盆菜 I

I used to wonder why 盆菜 is such an popular dish during Chinese New Year and it is expensive!!! During Chinese New Year, we will need to spend a great deal on gifts, ang baos and CNY goodies. So why spend so much. I told myself to make this dish this year. And I DID!!!

This year I did my utmost best to bake and cook!!! Which I have never done it before.

I have my pineapple tarts and kueh bangkit baked. I have my mom-in-law's Khnaut Khnaut fried. So I decided to make the claypot of goodness - 盆菜. Layer by layer have them prepared and assembled.

I apologise for my amateur cooking since its my first time. Remember to use a claypot as it retains the heat.

This is my Step By Step Ingredients and Instruction;

Base Layer

Ingredients
4 pieces of skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
Seasoning A
5 slices of Ginger, shredded (I pounded the ginger)
1 tbsp of Dark Soy Sauce
5 tbsp of Chinese Wine (hua diao or shaoxing)
1 tbsp of Sesame Oil
1 tbsp of Sugar
A dash of Ground White Pepper
Sauce
3 to 4 slices of Ginger, shredded
4 Garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
2 stalks of Spring Onion, cut into 2 inches length
2 Chinese Coriander with roots, sliced
5 tbsp of Chinese Wine (hua diao or shaoxing)
500g Chicken Stock
2 tbsp of Cornstarch with water

Preparation

1. Marinate the chicken with the seasoning A. Set aside for 15 minutes.
2. Heat some oil in the wok. Stir fry the garlic, ginger, spring onion and Chinese coriander till fragrant. 
3. Add in the marinated chicken. Give it a few toss. Add the stock, chinese wine and cornstarch with water and bring it to a boil. Simmer for a few minutes and stir occasionally. Set aside. 

Second Layer

Ingredients
2 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped
1 Nappa cabbage, roughly cut
1 Broccoli, cut into flowerets
4 inches length Lotus Roots, sliced
1 palm sized Carrot, sliced
Seasoning
1 tbsp Fermented Red Bean curd
1 tsp of Sugar

Preparation

1. Mash the Fermented Red Bean curd and mix with the sugar. Set aside.
2. Heat a little oil in the wok. Add in the garlic and stir fry till fragrant.
3. Add in all the vegetables and stir fry for a minute
4. Add in the fermented red bean mixture and stir for another minute. Ensure the seasoning is well mixed with the vegetables. Set aside.

Third Layer

Ingredients
4 cloves of Garlic, finely chopped
3 thinly sliced of Ginger,
6 Shiitake Mushrooms, I quartered my mushroom cos they are huge. Remember to soak them in advance.
1 can of Golden Chef baby abalone (I will increase mine to 2 cans)
6 Sea Cucumbers, Cook in water for 10 minutes. Drain and coarsely sliced
10 Conpoy (dried scallops), Soak in water for 15 minutes 
A handful of Fatt Choy (发菜), Soak in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside
Seasoning
2 tbsp of Oyster Sauce
1 tbsp of Sugar
2 tbsp of Chinese Wine (hua diao or shaoxing)
1 soup bowl of abalone broth & the water from soaking the conpoy (from the can of abalones)
1/2 tbsp of cornstarch

Preparation

1. Combine the seasoning in a bowl. Mix well. Set aside
2. Heat a little oil in the wok. Add in the garlic and ginger and stir fry till fragrant.
3. Add the mushrooms and stir fry for 2 minutes. 
4. Add in the abalones, sea cucumbers, conpoy and fatt choy in. Remember not to let the fatt choy be in a lump, so stir well. 
5. Pour the bowl of seasoning and bring to a boil. Set aside.

Top Layer

Ingredients
10 Fresh Scallops
16 Fresh Prawns
Seasoning
Chinese Wine (hua diao or shaoxing)
Garnish
Chinese Coriander

Preparation

1. Place the Base Layer at the bottom of the claypot.
2. Arrange the Second Layer on top of the stewed chicken (Base layer), pour the sauce on it.
3. Pour the Third Layer on top of the vegetable (Second layer).  
4. Arrange the prawns and scallops on top. Pour Chinese Wine over it. *I have been pretty generous with the wine. 
5. Cover the pot with the lid and bring it to a boil. 
6. Turn off the heat. Add the garnish and serve hot. 

Here's my 盆菜 . It's satisfying after seeing this piping hot claypot of goodness!

Finally...all gathered together

Each individual layer taste so good that there is no need to assemble them into a claypot. The broth in this 盆菜 is so sweet. It goes well with a bowl of steamed rice.

This is my first time cooking 盆菜, I will have to fine tune it.

2 more weeks to Chinese New Year and I am so tired. I'm still considering whether to make lapis cake. Hmm...