Hong Kong Style Steamed Cod Fish

23/01/2014 by Shannon Lim-de Rooy | 15 Comments

Steamed Cod Fish

Steamed Cod Fish is another indulgent recipe you can effortlessly recreate at home. Cod has a ‘sweet’ taste  that you can just eat it on its own without seasoning. This recipe is simple and absolutely delicious. Silky steamed cod that practically melt in your mouth, with an awesome umami sauce is heavenly. Not only that, I can eat plain rice with this sauce alone. So good!    Continue Reading →

Salt Grilled Mackerel (Saba Shioyaki)

25/10/2013 by Shannon Lim-de Rooy | 1 Comment

Grilled Mackerel (Saba Shioyaki)

Salt Grilled Mackerel or Saba Shioyaki is a popular seafood dishes served as an entrée or part of a bento combination in Japanese restaurants.

I have to confess. I’ve never ordered Saba Shioyaki before in the restaurant. I always end up ordering salmon because it’s usually almost the same price. Yes, I didn’t think very highly of mackerel. The poor mackerel didn’t get all the media hype like salmon does. Mackerel is one of the highly recommended oily fish for a healthy diet, rich in essential oils, vitamins, minerals and Omega fatty acids. Continue Reading →

Fish Head Noodle (Yu Tau Mai)

07/07/2013 by Shannon Lim-de Rooy | 6 Comments

Fish Head Noodle Soup

I’m no fan of fish head, except the silky smooth cheeks. Mama would “devour” the whole fish (the head, fins, tail) until the fish is irrecognisable. Many times she have failed to convince me to try the fish head. No way I will touch it, not even  scrumptious curry fish head. Yes I know some of you reading this will go “Eww, how can you eat the fish head”. Mama will tell you it’s very delicious, the cooked fish meat between the bones is super tasty and firm, break the bones with your fingers, and suck out the meat. There’s no way avoiding getting your fingers dirty to truly enjoy fish head. Continue Reading →

Gerang Asam (Spicy & Sour Fish Curry): Malacca Nyonya Cuisine

29/08/2012 by Shannon Lim-de Rooy | 40 Comments

Nyonya Ikan Asam Pedas quite often appears on my weeknight dinner (thanks to my mama’s frozen curry paste). I know I still owe you readers the recipe.. coming soon 🙂 I got intrigued to try a similar Nyonya dish – Gerang Asam  (Spicy & Sour Fish Curry), also a popular Malacca Nyonya dish. This recipe is from “Nyonya Kitchen”, the cookbook by a Baba Nyonya descendant, who is none other than Chef Florence Tan. She has been teaching & promoting Nyonya cuisine for 50 years. Continue Reading →

Teochew Steamed Fish Recipe (潮州式清蒸鱼)

06/07/2012 by Shannon Lim-de Rooy | 16 Comments


Steamed fish recipe is one of my go to weeknight dish – it’s quick, healthy and nutritious. I grew up eating Steamed Fish Teochew style almost every day, as mama is of Teochew descent. Teochew (or Chaozhou) people are native to the eastern Guangdong province of China and Teochew cuisine offers a lot of healthy steamed, stir-fried and braised dishes. Using whole fish with tomatoes, salted vegetables and salted plums, the flavours of Teochew Steamed Fish are savoury, sour, spicy and altogether very appetising. Continue Reading →