Spaghetti alle Vongole (Spaghetti with Clams)

Today I suddenly had an abundance of fresh clams, thanks to a kind gentleman who brought them all the way from Nenasi, a fishing village in Pahang. I’ve never been there before, but now I’m definitely curious… maybe one day I’ll plan a trip!

But first - what to do with all these clams?

The usual Chinese-style ginger and garlic clams came to mind… but honestly, seafood Chinese cooking is not my strength (still learning!). So instead of stressing myself out, I went with something I’m more comfortable with ~ simple "Western-style" dishes.

I split the clams into two batches: one for clams oreganata, and the other for a classic spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams). And today, I’m sharing this easy, no-fuss pasta that turned out so good.

Light, garlicky, slightly spicy, with a splash of white wine, it’s one of those dishes that feels a bit fancy but is actually very simple to make.

Spaghetti with clams, more clams in the pan

Ingredients:

Spaghetti

1 bowl of clams, soaked in salt water an hour prior and clean the shell

2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/2 medium onion (optional), chopped

1 medium tomato (optional), seeds removed and chopped

A handful     of parsley, chopped

1/2 cup white wine

1 dried chilli, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Olive oil

Preparation:

1. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
2. While that’s cooking, heat a pan and add some olive oil.
3. Add onions and garlic, saute for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Toss in the tomato and dried chilli, stir well.
5. Keep stirring until the garlic starts to lightly brown.
6. Add in the clams and pour in the white wine. Give everything a quick mix.
7. Turn the heat up high, cover with a lid, and let it cook for about 5 minutes. The clams will open and release their natural juices.
8. Once the clams have opened, remove the lid, give it a quick stir, and turn off the heat.
9. Drain the cooked spaghetti and add it into the pan together with the parsley.
10. Season with salt and black pepper, then toss everything together.
11. Serve immediately - best enjoyed hot!

What I love about this dish is how simple it is. Just a few ingredients - clams, garlic, olive oil, chilli, parsley, and a splash of white wine, and you get something so flavourful and comforting.

I added onions because I love that extra sweetness in my pasta. Totally optional, but highly recommended.

A quick, satisfying dinner made from mostly pantry ingredients… well, except for the clams. Those were the real stars of the show.

Tomato Basil Spaghetti

One of my all-time favourite fast food meals to whip up at home is tomato basil pasta. And yes, I do call it "fast" food. Why? Because from chopping ingredients to washing up, this whole dish comes together in under 30 minutes. That’s faster (and way more satisfying) than reaching for instant noodles!

Plus, there’s something extra rewarding about stepping into my little garden, snipping a few fresh basil leaves, and tossing them straight into the pan. If basil isn’t available, no worries, you’ll still get a delicious tomato garlic pasta. Simple, flexible, and perfect for those lazy lunch or dinner moments.

For this recipe, I used spaghetti, but feel free to swap it with penne or any pasta you have on hand.

Viola! Here goes my quick and delicious express meal!

Ingredients: (1 serving)

Spaghetti (enough for one portion)

1 large tomato, chopped

½ onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped

1 tbsp olive oil

A few drops of balsamic vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Method

1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a saucepan. Add the onions and garlic, and saute for a few minutes until the onions turn soft and translucent.
3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks or burns. Season with salt, black pepper, and a few drops of balsamic vinegar.
4. Lower the heat and let the sauce gently simmer while the pasta finishes cooking.
5. Add the fresh basil and give the sauce a quick stir.
6. Drain the pasta and toss it straight into the sauce.
7. Serve hot, topped with grated Parmesan cheese if you like.

Little Tips:

• I like to remove the tomato skin and seeds for a smoother sauce. An easy trick? Use a sharp paring knife, make a shallow X-shaped cut on either the top or bottom skin, be careful not to slice deep into the flesh, then drop the tomato into boiling water briefly, and then transfer it to cold water, the skin will peel off effortlessly.
• If your sauce gets too thick while simmering, just add a splash of the pasta cooking water. It loosens the sauce and adds extra flavour too!

Simple ingredients, minimal effort, and big comfort in a bowl... this is my kind of fast food :)

Nasi Goreng Kampung Simple

Fried rice is best cooked using overnight leftover rice from the fridge. Normally I do not use freshly cooked rice to make fried rice because it will end up clumped into pieces and taste mushy.

Last night, I had some leftover rice, and kangkung in the fridge. So, I decided to make simple kampung style fried rice for dinner. The recipe is so easy that I only make use of the available ingredients in my kitchen.

Simple kampung style fried rice

Ingredients:
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 1/2 cup leftover rice
Small bunch of kangkung (chinese water spinach) about 50-60g
30g fried anchovies
2 tbsp chili paste (*I already made the chili paste earlier, see below for the chili paste I use)
Salt
Sugar

Vegetable oil

Preparation:
1. In a bowl, mix together light soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt and sugar (to taste).
2. Heat vegetable oil in a wok and slowly stir-fry the chili paste in low to medium heat, until the chili paste is fragrant.
3. Add the sauce mixture into the wok and quick stir for a few seconds.
4. Then add in the rice, and continue stirring for a few minutes in high heat until the rice is all well-coated.
5. Add kangkung and fried anchovies. Fry until the kangkung is cooked.
6. Serve immediately.

Chili paste preparation:
12 dried chillies, soaked
5 shallots – peeled
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tbsp dried shrimp, soaked
1-2 tsp belacan (shrimp paste), toasted

1. Put all the ingredients into a blender.
2. Add some water (not too much) and blend them until become fine paste.
* If there are extra chili paste, it can be kept in the fridge for other uses.

Easy meal for dinner **clap clap** :))

Algerian Chtitha Djedj

Out of a sudden, I craved for Algerian food. I used to work in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria for three years. Living there for years means I got the chance to taste many new dishes which I never eaten before in Malaysia. In fact, I could hardly find any Malaysian food or Asian food in Algiers. The only Asian cuisine available there are Chinese and Indian cuisine, and they are very expensive! Many times, my friends and I would only go to the Chinese or Indian restaurants during special occasions. So, most of the time I had to eat like the locals. There are a few Algerian dishes that I particularly like and I even learn to cook them. One of them is chtitha djedj. This dish is actually Algerian stewed chicken with red sauce. Why red sauce? Simply because it has a bright orange-reddish color. This dish is slowly cooked to achieve the tenderness of the chicken and the flavorful combination of spices that bring out the perfect deliciousness. The texture of meat is so soft and tender, where the meat can actually fall off the bone easily. The dish is normally served with bread or baguette, but this time I serve it with rice and guess what, it goes well with rice!

This dish is very easy to cook. All I need is to get the right ingredients, and most important, the secret spice for this dish 'ras el-hanout'. This spice is a special spice from North Africa, and it has a combination of many different spices blended into one. Some regions may even have over hundreds combination of spices in it! I searched over many places for packaged ras el-hanout in KL, but I cannot find it. So, I substitute it with Indian garam masala and some other spices available in my kitchen. Anyway, despite not having the secret spice in this recipe, the taste turned out to be what I want, I would say very Algerian taste! 

Food is like music, the key is the ingredients... ~ my quote for the day :)

Home cooked Algerian chtitha djedj

Ingredients:

2 pieces whole chicken thighs

1 cup chickpeas (soaked overnight)

3 cloves garlic chopped

1 onion chopped

1 tablespoon tomato puree

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground tumeric

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground paprika

1 teaspoon garam masala (Original chtitha djedj uses ras el-hanout but I cannot find the spice here, so I substitute with garam masala and added some other spices above)

Salt

Black Pepper

Olive oil

About 500ml water (or chicken stock)

Preparation:

1. Clean the chicken thighs thoroughly. Season them with salt and pepper.

2. Rinse the chickpeas and dry them using a colander.

3. Heat olive oil in a pot. Add the chopped onions and garlic, cook them for few minutes or until the onions are translucent.

4. Put in the chicken thighs, and mix in all other ingredients (tomato puree, pinch of salt, cumin, tumeric, paprika, cinnamon and garam masala).

5. Cook for 5 minutes in medium heat, after that put in the water, enough to cover the chicken thighs.

6. Add in the chickpeas. Simmer in low heat for about 40 minutes or until the sauce has reduced to thicken.

7. Garnish with chopped parsley (optional), and serve hot.

So that is my dinner. Good food for a great weekend! Bon appétit!

Aquaponic Lobster Breeding Project Kickstarted!

Last weekend, I attended a half-day training session on aquaponic lobster breeding - and it was quite the adventure! At the end of the program, I brought home a startup kit: a complete CLAW system and 30 freshwater lobsters to kick off my journey. The batch was evenly split between 15 males and 15 females.

The lobsters

Unfortunately, not all of them made it home. Six lobsters died during the journey, and some even lost their claws. I could hear cracking sounds from the container, which confirmed what Mr. Effendy, our trainer, had explained: lobsters naturally fight among themselves.

First batch of the non-survivors - All are female lobsters

I didn’t discard the dead ones, though. Since they are organic freshwater lobsters raised without chemicals, why waste them!

Fresh lobsters for supper!

Setting Up the CLAW System

During training, we learned how to assemble the system step by step. At home, I had to temporarily transfer the lobsters into smaller containers while I prepared the main tank. The initial setup looked a little rough, but it was necessary to get the water stabilized.

Initial set up for system

The filter pump and air pump had to run continuously to remove chlorine from the household tap water, which is harmful to lobsters. These creatures are extremely sensitive to their environment, and the ideal water pH should stay between 7.4 and 8.2. At first, the water looked muddy due to the hydro korrels, but after a day, it cleared up beautifully.

Temporary shelter for the surviving lobsters

Moving the Lobsters In

Once the system stabilized, I began transferring the lobsters into their new home. Sadly, five more didn’t survive overnight, and one adventurous lobster managed to escape its temporary shelter—only to be found lifeless near the doorstep.

Despite these losses, the remaining lobsters settled into the system. To complement the aquaponic setup, I also transplanted a few spinach plants. Now, I’m curious to see how they adapt and grow alongside the lobsters. Of course, I made sure to feed the lobsters too—they need their share of nourishment!

Arial view of my plants

My aquaponic system is now working and filled with life :)

Looking Ahead

Even though many lobsters didn’t survive the first night, I’m still thrilled to see the system up and running. Watching the balance between plants and lobsters unfold day by day fills me with excitement. This is just the beginning of my aquaponic journey, and hopefully the system evolves successfully!

My First Day with Aquaponic Lobster Breeding

Today marks the beginning of my discovery of aquaponic project at home 🌱🦞

I’m buzzing with excitement. The idea itself is fascinating - raising aquatic animals in an aquaculture system while recycling their waste to nourish plants in a hydroponic setup. It’s a beautiful cycle where nothing goes to waste, and everything supports each other.

Before this, I only knew about hydroponics. Aquaponics was a completely new discovery for me. In essence, it’s the marriage of aquaculture and hydroponics:

• Aquatic animals produce waste, which becomes nutrients for the plants.
• The plants act as natural filters, purifying the water so the animals can thrive.
• The system runs continuously, saving water and eliminating the need for fertilizers or pesticides.

It’s sustainable, efficient, and organic—a little ecosystem right at home.

How I Discovered Aquaponic Lobsters

My curiosity was first sparked when I saw a television advertisement for the government’s National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) Day, held on 23–24 May 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The idea of breeding freshwater lobsters at home instantly caught my attention. I couldn’t stop wondering how such a system could also benefit my plants.

At the exhibition, I met Mr. Effendy Halily, the man behind this innovative concept. He started his aquaponic lobster project back in 2011 and has already won two innovation awards for it. His system, called Container Lobster at Work (CLAW), is brilliantly simple—using ordinary storage boxes instead of expensive equipment. Cost-effective, practical, and inspiring!

Taking the Leap

After learning more from Mr. Effendy, I decided to attend his training in Alor Gajah. By the end of it, I had purchased a starter kit and was ready to dive into this new adventure.

What excites me most is the dual benefit: I can breed lobsters at home while also growing vegetables in the same system. And yes, I’m already imagining the day when I can cook my very own home-bred lobsters for dinner!

This is the simple aquaponic setup for breeding lobsters

Looking Forward

This is my very first aquaponic project, and I know there’s still so much to learn - about maintaining the system, caring for the lobsters, and nurturing the plants. But that’s the beauty of it: every day will bring new lessons and discoveries.

For now, I’m simply thrilled to have taken the first step. Here’s to growing, learning, and enjoying the journey - one lobster and one spinach leaf at a time. 🌿🦞✨