We had one of the most fun weekends this year. First, it was chocolate breakfast at The Langham, Melbourne with fellow Nuffnang food and fashion bloggers. Then it was off to Melbourne Good Food & Wine which @cloudcontrol and Mister where we spent a fantastic afternoon tasting beautiful wines and watching Masterchef judges, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan at the Celebrity Theatre (Thanks to @myfoodtrail). This is followed by a Banh Mi blind tasting on Sunday.
A teaser photo. A blog post coming soon.
Banh mi blind tasting table
This is very simple and honest dish made by Mister. We make this dish with a variation of noodles quite often for the week. It is a no brainer but one of my favourites. I may be a food blogger but certainly not very fussy with foods. If we had the time, we will cook more extravagant meals but having to work long hours, simple foods like this is just as comforting.
White lettuce and tofu puffs
Ingredients:
- 500g vermicelli
- 500g semi-fried tofu, sliced
- 250g fried tofu puffs, quartered
- 1 medium onion
- 500g bean sprouts
- 1/2 head of chinese white lettuce
- 2tbsp of lemongrass shallots paste (replace this with chilli paste or fresh chillies)
- 3 fresh chillies, finely diced
- 3tbsp of oyster sauce (get the bottle with no MSG!)
- 5 eggs
- Salt and white pepper for seasoning
Semi-fried tofu
Method:
- Soak the vermicelli in cold water. Slice the white lettuce and blanch in hot water for about 1 min. Remove and set aside
- Throw the onions into hot pan and saute it till it turns translucent. Add the whipped eggs and allow it to cook on one side and then turn over. Do not scramble too much. I like it chunky
- Drain the vermicelli and add to the eggs and onions. Mix around and then add the condiments. Combine thoroughly
- Add the blanched lettuce and bean sprouts. Combine. Taste and season
- Once all is cooked, serve hot with a side of home made chilli sauce
Simple vermicelli
I will write a post about the very simple chilli paste/ sauce recipe another time. We add it to fried rice, noodle dishes and also used in stir fried. Super versatile.
And thanks again hunnie! I would never had made this week’s post if not for you and your help. 
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Hehehe, banh mi not so meatless
No fair when there are TWO good cooks in a partnership! My better half easily kicks my butt in the kitchen 
.-= Gem´s last blog ..not all feral creatures are bad =-.
The banh mi look wonderful. I unfortunately can get the crisp crust rolls I need to make them here. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Curried Turkey Salad =-.
Penny, This is so sweet, I bet you have enjoyed it more than any dishes cooked by other chefs : ).
.-= TasteHongKong´s last blog ..Shrimps in Tomato Soup – Thai’s Tom Yam Style =-.
Well done Mister!
And Penny, really, such a tease with that blind tasting photo.
.-= Conor @ HoldtheBeef´s last blog ..Air NZ may have the champagne, but United has the champagne comedy =-.
This dish looks somewhat like what we've here in Singapore – a Malay vermicelli called 'Mee Siam' & I love it.
.-= Blackswan´s last blog ..Blogger Award =-.
This too looks like 'Mee Siam' to me. Love vermicelli anytime!
.-= Cheah´s last blog ..Steamed Fish fillet with Rice vermicelli =-.
Hooray Mister! That blind tasting looks so fun! And that bread!!!
.-= Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite´s last blog ..Nudo – straight from the grove =-.
If I'm honest with you, I'm far more likely to recreate your simple-yet-delicious meals than super-tricky extravaganzas. So yum, and yay, and sandwich tasting, hurrah!
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Charlemagne Topsy Turvy Violet Chocolate =-.
Well done dish Penny!
.-= Shirley´s last blog ..Chicken Jalfrezi =-.
oooh that dish looks wonderful to me!!!!
.-= Lisa @ bakebikeblog´s last blog ..A week in the life of BBB – Day 5 =-.
Sounds like a fantastic delicious vermicelli dish!
.-= 5 Star Foodie´s last blog ..Poppy Seed Slices =-.
Deep fried tofu is one of the things that make life worth living…
.-= Sasa´s last blog ..Eating Crow and Brown Sugar and Lemon Cake =-.
That's an awesome Meatless Monday dish! And really, you know – teasing me with banh mi is so NOT fair!!
.-= Trix´s last blog ..Summertime Simplicity: Lime & Rosemary Granita =-.
bread with noodles?? hmm very interesting that's double carb haha… reminds me of my husband who eats all kinds of noodles with rice…
i love vermicelli that's why this dish could find its way to our dining table…
Hi Penny, I like this noodle recipe. Me love noodles anytime and your recipe is great with no meat.
.-= Cook with Madin´s last blog ..Greek Salad for Aisa =-.
Reminds me of my Vietnam, they love big rolls with all kinda of ingredients. YUM.
.-= Simon´s last blog ..Muesli with Banana & Honey at home =-.
I love vermicelli and the flavors you used, mmmmm, lemongrass…that’s yummy.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Heirloom Tomatoes and Blueberry Salad =-.
Your weekend sounds a billion times better than mine….=]
I love vermicelli! This looks really nice….
And so much tofu! Haha… I love tofu puffs =]
.-= Von´s last blog ..Smiling Mouth Cookies 笑口枣 =-.
noodles can make a meal anytime for me too – looks like you had a great hand in the kitchen …
.-= Drick´s last blog ..Cajun Fried Crab Balls =-.
Penny & Mister, what a fantastic afternoon you two had, tasting beautiful wines and watching Masterchef judges. Can't wait to see your photos.
I always love to put up simple and quick meals on our family's table after a long day. Glad that my family doesn't complain at all.
.-= Christine@Christine's Recipes´s last blog ..Green Tea (Matcha) Swiss Roll =-.
Oh I had vermicelli and tofu for lunch too! funny, your meal is delicious and your vermicelli recipe quite tempting, never tasted chinese lettuce though, will have to check the Asian supermarket
I do like your meat-free dishes – mainly because they're not obviously vegetarian. And tofu and vermicelli (and lettuce) are a classic combo.
.-= OohLookBel´s last blog ..Delicious Pear Pancakes =-.
Oh looking forward to the sambal recipe!
.-= 3hungrytummies´s last blog ..Aromatic Soy Poached Chicken 醬油滷雞 (豉油雞） =-.
all I can think of is the up coming post, I think I know what it is and I'm craving one right now!!
Now I need to train Daz to do some cooking, got any tips for me??
.-= Maria@TheGourmetChallenge´s last blog ..Old Town Kopitiam Mamak =-.
Love the combination/texture of this meatless dish…and the home made chili sauce? Can't wait for that one!
Nice combination of tofu and the other ingredients…..mmmmm, delicious!
.-= peteformation´s last blog ..No Testing (Tdak Dibenarkan Cuba Makan) and Don't 'Shoot' in The Hole – Wrong Sign at the wrong place? =-.
Yum, how simple yet delicious. I love recipes like these. I can throw together a pasta off the top of my head, but noodles still don't come together instinctively for me, you know? I'm hanging out for the chilli sauce recipe too…
Ms Baklover recently posted..Delicious Vietnam #2 – Blind banh mi battle
How nice to have delicious fried vermicelli esp when you don't have to prepare it
I love homemade chilli paste! I can practically add it into every dish. I tend to make a big batch each time and pack into smaller batch and freeze it. Once I run out, just need to take 1 out from the freezer.
Liz recently posted..Muffins Or Cupcake?
@Gem – I am blessed
@Mary – Can you teach me to make that bread?
@TasteHongKong – I do! One of my favourite dishes.
@Conor @ HoldtheBeef – Teasing makes everything more fun!
@Blackswan – It does in the photo
@Mardi @eatlivetravelwrite – The bread is good! Stay tune.
@Cheah – It does but the taste is very different
@Hannah – I agree. Especially during busy days.
@Shirley – Thanks
@Lisa @ bakebikeblog – Tasted even better
@5 Star Foodie – It sure is
@Sasa – I am a big fan too!
@Trix – Thanks and you aren't suppose to be teaser with banh mi
@skip to malou – The bread is for blind tasting. This dish is separate. I don't think I can deal with double carbs!
@Simon – Banhmi is Vietnamese. You had the real deal!
@Von – That was a great weekend. I loved it too.
@Anna – Thanks sweetie
@drick – I do indeed!
@Christine@Christine's Recipes – I wouldn't complain anything you put infront of me!
@citronetvanille – I think you will like it. Hope you can find it.
@OohLookBel – We try to make it as tempting as possible
@3hungrytummies – Shall do. It is less of a sambal but just chilli paste
@Maria@TheGourmetChallenge – Starvation!
@Debi (Table Talk) – Always home made chilli sauce. The way we like it
@peteformation – Thanks!
@Ms Baklover – Really? Will post chilli sauce soon
@tigerfish – Yeap. A real luxury
@Liz – Yah. That is what I do too~
I normally eat alot of meat and think that I think I should reduce the amount of meat i eat also, from what people told me. This look quite delicious without meat. I am really gonna give it a try. Thanks for sharing.