced garlic
1 tbsp of oil

Method

1. Heat up oil in a frying pan.
2. Fry garlic and fresh bird's eye chillies till fragrant. 
3. Add in minced pork and fry till cooked.
4. Add in chilli flakes and fry for a minute.
5. Add in the 2 sachets of ready made sauce and fry for another 8-10 minutes.
6. Dish up and garnish with fresh basil.
7. Serve warm with rice. 

Note: This is the ready-made sauce in sachet form.
Image is taken from templeofthai.com

Chilli Shrimps

Made these lovely shrimps for dinner yesterday. Sweet, sour and spicy. All you need is an extra bowl of rice. Maybe 2. :)

Key Ingredients:
30 large shrimps and marinated with a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper
1 tbsp cornstarch

Batter Ingredients:
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 egg whites
1 tbsp of cold water

Sauce:
2 tbsp cooking oil
3 tbsp shaoxing wine
4 tbsp vinegar/apple cider vinegar
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 medium size red onion-minced
1 medium size red bell pepper-minced
2 tbsp red chilli flakes
2 tbsp sugar

Method:

1. Whisk the batter ingredients. It should be runny. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of cornstarch onto the shrimps and mix them around.
2. Put the shrimps into the batter mix.
3. Make sure all shrimps are covered with batter and fry them in oil till golden brown. (abt 5mins)
4. Drain all the shrimps with kitchen paper towels.
5. Heat up 2tbsp of cooking oil. Fry the onions and red bell pepper till almost cooked. Add sauce ingredients. Cook at medium heat for about 2 mins. Sauce will thicken.
6. Turn off the heat and mix in all shrimps. Coat them well with sauce.
7. Serve warm.

Recipe is adapted from Aeri's Kitchen.