Garlic Oil - Chinese Old Style Tips and Gadgets

Angelselondon · 18 January 2007 at 3:53PM

One of my friends invited me over for dinner last week for a birthday present. She is Chinese and I love going over her house as she teaches me how to cook authentic Chinese.

She is also very 'old style' by culture and had a few gadgets around the kitchen.

A couple of gadgets she had where this new Therma Heater, which her dad purchased in China for Christmas, it's fantastic.

It uses the same principles of a thermos flask and either cooks like a Slow Cooker or keeps things chilled in the summer, it has some new technology in it. Apparently we haven't got an equivalent here yet.

The second gadget that caught my eye was a rice cooker.

It was very small and compact, about the size of a tea caddie, but cooked the rice in 20 mins to perfection, just like the Chinese take away. This is how they cook rice in the restaurants according to her, this too another gift from Daddy.

I may go along to See Woo (Chinese Wholesalers / Supermarket (if you have one near you go, it's amazing cheaper than Netto)) to see if they have these, if not I'll ask her Dad to get me one on their annual visit.

Now for the Garlic Oil:

Amazing, I've never used anything like it, it gives off a fantastic flavour to Noodles, Stir Fry and Pad -Thai.

Crush about 3 full bulbs of garlic
Place in sauce pan
Pour in about 1/2 bottle of oil
Heat and sizzle for about 10 mins
Cool down and bottle

Use on anything for flavouring, taste is divine and authenitc no like these expensive infused oils in the supermarkets.

Just made some the house smells oriental.

My friend also taught me how to make perfect rice noodles without them going stogy.

Rice noodles from See Woo are about 20p a packet and are a staple you can add to stock for a soup.

fudgem · 18 January 2007 at 4:01PM

That's a good tip about the oil, I absolutely adore garlic so I'll be giving this a go pronto.

Would you know what dressing the Chinese use on their salads? I've not been able to identify the different taste, although I'm fairly sure the vinegar used is rice vinegar.

Angelselondon · 18 January 2007 at 4:10PM

fudgem wrote:

Would you know what dressing the Chinese use on their salads? I've not been able to identify the different taste, although I'm fairly sure the vinegar used is rice vinegar.

I'll ask for you, I'll be seeing her tomorrow, we work together.

Any other questions welcome, I'll post them up. OS to my friend is a cultural thing, she has been on my case for ages, and is pleased I'm on the band wagon.

Last week over dinner I was talking about this forum and she was very interested, there are loads of tips we can learn from our Asian friends. My Mum has picked up loads of OS tips from her Indian neighbours in fact she was having cooking lessons from her and has learnt to save a fortune from all ideas and suggestions that, to the family, come quite naturally.

Pandora123_2 · 18 January 2007 at 4:25PM

Angelselondon wrote:

A couple of gadgets she had where this new Therma Heater, which her dad purchased in China for Christmas, it's fantastic.

It uses the same principles of a thermos flask and either cooks like a Slow Cooker or keeps things chilled in the summer, it has some new technology in it. Apparently we haven't got an equivalent here yet.

The second gadget that caught my eye was a rice cooker.

It was very small and compact, about the size of a tea caddie, but cooked the rice in 20 mins to perfection, just like the Chinese take away. This is how they cook rice in the restaurants according to her, this too another gift from Daddy.

Is the Therma Heater anything like this? I came across it a few days ago. I really like the idea, but the price is rather *ouch*. (I bet they're a lot cheaper in China, though.)

One of my fave Chinese restaurants where I used to live used a big rice cooker. I'll bet a lot if not most of them use rice cookers because, like you say, it cooks the rice to perfection and keeps it hot without overcooking it. I saw them in Wing Yip a couple months ago, but they all had aluminium inserts, so I need to find one with a stainless steel insert.

Thanks for the garlic oil recipe, it looks great. How long does it keep in the fridge? I also like the hot oil they serve in Chinese restaurants, the little bottles or jars with the layer of chilli flakes at the bottom. Can you ask your friend if there is any special technique to making that or if it is just a matter of combining groundnut oil with chilli flakes and letting it sit until the flavour is in the oil.

What is the technique for cooking the rice noodles?

:A

suzy_g · 18 January 2007 at 4:25PM

I love chinese food but I rarely eat it as I am coeliac I would love to buy the rice noodles as they are gluten free. does anyone know if any chinese do mail order? suzy

Angelselondon · 18 January 2007 at 4:34PM

suzy_g wrote:

I love chinese food but I rarely eat it as I am coeliac I would love to buy the rice noodles as they are gluten free. does anyone know if any chinese do mail order? suzy

I'm Coeliac too, I find it difficult and expensive, Chinese stores are very good places to get alot of your basics from, most of the time they use rice flour. You can also use Gram flour which is made from Chick peas.

Where do you live? there are loads of Indian and Chinese supermarkets in London, you also tend to find them in big towns too. I would also suggest you speak to your local chinese restaurant make friends with them and ask if you can go to their warehouse one day. I did that with my local florist to get those massive rolls of wrapping paper they use.

suzy_g · 18 January 2007 at 4:37PM

I live in taunton somerset, there are no chinese super markets in somerset ,that why I was wondering if they did mail order

Angelselondon · 18 January 2007 at 4:48PM

Pandora123 wrote:

Is the Therma Heater anything like this? I came across it a few days ago. I really like the idea, but the price is rather *ouch*. (I bet they're a lot cheaper in China, though.)

One of my fave Chinese restaurants where I used to live used a big rice cooker. I'll bet a lot if not most of them use rice cookers because, like you say, it cooks the rice to perfection and keeps it hot without overcooking it. I saw them in Wing Yip a couple months ago, but they all had aluminium inserts, so I need to find one with a stainless steel insert.

Thanks for the garlic oil recipe, it looks great. How long does it keep in the fridge? I also like the hot oil they serve in Chinese restaurants, the little bottles or jars with the layer of chilli flakes at the bottom. Can you ask your friend if there is any special technique to making that or if it is just a matter of combining groundnut oil with chilli flakes and letting it sit until the flavour is in the oil.

What is the technique for cooking the rice noodles?

:A

The Therma heater looks more like one of those kiddies pack lunch boxes, although I like the look of that Thermos one.

The Rice cooker is a fantastic Idea, I think one for the Pin Money this year, although need to find out how much they are.

I suggested nut oil but she used cheap sunflower oil. Do not put the oil in the fridge it will separate. Tu kept hers in a washed out sandwich spread jar with a piece of grease proof paper before putting the lid on top.

You can use the same recipe with chilies rather than Garlic

Rice Noodles:

Boil a kettle

Place noodles in a tub (she actually used a washing up bowl (only used for cooking))

Pour the boiling water on and leave for about 5 mins

drain and rinse in cold tap water

pour on a little garlic oil

heat oiled wok **

add noodles and keep tossing over and over in wok so they don't stick

should heat very quickly and come out perfect

** If you want pad - thai at this point add two medium eggs and whisk around the pan as if scrambling.

This is also the way to make egg fried rice in stead of rice noodle place drained cooked white rice seasoned with garlic oil in wok after eggs and toss in wok for a few mins

Hope that makes sense.

Angelselondon · 18 January 2007 at 5:01PM

suzy_g wrote:

I live in taunton somerset, there are no chinese super markets in somerset ,that why I was wondering if they did mail order

See Woo don't do mail order, but I have found an Asian / Oriental online store

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/index.asp

Have a look see what you think

TKP_3 · 18 January 2007 at 5:06PM

Angelselondon wrote:

See Woo don't do mail order, but I have found an Asian / Oriental online store

http://www.theasiancookshop.co.uk/index.asp

Have a look see what you think

That's great - thank you. I also don't have an asian shop near me, and I love chinese and Thai cooking

I have also noted your recipes for oil and rice noodles and will give them a go - thank you

Bellie_2 · 18 January 2007 at 5:18PM

Here is a really good chinese supermarket that deliver.

http://www.wingyipstore.co.uk/index.php

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Garlic Oil - Chinese Old Style Tips and Gadgets

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