Cooking Tips

Nearly Homemade Duck Noodle Soup in under 30 minutes

February 4, 2020 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

While you were all watching Super Bowl, I made this delicious Nearly Homemade Duck Noodle Soup in under 30 minutes! The Yu Choy and mushrooms I got from that new Chinese market, IFresh in North Miami were so good. And roast duck from King Palace.

Quick and easy! Try it for weeknight especially when it’s a little chilly and breezy. Yes, Miami has had a little spell. I even have this through summer, in my house, we can have soup noodles ANY DAY.

I love the process of making it. It’s very soothing. Then seeing it come together with bright crunchy vegetables and squishy mushrooms.

Often, I’ll use different vegetables for variety on another night, see bottom photo.

I don’t even know why I eat this dish out since it’s so easy especially when you have access to a Chinese restaurant or market that prepares Roast Duck or meats.

Keep Rice Noodles in your pantry so you can whip this up in no time. Here’s how…

1. Start by cooking rice noodles: add boiling water to rice noodles in pot and just cover with lid without stove turned on. Yes, it doesn’t need heat, they “cook” really fast. Check it after only 5-7 minutes, do a taste test for doneness. Just put lid on if you want it softer.

I was in a hurry and overdid it by boiling, oops. Big mistake. They got quite starchy, so I rinsed in colander in cold water to stop from cooking and added few dashes of Sesame oil to prevent from sticking. This is how you treat noodles.

2. Whilst noodles are “cooking.” Chop scallions, cilantro and shred ginger.

3. Using same pot, make soup starting with Kirkland chicken stock, seasonings you already have in your KIT – San-J tamari, sherry, white pepper plus small dollop of Huy Fong chili garlic sauce and Red Boat Fish Sauce. Throw in ginger. Adjust savory, spiciness to your liking!

Seasonings from your KIT. Tamari, Sherry, Pepper. Add chili & fish sauce. — Seasonings from your KIT. San-J Tamari, Sherry, Pepper. Add Huy Fong chili sauce & fish sauce.

4. Add duck pieces to soup to give flavor and warm through. Set in bowl.

5. Blanche Yu Choy and mushrooms in soup.

6. Boil hot water and warm up rice noodles in colander and add to bowl.

7. Boil soup to rolling boil. Pour soup over everything and garnish with chopped scallions, cilantro. Boom, done!

ENJOY!

Use different vegetables like loofah melon — Use different vegetables like Loofah melon on another night.

Note: if you purchase from my Amazon affiliate links, I will earn a commission.

4 Tips to Add Flavor to Any Dish

October 9, 2019 By Eleanor Hoh 2 Comments

SPICE RUBS…

I ADORE dry spice rubs, how did Chef Patty Ruiz know? She brought me a gift of her three handcrafted spices: Harissa Dry Spice Rub, Zaatar Spice Blend and Chinese Five Spice Blend. If you’re in Miami, she also gives cooking instructions and can create a magical event for you, her styling is out of this world.

The Mad Table’s Zaatar spice rub, wow, so perfect for this Rack of Lamb, umm…

Dry spice rubs are so versatile, they are my favorite way to season meats for grilling and sprinkle on omelets, soups, stews, whatever you’d like.

Choose from her 16 spice blends at The Mad Table!
Don’t you love her packaging!

Spin it!

Here’s something to help you get those flavors into your food…I came across this tin lazy Suzan and I love it! I keep it right on my dining table so it’s handy. It’s a little bulky but does the job. Keeps my spice rubs, etc. for adding flavor to any dish.

Check my **Instagram Highlights/Cooking Tips @wokstar** for short video, see some spin action and see other goodies! Instagram is where you’ll get the latest updates on **Tips, Food Finds and beyond!**

MUSHROOMS…

Wok Stars, you already know about Earthy Delights’ Shiitake or Oyster Mushrooms that come in your Wok Star Kit. Mushrooms are so versatile, they can go in a stir fry, soup, stew, risotto. And so handy cause they never spoil. Check instructions on packet how to rehydrate them.

Recently, I’ve been using Shimeji Mushrooms which have changed my life. Since I started making Buddha Bowl soups, I throw a bunch of Shimeji and Enokis in right at the end. They cook really fast whether you add to soup or stir fry.

Click to see how you make this yummy Classic Wok Steamed Chicken with Mushrooms!

Chili Threads!

Earthy Delight first introduced me to these wonderful Chili Threads and now I am hooked and they don’t stock it, phooey. You can find at Asian markets as well. Top on any dish and you’ll be considered a gourmet chef! Keep them in dark area, away from heat or they lose their flavor.

They add **STYLE, HEIGHT, VISUAL INTEREST** and a slight hit of **spiciness.**

Crispy Shallots/Red Onions

Crispy shallots or red onions give so much flavor and kick as a topping. Don’t sprinkle till right before eating cause they tend to get soft. For soups, I put them in a small sauce plate to savor separately.

You can find them at Asian markets also, check the labels, you don’t want any MSG or chemicals. The less ingredients, the better. Mine only listed soybean oil and shallots or red onions, yum.

Note: this post contains Amazon affiliate links or partner links.

Fullei Fresh Marketplace, a community space for healthy living

April 9, 2018 By Eleanor Hoh 1 Comment

Who’d have thought right here in Miami, we have an organic hydroponic sprouting farm?! It was started by Manny Wong, a Chinese family from Cuba. Fullei Fresh grows a variety of organic sprouts as well as bean sprouts AND it’s hydroponic which means NO pesticides or bacteria! AND organic, WOW, so happy. . .I was always hesitant to purchase sprouting greens because I was wary of how and where they were grown. I was thrilled to visit their “farm” and get the tour.
So excited to be invited to give a slide presentation and cooking demonstration at their Grand Opening of their community space for healthy living. There’ll be loads of health related talks, demos and activities from experts in their fields, all are welcome!

Fullei Fresh Marketplace Grand Opening
Saturday, April 14, 10-4pm
12:45pm is my cooking demo!
Click here
Free with registration…

I hope you’ll come and support this community project. Bring the whole family and make it a day, there’ll be food trucks I believe. You’ll get a chance to learn more about them and possibly get a tour.

I’ll be making a very popular dish…Mapo Tofu, spicy and addictive and stir fry Bean Sprouts (something I get asked constantly!)

Mapo Tofu with red bell peppers for some color. Blog and video coming soon.

You’ll learn how to stir fry bean sprouts so they’re crispy, crunchy at my cooking demonstration at 1pm, see you there!

Olivia, Manny’s daughter gave me a tour…

Manny has won many awards as well as been certified for teaching others how to sprout!

Talk about hydroponic sprouts, wow, is anyone into sprouts? They are tenfold more potent than vegetables, can’t wait to try broccoli sprouts. I am going to eat as much of these sprouts as I can! Excited to try other sprouts like beet, sunflower, daikon and clover sprouts, I didn’t realize there are so many varieties! Yay, 2018 is a year for trying new things!

Fullei Fresh sprouts are available at numerous Whole Foods, Fresh Market and I saw them at Laurenzo’s Market in North Miami.

Here are just some ways I’ve been using those amazing sprouts…

Alfafa sprouts immediately upgrades my hubby’s delish wok omelet into a gourmet dish, yum!

Dynamite, perfect for cold night here. Topping broccoli sprouts on my beef soup was awesome, gave a nice accent and zing. Soup was made in slow cooker with very meaty beef necks, onions, and garbanzos. When reheating, I like to add noodles and some fresh vegetables like Bean Sprouts, Bok Choy and tomatoes for some color.

Don’t you love these red beet sprouts on avocado? Adds a pop of color to any dish, they are slightly bitter but I don’t mind. Tip is to add vinaigrette which will temper the bitterness.

Thanks Fullei Fresh for introducing me to these baby sprouts.

Do share ways you use baby sprouts in comment below! And remember to register, see you this Saturday, April 14!
Disclosure: I was given sprouts by Fullei Fresh to experiment with. I just really like supporting local businesses who focus on good, healthy products.