Annie is always critical of the rendang that is served at Malaysian restaurants here in the South Bay. She says they’re just not done right, and reasons that only Malay cooks (as opposed to the Chinese cooks working in these restaurants) know how to make rendang. Here is her version:
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Dhal
Annie wanted to make some rendang chicken and I said, you can’t have just rendang chicken without the coconut rice and dhal! So instead of a single, easy dish, I coerced her into preparing this Malaysian feast.
Start a pot of lentils (1/2 cup) going. Season with 1 tsp turmeric powder, a pinch of salt, 1 tsp ginger, garlic and shallot paste. Toss some mustard seed, fennel seed, cumin seed, a stick of cinnamon and 2 chile peppers in oil and fry until fragrant. Add in half a red onion, sliced and a tbsp of curry powder.
Indian Take-Out
The South Bay also boasts quite a bit of good Indian cuisine. We’re lucky to have an Indian grocery nearby, as well as a small Indian restaurant. I needed to pick up some fennel seed from the store. At the checkout, I asked if they had some samosas for sale. The gentleman said no, but I could buy them at the restaurant just a few doors down.
Hot out of the oil, these are deep fried dumplings filled with potatoes and peas and Indian spices. It comes with two sauces, a minty green sauce and a sweet, tangy tamarind sauce. I couldn’t resist eating a second.
Aloha, Nate.
Vietnamese Take-Out
Another great thing about living in San Jose is the absolute abundance of Vietnamese food here. Especially in the King and Tully Rd area of East San Jose. This is some Vietnamese take-out from Huong Lan.
Can’t give you the Vietnamese names, but the one on the left is a roll with grilled chicken in the middle, wrapped with lettuce, and wrapped again with a rice flour roll that was more stringy than solid. The topping is green onions and minced dried shrimp.
The middle is a summer roll with shrimp, lettuce and mint wrapped in rice paper and covered with peanut sauce.
The right is just flat rice sheets folded over and topped with fried shallots. Nothing to complain about, including the price.
Huong Lan makes great banh mi (sandwiches) too.
Aloha, Nate