Recipe: Smoked Duck with LINGHAM’s Chili Orange Sauce

December is a month filled with lots of festive celebrations as well as anticipation for the coming New Year. It’s also a great month to have parties or whip up special meals for family or friends. I always try to make something out of the norm and would try to find special ingredients that I love but only indulge in special occasions.

This round, I was going to a potluck party at a friend’s house and decided to make a Smoked Duck Breast with Rocket Salad dressed with LINGHAM’s Chili Orange Sauce. Smoked duck breast is now easily available in most major supermarkets in the frozen section. It is a bit on the pricey side so I do treat myself with this yummy premium ingredient once in a while. Besides, it’s easy to prepare and always makes a great crowd pleaser at parties.

This recipe practically takes less than half hour to make and clean up before getting dolled up to head to the party. It is great served at room temperature or chilled. Sauce can be poured on just before serving.

What makes this dish unique is the pairing of fruity sweet and spicy dressing with the savory and smoky duck breast. I used rocket leaves to give the dish a bitter and peppery edge but you can use normal mixed greens if you don’t like rocket leaves. The rest of the ingredients for the salad is really up to what you like to be honest.

If you cannot find smoked duck breast, you can use smoked salmon, chicken breast or even steak to replace but these will work with the sweet and spicy dressing made with my favorite LINGHAM’s Chili Sauce. Hope you enjoy this and here’s to ushering in a brand New Year!

SMOKED DUCK WITH LINGHAM’S CHILI ORANGE Sauce

Ingredients

2        Smoked Duck Breasts

2        Oranges

2 tbsp LINGHAM’s Chili Sauce

2 tbsp Apricot jam

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 tbsp Sesame Seed (toasted)

1        Bell Pepper

200gm        Rocket leaves or mixed greens

some  Cherry Tomatoes

some  Cilantro (optional)

Method

Prepare side salad by mixing rocket leaves, sliced bell peppers, cut cherry tomatoes and picked cilantro.

Cut up 1 orange into segments and placed on rocket salad.

Heat up pan on low heat and add in smoked duck breast, skin side down.

Slowly render duck fat and crisp it up till golden brown for about 2 to 3 mins.

Flip over the duck and cook the meat side for 1 min.

Remove smoked duck to a plate and pour out the duck fat oil from pan.

Heat up the pan again on low heat.

Add in apricot jam, LINGHAM’s Chili Sauce and squeeze in 1 orange juice.

Mix well and let it come to a gentle boil to thicken up the dressing.

Turn off heat and add in olive oil and sesame seed.

Slice up smoked duck breast and place with rocket salad.

Drizzle LINGHAM Chili Orange dressing over smoked duck and rocket salad, serve.

Extra Notes and Tips

• Substitute smoked duck breast with grilled chicken, steak or even smoked salmon
• Try different range of LINGAM’s Chili Sauce – Original, Thai, Sriracha, Extra Hot
• Serve with your favorite ingredients for salad

La Juiceria Superfoods @ Verve Shops, Mont Kiara

Scrumptious Superfoods!

There are many definitions to the word ‘Superfood’ and they are basically referring to food considered to be beneficial for health and well-being. Healthy food often mislead people into thinking that these food are bland. Superfood usually consist of fresh ingredients, more vegetables, fruits and beans, accompanied by protein. These are usually also prepared with minimal cooking and heat to retain its nutritional value. If prepared well, superfoods won’t be bland.

A recent visit to La Juiceria Superfoods at Verve Shops in Mont Kiara has also reiterated what I mentioned. Known for their cold-pressed juices, La Juiceria Superfoods is their latest café from the group offering healthy superfood dishes at affordable price. There is also its sister café called Goodness Greens in TTDI that serves similar healthy dishes.

La Juiceria Superfoods is spacious and bright. We were there one fine day for lunch and the ambiance was cozy and eclectic. There’s the main air conditioned dining area as well as a large alfresco area. One orders at the bar at the end of the room and your food will be sent to your table.

The food menu offers all day breakfast, soups, soba, wraps & pastas to superbowls, supersnacks and signature salads. The drink menu is just as long as the food menu, offering cold-pressed juices, smoothies, smoothie bowls, coffee, tea and raw desserts.

Our smoothies of Acai Berry (RM10.99) and Cream & Cookies (RM10.99) were thick, luscious and deliciously satisfying.

At La Juiceria Superfoods, every order of coffee comes with Chlorophyll water for detox, including this Americano (RM9).

Lunch started with a decent Truffle Mushroom (RM10.90) soup. Chockful of earthy mushroom flavours, the soup was creamy and velvety. Laced with a wonderful aroma of truffle oil, we polished this off happily.

La Juiceria Superfoods has a tempting all-day breakfast section, so much so we had to order one to try. Truffle Omelette (RM18.99) looks absolutely drool worthy with the sunshine yellow of fluffy omelette stuffed with sautéed veggies and mushrooms. It also comes with a side salad. Such a happy looking and delicious platter and certainly a great one to start the day with…

Nasi Lemak Wrap (RM21.90), power packed with flavours and a healthier version of our favorite national dish. Tender grilled chicken, kampung boiled egg, quinoa, lettuce, cucumber, tomato all wrapped in flour tortilla and served with side of sambal and crispy anchovies with peanuts summed up the wrap. It’s yummy and easy to enjoy but the best part of this is that it doesn’t leave you with a heavy note after savoring it.

Soba, made from buckwheat, is a healthier noodle option than the regular noodles. La Juiceria offers a few dishes served with soba and one of them is a scrumptious Teriyaki Chicken Soba (RM18.90). A yummy combo of charcoal soba noodles topped with teriyaki chicken thigh, soft boiled kampung egg, crisp greens and shoyu sesame dressing proves that healthy food can be very tasty when done right. The soft boiled egg makes the noodles extra silky smooth.

We moved on Superbowls of salads and first one up, the Protein Power Bowl (RM18.90). Protein packed with brown rice, chickpeas, pumpkin, almond, mushroom, tofu and more, this one is served with a creamy and lightly nutty dhal curry sauce on the side. When mixed together, it’s surprisingly delicious. Love the light spices and heat of curry as it makes everything more appetizing too.

The Tofu Garden Salad (RM17.90) was decent too. Tofu itself is pretty bland but when paired up with turmeric roasted cauliflower, roasted sweet potato, steamed broccoli, red cabbage, fried tempeh and maple balsamic vinaigrette, this bowl of salad isn’t as bland as it sounds. I was particularly happy with the fried tempeh as it gives the salad a nice nutty flavour.

If you’re pickier like me, I highly recommend the Build-Your Own Gourmet Salad (starts from RM16.90 onwards).

I went for the Grand with 1 Base + 5 Mains + 2 Supplementary + 1 Dressing + 1 Protein (RM24.90 – Grand + RM9 - Salmon). Mine had Norwegian Salmon Fillet with mixed salad leaves, beetroot, grilled mushrooms, roasted pumpkin, sweet corn, almond flakes, smashed avocado and Green Goddess dressing. Generous large piece of salmon nicely grilled and the Green Goddess dressing is sublime!

There’s even dessert to end your meal. La Juiceria offers handcrafted raw desserts by The Honest Treat. Select from lots of various flavours from Banoffee, Raspberry Chocolate, Minty Chocolate, Orange Chocolate to Raspberry Dream, Berry Banana and Tropical Surprise. These are pretty decadent and tasted fudgey, fruity and chocolaty. You might as well order their cold-pressed juices to go with these for a sweet and guilt-free ending!

LA JUICERIA SUPERFOODS 

G-2, Level G, VERVE® Shops,

No. 8, Jalan Kiara 5,

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603-6280 6381

Website: www.lajuiceria.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/La-Juiceria-Superfoods-Verve-Mont-Kiara

Business Hours:

Daily 8am to 10pm

Recipe: Steak Salad with LINGHAM Spicy Orange Vinaigrette

I swear, keeping a bottle of LINGHAM’s Chili sauce is very handy when it comes to whipping up delicious dishes in a jiffy. I love food with a good hit of spiciness and I am always game for adding a little heat to whatever dishes I eat. Lately I have been craving for a good steak and yet I know I should reduce my red meat intake and increase my greens.

And then a light bulb lit up! I should make a salad and with salad, I need a protein to keep me full. So I decided to make a Steak Salad. I get to eat my beef and also I get some greens along the meal. At the grocery, I saw that there was a good deal for flank steak. It’s entirely up to you of course if you prefer a ribeye or sirloin cut. Go ahead and splurge if you want to go for fillet mignon. There are really no rules in enjoying what you like…

My recipe is simple and can be whipped up in less than 20 minutes. The trick is to assemble the salad, cook the steak and vinaigrette and serve. The ingredients are also easily available and can be swap for anything else you like.

For the vinaigrette, it’s so simple you won’t believe it. Only 3 ingredients and the aroma and flavor is marvelously fresh, robust and has a nice subtle heat of kick to it. Lightly tangy, sweet, citrusy and aromatic, the sauce is what makes this salad so good. LINGHAM has various range of chili sauce available and I opted for LINGHAM’s Garlic Chili Sauce because I like the garlicky note with the steak.

Simple food that is healthy and full of essential goodness all pack in a meal… enjoy!

Steak Salad with LINGHAM Spicy Orange Vinaigrette

Ingredients

200gm        Flank Steak

50gm          Wild Rocket (washed and dried)

Handful       Cherry Tomatoes (cut into halves)

2                 Pickled Beetroot (cut into small cubes)

50gm          Goat Cheese

1                 Whole Orange (juice)

2 tbsp          Balsamic Vinegar

2 tbsp          LINGHAM Garlic Chili Sauce

                   Salt & Pepper

Method

Generously seasoned flank steak with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Heat up pan till very hot and sear the flank steak for 2 minutes each side.

Turn off the heat and remove flank steak to a plate and let it rest.

While the pan is still hot, add in the freshly squeezed orange juice, and lightly mix to deglaze the pan juices.

Add in balsamic vinegar and LINGHAM Garlic Chili Sauce and mix well.

Turn on the heat to gently let the vinaigrette come to a slight boil and turn off the heat.

Assemble salad in a bowl with wild rocket, cherry tomatoes and pickled beetroot.

Slice the flank steak across the grain.

Pile the steak slices on the salad and top it with tiny dollops of goat cheese.

Spoon on the LINGHAM spicy orange vinaigrette and serve.

Extra Notes and Tips

• Use any cut of steak to your liking – ribeye, sirloin, fillet mignon
• If you don’t like the peppery note of wild rocket leaves, use spinach leaves, lettuce, romaine, etc
• Goat cheese can be substituted too for other preferred cheese like feta, fresh mozzarella, etc
• Try different range of LINGAM’s chili sauce – Original, Ginger, Thai, Extra Hot, Sriracha

A Delicious Christmas by E & O Group

A Christmas Menu plus The New Delicious Menu

With Christmas just around the corner, everyone is looking forward to a feast of Christmas flavours and indulgence. Delicious’ CEO, Steve Allen, has created a new Delicious menu in conjunction with their A Delicious Christmas specials available at all their six Delicious outlets starting December 2015.

No stranger in our F&B scene, Delicious, owed by Eastern & Oriental Group, started out as a tearoom at 1 Utama Shopping Centre back in 2004. It has long grown in many ways from expanding its menu to a wholesome spread of dishes as well as its famous dessert menu. Today, The Delicious Group has a chain of 6 Delicious and 3 Simply d Cafes as well as a catering service in the Klang Valley.

We visited the original 1 Utama Shopping Centre Delicious Café one weekend for a taste of their Christmas menu as well as their new Delicious menu. The café is cosy with a very relax and stylish ambiance. Themed in their signature turquoise blue interior throughout the café, there are also the quirky birdcages and stylized trees that represents the cafes’ signature looks.

First up, the Delicious Christmas Menu!

Roasted Turkey Breast & Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs

CEO and Chef Steve Allen and team is serving up their version of the classic roast turkey with a creative touch. Diners can enjoy the Roasted Turkey Breast & Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs (RM36.50) at all Delicious outlets this festive month. Presented simply with minimal touches and allowing the turkey to be the center of attention, it was a lovely plate at sight.

Turkey is prepared two ways with the breast being roasted and the dark meat of the leg is stuffed into a roulade. The breast meat is beautifully tender and moist, the roulade tasted even better with its richer dark meaty notes and delicate stuffing. The bed of tender roasted potatoes, carrots and Brussel sprouts are yummy too. Coupled with a beautiful dark and robust turkey jus and fruity tangy cranberry sauce, this plate rocked in flavours and textures.

One can also order the whole Roasted Turkey Breast Y& Stuffed Leg with Cranberries, Roasted Vegetables in Chili & Herbs for your party. A 5-6kg turkey with all the trimmings are priced at RM445. This is available till 28 December 2015. A minimum of 3 working days (excluding public holidays & weekends) advance notice are required.

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Creamed Mushrooms, Asparagus & Roasted Vegetables

Next festive dish to be savored was a classic of Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Creamed Mushrooms, Asparagus & Roasted Vegetables (RM50). Cooked to your preference, the beef fillet was tender and paired so well with the creamy mushroom sauce. I enjoyed the earthy notes of the chunks of mushrooms as well as the charred asparagus. It’s a dish that carnivores will definitely enjoy.

Salmon Gravadlax with Walnut, Lemon & Horseradish Salad

Salmon is always a crowd pleaser and Chef Allen has dishes up his version of Salmon Gravadlax with Walnut, Lemon & Horseradish Salad (RM18.50). The lightly salty cured salmon was creamy and quite the indulgence. It was balanced up with a light tossing of romaine lettuce, walnuts and herb in a citrusy lemon dressing with a horseradish kick.

Mincemeat Crumble Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream

For a Christmas sweet ending, there is the Mincemeat Crumble Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream (RM14.50). Mincemeat pie is a classic British favorite during this festive holiday. A creative twist had us enjoying a slice of warm and spiced up mincemeat pie topped with a streusel of buttery crumbles together with a contrasting hit of cold vanilla ice cream. It definitely reminds me of Christmas with all the aroma of the spices and sweet notes. Recommended to share as it is very rich…

A Delicious Christmas starts on 14 December for a limited period up till the 31 December 2015. Along with the festive menu, Delicious also has a Christmas Takeaway menu filled with Roasted Turkey Crown, Beef Wellington Tenderloin, Roasted Stuffed Leg of Lamb, Baked Fillet of Salmon and more as well as a list of festive desserts for your Christmas Parties at home. For takeaway menu, a three day advance notice is required.

Besides the Christmas Menu, Chef Allen has revamped his menu to introduce his latest New Delicious Menu from all his recent travels to UK and Barcelona, Spain.

Crunchy Chicken Wing with a Sesame & Seaweed Crust, Mustard Mayonnaise

Kicking of the new 16 dishes list is a few appetizers, starting with Crunchy Chicken Wing with a Sesame & Seaweed Crust, Mustard Mayonaise (RM18). A unique touch with the seaweed crusts but the wings are so tasty. It is very crunchy on the crust and soft and moist on the flesh. I do like this with the mustard mayonnaise as it added a zesty note to it.

Pumpkin Risotto Balls with Mushrooms & Rosemary Risotto Balls with Pesto Mayonnaise

I love the Pumpkin Risotto Balls with Mushrooms & Rosemary Risotto Balls with Pesto Mayonnaise (RM13.50) so much, I polished quite a few of these that day. Crispy golden crust that unveiled creamy soft and tasty risotto rice stuffed with lots of earthy mushrooms. It is very rich and I do like the pesto mayo that gave the heavy and luscious rice ball a fresh herb taste. Best for sharing unless you are a big risotto fan like me…

Duck Arrabiata Linguine in Spicy Tomato Sauce with Black Olives, Capers & Parsley

Chef Allen was definitely inspired by visit to Barcelona and though heavy hearted, he replaced a Delicious signature of Confit Suck Spaghettini with his new creation of Duck Arrabiata Linguine in Spicy Tomato Sauce with Black Olives, Capers & Parsley (RM29.50). The result is a fresh and gorgeous plate of slow cooked shredded duck coked in rich and robust tomato sauce pumped up with olives, capers and parsley. The flavours are rich and has a little heat factor. It’s also very hearty and certainly makes you want to eat more.

Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut & Beef Serunding Salad in a Spicy Lime Dressing

Salads are what Delicious is famous for when they started out. So many diners do tend to visit Delicious for their fresh and creative salads. New to the salad list is Roasted Pumpkin, Coconut & Beef Serunding Salad in a Spicy Lime Dressing (RM26.50). Taking our local dish and jazzing up with creamy and nutty roasted pumpkins, fresh cuts of papaya, crisp greens and a generous sprinkling of beef serunding in a spicy tangy dressing showed us that there no boundaries to a delicious salad. It’s interesting as it has savory, sweet, tangy and freshness of flavours that is a bit unusual but nevertheless enjoyable.

Chicken, Avocado & Pine Nut Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan & Cucumber

For light lunches, try their latest Chicken, Avocado & Pine Nut Wrap with Cherry Tomatoes, Parmesan & Cucumber (RM28). Wholesome, light and definitely tasty with the lean grilled chicken, creamy avocado, nutty pine nuts and all the rest of the fresh vegetables.

Chocolate, Coconut & Pecan Cake

Desserts are a must, especially when they all sound so amazing on the menu. Visit their cakes showcase chiller and you will also have a tough choice in selecting just one. This beauty of Chocolate, Coconut & Pecan Cake (RM14.50) looks and taste divine.

Pineapple, Watermelon, Passionfruit & Lychee Sundae

Else go for a fully loaded sundae of Pineapple, Watermelon, Passionfruit & Lychee Sundae (RM16). A tall icy and creamy treat of ice cream with lots of fresh fruits that will have everyone digging in with gusto!

Coconut Cake with Fresh Thai Coconut

If you are ever at Delicious, you must and I reiterate, must try their signature Coconut Cake with Fresh Thai Coconut (RM13.50). The fluffy and creamy cake has such a wonderful coconut flavour and every bite melts like a sweet dream on the palate.

Enjoy thirst quenching beverages of Apple & Mint Lemonade (RM13.50) and Rose Lychee Frostie (RM12.50) with your meal!

There is a lot happening at Delicious this month and moving forward. Catch their BUY 1 FREE 1 promotions happening every Monday and Tuesday as well as a new Tapas inspired menu featuring 10 small dishes showcasing from January to March. Visit their Website and Facebook for more details of the promotions and the locations of the Delicious outlets.

DELICOUS

Lot G316, Ground Floor, One Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing),

1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama,

47800 Petaling Jaya

Tel: +603 7724 1086

Website: www.thedeliciousgroup.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedeliciousgroup

Business Hours:

MON-THU: 11am - 10pm (last order 9.30pm)

FRI & SAT: 10am-10.30pm (last order 9.30pm)

SUN & PH: 10am - 10pm (last order 9.30pm)