Dieh Bian - Chives Fritters

The original recipe calls for a few oysters at the centre of the UFO looking disc fritter.

My children used to call it UFO fritter and they cannot be more accurate. Making it well is quite a delicate business actually.

The Foochow snack having crossed the South China Sea to Sibu in particular and Sarawak in general has become different in many ways. It can be a saltish and peppery kosong version (nothing inside) or the rich version with meat and prawns or the chives version. Your imagination is the essence!!

Fuzhou in China being near the sea has a bountiful supply of seafood. Fresh oysters are very affordable unlike in Sarawak where probably only the rich and famous can feast on them at expensive buffets in the likes of Marriot Hotel or Hilton Hotel.

The skill lies in the use of the famous Foochow ladle which will give the fritters their UFO shape. Or if you like to argue..the discus shape..





(PHotos later)

With only about 50 days left of 2011 perhaps you can try this recipe out and record it as one of your achievements for 2011 !!

Here is the recipe:

1. Blend A and then add in B
A. 5 0z soy bean (soaked for 4 hours)
2 oz cold cookied rice
12 oz water

B. 250 g rice flour
salt
1 1/2 tbsp fish/squid gravy
2. Add in some chopped chives

Filling

150 gm minced pork mixed with 1 tsp corn flour

6 small onions finely sliced
1 tbsp chopped garlic

some light soy sauce and sugar.

Heat up 4 tbsp of oil. Saute sliced onions until golden brown. Dish up.
Saute chopped garilic until fragrant. Add the minced pork. Cook until dry and then mix in fried onions.

Heat oil for deep frying. Heat the round ladle for a while. Remove. Fill the ladle 1/3 full with the batter and then add the filling. Add some more batter till full.

Deep fry in medium heat till golden brown. If the oil is too hot the skin of the fritters would be dark brown and smoke will fill up your kitchen!!

Your UFO will float beautifully. Have a few good turns a some quality checks. That's the satisfying part of the cooking. Drain well on nice kitchen paper. Serve piping hot.

(Recipe in English simplified and adapted from " Rejang Delights 3"  by Yii Ming Yuek - available in the Methodist Book Room in Sibu at RM13.00)

Enjoy!! And Double Portion of Happiness to you when you cook for your loved ones!!
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The Soon Huat Coffee Shop in Kuching 's Petanak area sells this snack (which comes with meat filling or without). In Sibu you can buy them in the Pasar Malam. It is almost difficult to buy in Miri.