Cook With Love:Mee Goreng Papa

 

This simple breakfast dish pairs well with a cup of hot coffee or tea. This favourite Malaysian dish found almost everywhere in Malaysian with numerous variation based on the local's preferences but the core taste remained undisturbed. The most common variations called Mee Goreng Mamak, the most popular one in Indian Muslim shops. They have the real skill to serve with the right cook of the noodles blended with spicy ingredients. The recipes are quite simple but it is quite difficult to access the noodles in the overseas countries. So the local who staying abroad may reach out for this dish when returning to the homeland. This Mee Goreng Papa is not exactly the same as the common type of preparation because it is adapted from family tradition or the way my grandma does it.

Serving 5-6 pax

Ingredients:

450g yellow noodles

5 bird eyes chillies, cut 

5 tbsp cooking oil

300g cabbage, shredded

1 tomato cubed

10 cubes fried tofu

3 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

2 tbsp caramel ketchup

2 tbsp soy ketchup

100g roasted onions

200g mustard leaf, cut 

2 tbsp lemon juice

To blend:

1 big onion

10 cloves garlic

5 dry chillies

100g dry prawn, soaked in warm water for 10mins

Steps:

1. Soak the noodles in warm water for about 15-20minutes, then drain and rinse with running water.
2. Blend the ingredients and keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a wok and pour the blended ingredients.
4. Cook till the oil surface and add the tomatoes and cabbage with chillies.
5. Then add the salt, sugar and ketchup.
6. Add the noodles and keep turning them around the wok to incorporate well with the ingredients
7. Spread the fried tofu and mustard over the noodles and turn over for few times
8. Sprinkle the dry onion and squeeze the lemon juice upon serving.

Tips:

• Noodles are soaked in warm water to remove the chalks packed in the noodles which act as a preservative
• Ensure not to soak the noodles over hot water too long as it might soften the noodles excessively and spoil the consistency of your dish
• The indicator that your blended ingredients cooked are when the oil surface meaning you will see the oil floating on top them
• Ketchup can be substituted with oyster sauce
• The noodles can be replaced with spaghetti too but the taste may differ
• Roasted onion helps to enhance the flavour and commonly found in shops but you may  do on your own by just slicing the shallots and fry them till crispy
• You may crack an egg and fold in well  just before removing from heat 
• Ideally, lemon juice squeezed when the dish is still hot to maximize absorption hence enhance the flavours too

Foods are capable to bind everyone nor everything together!