This recipe was inspired by a dish we had at Kitima in Hout Bay. Kitima was given the award for the best Asian restaurant in the South African Eat Out Awards this year. I can see why.
Behind its traditional Cape Dutch facade hides a series of beautiful lounges, secluded private dining rooms, bars and terraces. All opulently decorated with gold and brocade. It has that real “East Meets West” feel that many fail to acheive.
The large menu and extensive wine list is accompanied by knowledgeable staff and excellent service. The food is more reasonably priced than you would expect from this level of service and surroundings.
We ordered the Veggie Gau, steamed rice paper dumplings filled with carrot,water chestnut, pickled Chinese radish, shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots. They came with a dipping sauce and some lovely crispy fried garlic to sprinkle over the soft dumplings, and some vegetable California, “inside out” sushi rice rolls filled with cucumber, carrot, pickled radish, avocado and Japanese mayonnaise. They came with the usual wasabi, soy and sushi ginger.
We also ordered a Thai Green Vegetable Curry, Pad Thai Noodles and my favourite dish of the night, Kitima’s Mushroom Basket. This had fresh mushrooms wok-fried with cashew nuts, onion, carrots and water chestnut nestled in a crispy potato basket. Everything was full of flavour and authenticly spiced. By which I mean it was hot. Which is a good thing.
So, you will have probably noticed from the title (and the pictures) that I did not make a crispy potato basket. Well, I tried! They very kindly let me have the recipe and I gave it a go unfortunately without success. My excuse is that you need an industrial sized fryer (and an experienced chef) to make it work.
The easier and less messy option is to make a crispy noodle basket instead. Beleive me after three epic fails, I’m an expert…
I adjusted the mushroom recipe slightly too by adding some dried chinese mushrooms and using pak choy instead of water chestnuts because I didn’t have any. The poached egg and watercress were inspired by the gorgeous breakfast we had at Ile de Pain in Knysna. So this is really a hybrid of two of the best dishes we ate while away. Perfect for a weekend brunch…
For more information about Kitima visit their website here.
Asian Mushrooms & Pak Choy in Crispy Noodle Basket with a Poached Egg
Serves 2, vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free. Adapted from the Kitima recipe
Prep time: 20 mins Cooking time: 10 mins
- 50 gr dried soba noodles, cooked according to packet instrustions, drained, rinsed under cold water
- oil for deep frying
- 200 gr mushrooms, wiped & finely sliced
- 25 gr dried chinese mushrooms, soaked in boiling water for 20 mins or more (reserve the soaking liquid)
- 1 carrot, julienned
- 1 large spanish spring onion (or 4 scallions) green & white parts
- 2 heads of pak choy, rinsed, leaves whole, white parts chopped
- 50 gr cashew nuts
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 1 tsp palm sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 tsp chilli bean paste
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp shaoxing rice wine
- 2 tsp rice wine vinegar
- white pepper
- a handful of fresh coriander, stalks & leaves chopped seperately
- sesame seeds to garnish
- raw carrot & red pepper julienne to garnish (optional)
- watercress
- 2 eggs (optional)
Remove the dried mushrooms from their soaking liquid (keep the mushroomy stock for later) and slice.
Heat the oil to about 180 C. Take a handful of the cooked, drained noodles (they should be dry) and drop them carefully into the hot oil. It will bubble up. After a minute or so, using a metal slotted spoon, check that the noodles are crispy and browned. Remove with the slotted spoon to drain on kitchen paper and, while still warm, gently mould into a basket shape. Repeat to make a second basket. Set aside.
Heat a tbsp oil in a frying pan or wok over a medium high heat. Add in the garlic, ginger, coriander stalks and chilli paste and cook fro about a minute. Then add the carrots and the white parts of the spring onions. Stir fry for 30 seconds then add both types of mushrooms, the white parts of the pak choy and the cashew nuts (save some for topping).
Stir fry until barely cooked then add a splash of the mushroom soaking liquid. Season with the soy sauce, sugar, white pepper, sesame oil, rice wine & rice vinegar. Throw in the green parts of the spring onions, pak choy leaves, most of the coriander and cook for another minute.
Taste and adjust sugar and soy sauce as required.
For the poached eggs. Bring a medium pan of water to a boil and squirt in a little vinegar. Crack the eggs into separate teacups. When boiling turn off the heat, stir the water to create a little whirlpool and carefully slide the eggs into the water. Put the lid on and leave them for 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove them with a slotted spoon to drain on kitchen paper.
Put a handful of watercress on each plate and top it with the noodle baskets. Fill the baskets with the mushroom stir fry, topping with a few carrot and pepper juliennes. Carefully place the poached eggs on top and sprinkle with sesame seeds and a few coriander leaves.
Serve immediately.
