To soak the bamboo skewers, place them in a shallow dish of hot water for 15-20 minutes-this helps reduce scorching during cooking. Note

Flavourful, aromatic chicken and corn noodle soup. Easy and soothing Asian-inspired soup is the perfect way to warm up and take the chill out of the air on a cold winter�s night.

Ground rice is a traditional thai salad ingredient, adding texture and flavour. You can buy it from health food shops. Note

If you can’t find green tea soba noodles, use buckwheat soba or udon noodles. Note

Tempeh is made from whole soya beans and has a nutty. mushroom-like flavour. it may also be flavoured with spices or herbs. Look for it in supermarket fridges. Note

When preparing lemongrass, smash first with the back of a heavy knife, peel away the tough outer layers and chop the white part of the stems only, before grinding to a paste. Note

If you’re not fond of pork, you could replace it with beef, chicken or turkey mince, if you like. Note

A barbecued duck is easy to source if you live near a Chinatown, but it you have trouble finding one, you could use barbecued chicken in this recipe. Note

There'll be no complaints from the family when you serve up this tasty noodle dish. They may even come back for seconds!

The noodles stick together: The key to perfectly cooked rice vermicelli is to rinse the cooked noodles in a colander just until they are cool. At the same time, use your hands to separate the noodles, then drain well. Note

The beef stock can be made well ahead. It will freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. To make it easier to slice the beef fillet thinly, freeze the beef for 1-2hours, until half-frozen. Note

This delicious stir-fry takes minutes to make using thick, fresh hokkien noodles.

If preferred, you can use dried shaved coconut available at Asian food stores, instead of fresh. Rinse the vanilla bean after use and place on paper towel until dry. Keep in a sealed container to use again, or pop into your caster sugar canister to make vanilla sugar. Note

Kang kong, or water spinach, is available from Asian grocery stores. It is unrelated to spinach but tastes similar. You can use 4 bunches of English spinach instead. Blanching the kang kong before stir-frying helps retain its vibrant green colour, and also makes the stalks less tough. Note

Tapioca pearls are available from Asian supermarkets and health food stores. You can use light coconut milk if you prefer. Note

Luscious lobster in a sweet sticky Asian sauce. You're guests will rave about this dish!

Green tea contains polyphenols which help protect cells against free radical damage and can increase bone density. Note

Barbecue duck nasi goreng brought to you by

A quick and simple salmon treatment that explodes on the palate.

Haloumi is a semi-hard cheese with a high melting point, so it can easily be fried or grilled. Perfect for this recipe.

There are so many nasi goreng variations from region to region it is impossible to count them all. This Bbq duck version by Madison is a riot of flavour most definitely in the top 5.

Saucy, sticky and delicious - this recipe for Balinese pork noodles is a must for an easy, impressive dinner any night of the week

Keeping times: Use the leftover Asian gremolata within 1 day of making, and the leftover beef within 2 days of cooking. Note

Traditionally made with pork mince, this beef version is a great alternative. Or make it with chicken mince. To make separating the iceburg lettuce leaves easier cut , the bottom off the lettuce and soak in , cold water for 10 mins. Note

If you can, buy live crabs from a fish market – the claws will be tied for your safety. Refrigerate the crab to put it to sleep and cook it that very day. Otherwise, already-killed uncooked blue swimmer crabs are available at fishmongers for about $30 a kilo. Don’t buy cooked crab for this recipe […]

Equipment: paper towel; sharp knife; work or large frying pan; long-handled spoon (to stir-fry) Note

This easy Thai beef salad recipe is ready in a flash and is super-healthy with the addition of spinach, cucumber, capsicum and fresh herbs. Don't forget the chilli hit!

Packed with spices, including golden turmeric, this coconut poached barramundi is delicious served over a bed of rice with plenty of lime and coriander

Broth can be prepared a day ahead. Keep, covered, in the fridge. Remove fat from surface before reheating. Note

You’ll need about half a large cooked chicken. You’ll need to cook about 1 1/2 cups rice; cook several hours ahead, then chill. Note

Hearty, delicious and easy combination fried rice recipe. Feel free to use leftovers or a mix of whatever meat you have on hand. For the best results cook 1 cup of rice a day ahead.

Once opened, store hoisin sauce in the fridge. If you don’t have hoisin sauce, use plum sauce. Note

Use a combination of pork and chicken mince if you like. You can serve stir-fry with fresh noodles or rice. Note

Lean pork is high in protein and B vitamins, which makes it a healthy meat option.

A low-fat, low-calorie Asian stir-fry packed with chicken and prawns and flavoured with teriyaki. You'll be dying to get your chopsticks into these aromatic Singapore noodles.

Wrap a strip of foil around each drumette bone to make mini drumsticks easier to eat with fingers. Marinate drumettes in fridge overnight; they’ll be flavour-packed and ready to bake the next day. Note

Add ice cubes to iced water; the colder the water, the crisper the batter will be. Add thinly sliced vegies – Japanese eggplant, asparagus, carrot, fennel and onion to any leftover batter. Daikon (or white) radish looks like a large white carrot. Note

We used a combination of wings and drumsticks, but any cut of chicken is fine; cooking time will vary. Serve chicken warm or cold. Note

Use hoisin sauce instead of black been sauce. Use pork strips instead of beef. Note

Budget beef rump is a cheap alternative to rump steak. Note

Add chilli powder from sachets according to taste and desired level of heat. Use prawns instead of chicken. Note

You can barbecue chicken instead of using a grill pan. Use chicken tenderloins. Note

You will need to cook about 1 1/3 cups rice – it’s best cooked a day ahead. Green curry paste can be spicy; start with 1 tablespoon, then taste and adjust if necessary. Note

Try using beef or chicken instead of pork. Note

Pork katsu don is deliciously meaty and has the remarkable ability to satisfy a handful of cravings in one bite as the panko coating on the pork absorbs the sweet and savoury sauce.

Use dried noodles instead of fresh; you’ll need to soak longer. Note

Use any combination of vegetables. Find chicken meatballs in the fresh poultry section in supermarkets. Note

Cut any leftover ginger into 2cm lengths; freeze in an airtight container. Chill leftover oyster sauce to use later in stir-fries. Note

You’ll need to cook about 1 1/2 cups rice. Rice is best cooked a day ahead; spread on a shallow tray and store in fridge. Note

For a milder ginger flavour, add a 4cm piece of peeled ginger to water when boiling potato; discard before mashing. Mirin seasoning is in the Asian foods aisle. Note

Use bought teriyaki sauce. Add other vegetables you may have in the fridge, such as carrots, baby corn and mushrooms. Note

To make it easier to divide beaten egg into 4, beat 2 eggs at a time. Replace bok choy with other leafy greens Note

You can add 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest instead of capers. Note

To prevent rolls drying out, cover with slightly damp paper towels when you’ve rolled them. Rice paper sheets are in the Asian food aisle. Note

Budget tip: You can use water instead of chicken stock. You’ll find stir-fry vegetables in the fresh produce section of the supermarket. Note

For a heartier salad, soak Thai-style rice noodles, then add to this recipe. Note

Brush pastry bags with beaten egg, if you like. If available, you can use wan ton or grow gee wrappers instead of puff pastry. For a slightly more intense flavour, add sesame oil to mince mixture. Chill mixture for 15 minutes before preparing bags. Note

Use drained canned baby corn. Note

Special fried rice

For an adult noodle mix, omit honey and cinnamon. Add a touch of curry powder and nuts such as raw unsalted almonds or cashews. Fried rice noodles are also available and are gluten free. Note

Omit prawns and chicken. Double pork mince and make extra meatballs. Add mixed frozen vegies to hot stock in Step 4 if you like. For a slightly nutty taste, serve hot soup drizzled with sesame oil. Note

Replace prawns with black mussels. Scrub well and remove beards. Add to sauce; simmer, covered, until they open. Discard mussels that do not open. Note

Pull ‘beard’ down towards mussel’s hinge to remove. Note

Use green beans instead of snow peas. You can use rice noodles instead of udon; cooking times may vary. Note

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese soup. For a truly authentic flavour, add 2-3 whole star anise to stock. Star anise is a dried spice with an aniseed flavour – it’s available from some greengrocers, Asian groceries and specialty spice stores. Note

You can use plum or a mixture of soy sauce and honey as a glaze. Note

Bursting with intense and vivid flavours, this quick and scrumptious yellow fish curry infused with Asian spices is ready in less than 15 minutesand is simply delicious!

Soup is best made just before serving. You’ll find tom yum paste in the Asian food aisle of major supermarkets or at your specialist Asian grocer. Note

Snipping noodles makes them easier to mix through the other ingredients. Note