Friday, January 20, 2012

Winter Solstice Saga Finale: A Whole Pot of Steaming Goodness

As usual, we usually do steamboat for festive occasions and family reunions like Winter Solstice.
(This is also what we will be having for our Chinese New Year's eve reunion dinner tomorrow night ;)
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For those of you who are not familiar with steamboat, or also known as hot pot, it is not hard to know how to make it nor is it anything exotic.
To put it simply, it's just preparing plenty of raw foods like meat/poultry, seafood, vegetables, and just throw them into a soup base which was prepared beforehand.
Yeah, it's just that simple!
Some of you may even find this similar to the famous Shabu shabu :)

If you've been following my blog for a while, then you are no stranger to this, as you have definitely seen me posting this like..., hmmm, even I have lost count, and if you disregard the other posts, you will see this at least once a year; during my festive Lunar Chinese New Year posts :)

I am ending my Winter Solstice saga posts; with this reunion dinner, and pave the way ready for the looming near Lunar Chinese New Year posts which will start from tomorrow onwards!
(I will try to find time to update you guys with the goodies I have during my break; yes, it's a festive break to catch up with friends, families and visiting:)

The soup was being prepared way before the dinner; like 4-5 hours ahead.
The base of the soup was made using the following ingredients:
Sweet corn cob
Chicken meat
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Carrots
Tomatoes
Cabbages/Vegetables
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Throw them in and leave it on slow boil for 4-5 hours
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Raw ingredients for the steamboat meal:
Seafood
My favorite chikuma rolls (a type of fish roll)
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Squid balls (another of my favorites; a regular here on my blog ;)
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Fishballs
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Imitation crabsticks
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Fish cakes
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Fried fishballs
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Fried bean curd sheets with fish paste
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Poultry based:
Chicken sausages
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Vegetables:
Fresh Lettuce
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Broccoli
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I love them when they are cut into little florets like these ;)
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Enoki Mushrooms
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Oyster Mushrooms
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For garnishing:
Spring Onions
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Additional/Optional: Eggs
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Honestly, there is no specific guideline or restriction on the types of raw ingredients for the steamboat.
You can have anything you like, as long as it tastes good boiled in a soup! Also, what goes well with the soup base you made.
You can even make a fish-based soup; or pure vegetables soup!It can even a vegetarian steamboat, or purely meat steamboat; whichever you fancy!
There is just so much flexibility; and the best part is, if you cannot finish it, you can leave it for the next few meals, or simply whip up the remaining ingredients in a bowl of stew!
A word of caution: Make sure you finish those ingredients which cannot be used as leftovers, though.

Throw all the raw ingredients in and put the steamboat cooker to cook.
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Ready in 5 minutes; for all to eat!
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Now, isn't that simple and convenient, yet healthy and tasty?

Gosh, I just realized I am starting to post recipes like I am some sort of expert in cooking, when I am still a novice!:P

Anyway, hope you enjoy the posts on this Winter Solstice, and I will be postponing the Christmas food to make way for upcoming Lunar Chinese New Year post ;)
(Notice the new blog banner/headed?)

20 comments:

  1. Happy Lunar New Year! We love hot pot! Looks delicious and healthy~~!

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  2. Totally Yummy..healthy

    Aarthi
    http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/

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  3. Nami, thank you!!:) Am looking forward to my next hot pot dinner; and it's just tomorrow!! YEAY!!:D
    Yeah, it's always so simple, healthy and yet just so delicious~~

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  4. Aarthi, TOTALLY agree, hehe!:D

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  5. What a thrill it was to read your blog; I remember making Shabu shabu/, hot pot many years ago when my boys were growing up.
    Something I read about in a magazine and did my best to reproduce; I was teaching my kids about international cuisine back in the 70s. Love your tutorials and wish I was at your place for Chinese New Years, I am a proud Dragon this year.
    Rita

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  6. Happy Lunar New Year.. Looks like a wonderful hot pot. :)

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  7. Wow, what a feast! I'm so interested in all of the seafood ingredients in the hot pot. Could I purchase some of these items pre-made? I live in the Maryland/Washington-D.C. area, and I'm sure I could find them if they are available.

    Talk about magician of food--that's you!!! Happy Lunar New Year. I'm glad you found my blog so that I could find yours!

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  8. Aaaaah, it all looks soooo good! (except for the fake crab sticks though... Those I really can't stand!) The rest though.. yum!

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  9. Anonymous7:25 PM

    I have heard of hot pots before! I like that they are so versatile!

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  10. I love hot pot but have never prepared it at home! It's so delicious. Yours looks great! Happy lunar new year!

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  11. Happy Chinese New Year!!! the hot pot look great!!!!

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  12. Happy Lunar New Year!! I love hot pots, with everything fishy in it. Especially the fish cakes :)

    BTW, thanks for visiting my blog!

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  13. Rita, thank you for your lovely compliments!:)
    Hehe, I wish you were here too ;)
    It is your year this year, and I wish you every happiness, luck, health and wealth in this Water Dragon Year!:D

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  14. Curry and Comfort, thank you!!:) The hot pot sure tastes great too ;)

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  15. Alaiyo, you definitely can, most of the seafood stuffs can be obtained from the supermarkets :)

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  16. Charles, *Slaps hi-5*, neither can I!:) I am actually allergic to those imitation crab sticks too :(
    I can't say much as others like it and I am sharing the hot pot :p

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  17. Ann, they're not just versatile, but convenient and tasty too!:D

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  18. Katherine, you can try preparing this at home sometime, or if you know of any restaurant nearby, then you can have it there too and have people serve you, hehehe :p

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  19. Thanks Princess Cindyrina!:D

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  20. Kiran, Thank you...and yeah, I am a fish fan too!:)

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