Welcome to the Kitchen

Makan-Makan with Melissa

Explore 33 carefully crafted recipes, from appetizers to desserts. Each dish is designed to bring joy to your table and warmth to your home.

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Starters 7 recipes
Classic Garlic Bread

Classic Garlic Bread

Simple and flavorful garlic bread, perfect as a side dish, made with a fresh butter, garlic, and herb spread.

5 minutes
5-10 minutes
4 servings
Side Dish Baked Quick
Glass Noodle Salad

Glass Noodle Salad

A fresh and flavorful glass noodle salad with a sweet and acidic lime dressing, fresh herbs, and crunchy peanuts.

15 minutes
5 minutes (for soaking)
2 servings
Salad Asian Vegetarian +1
Satay

Satay

A flavorful recipe for grilled satay using your choice of protein marinated in a rich blend of ground spices and herbs.

3h 15m
10-15m
4 servings
Main Course Grilled Asian
Spring Rolls (Chicken)

Spring Rolls (Chicken)

Crispy deep-fried spring rolls filled with tender chicken, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and vegetables in a savory Asian-style sauce.

2 hours (includes soaking/cooling time)
30 minutes
50 servings
Appetizer Asian Deep-Fried
Spring Rolls (Vegetarian Tofu)

Spring Rolls (Vegetarian Tofu)

Crispy vegetarian spring rolls with crispy tofu, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and vegetables in a flavorful soy-sesame sauce.

2 hours (includes soaking/cooling time)
30 minutes
50 servings
Appetizer Asian Deep-Fried +1
Summer Rolls

Summer Rolls

Fresh and crisp Vietnamese-style summer rolls filled with protein, vegetables, and herbs, served with a dipping sauce.

20m
5m
Appetizer Vietnamese No-Cook
Wonton Cups

Wonton Cups

Crispy baked wonton wrappers shaped into cups, filled with a fresh salad base and topped with savory seasoned tofu or shrimp.

8-12 minutes
Appetizer Asian
Mains 14 recipes
Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

A classic takeout-style stir fry featuring tender beef (or seitan) and crisp broccoli florets coated in a savory, slightly sweet sauce.

10 minutes (+3 hours marinating)
10-15 minutes
2 servings
Main Course Stir-Fried Asian +2
Sichuan-Inspired Instagram Noodles (Dan Dan Style)

Sichuan-Inspired Instagram Noodles (Dan Dan Style)

Quick and flavorful noodles tossed in a rich, nutty, and spicy sauce, topped with savory minced pork and fresh garnishes.

10 minutes
10 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Noodles Chinese +1
Ginger Fried Whole Fish

Ginger Fried Whole Fish

A quick and flavorful preparation for a whole fish, fried until crispy and infused with aromatic ginger and a simple soy sauce glaze.

10 minutes
15-25 minutes
4 servings
Main Course Seafood Asian +1
Kyoto Style Sweet Potatoes (Miso Roasted)

Kyoto Style Sweet Potatoes (Miso Roasted)

Sweet potatoes roasted until tender and topped with a savory, caramelized miso, ginger, and onion butter, often served with rice.

5 minutes
35-40 minutes
3 servings
Side Dish Japanese Baked +1
Sticky Lemon Chicken (or Tofu)

Sticky Lemon Chicken (or Tofu)

Crispy fried chicken (or plant-based alternative) coated in a sweet, sour, and sticky lemon sauce, perfect for a quick Asian-inspired meal.

5 minutes (plus 30 minutes chilling)
10-15 minutes
2 servings
Main Course Poultry Asian +1
Oven Baked Chicken in Gravy

Oven Baked Chicken in Gravy

Tender chicken legs or thighs baked in the oven with onions and peppers, smothered in a rich gravy base made with vegetable stock, mustard, and tomato puree.

15 minutes
45 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Poultry Comfort Food +1
Paneer Makhani (Butter Paneer)

Paneer Makhani (Butter Paneer)

A rich and creamy Indian curry featuring soft paneer cheese in a smooth, spiced tomato and cashew-based gravy.

10 minutes (+30 minutes marinating)
30 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Curry Indian +1
Peanut Tomato Lentil Curry

Peanut Tomato Lentil Curry

A rich and creamy lentil curry combining tomatoes, coconut milk, and spices, with the depth of flavor from peanut butter or tahini.

10 minutes
30 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Curry Indian +2
Braised Soy Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou Inspired)

Braised Soy Pork Belly (Hong Shao Rou Inspired)

Tender pork belly simmered in a rich, savory, and slightly sweet sauce with hardboiled eggs, featuring the aromatic flavor of five-spice powder.

5 minutes (plus minimum 3 hours marinating)
30 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Pork Chinese +1
Pumpkin Lasagna

Pumpkin Lasagna

A hearty vegetarian lasagna featuring layers of savory pumpkin and tomato sugo, creamy béchamel sauce, and soft pasta sheets.

20 minutes
45-150 minutes (30-120 min for sugo simmer + 15-30 min bake)
3 servings
Main Course Pasta Italian +2
Classic Spaghetti Carbonara

Classic Spaghetti Carbonara

Authentic Roman spaghetti dish made with guanciale, Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh eggs, and black pepper, creating a creamy emulsion without cream.

5 minutes
10-15 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Pasta Italian +1
Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

Classic baked cannelloni stuffed with a creamy spinach and ricotta filling and covered in a simple tomato sauce and baked until golden.

20 minutes
25 minutes
3 servings
Main Course Pasta Italian +2
Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry

Tofu and Veggie Stir Fry

A quick and versatile Asian-style stir fry featuring savory shiitake mushrooms, crispy tofu, and your choice of fresh vegetables.

15 minutes
15 minutes
2 servings
Main Course Stir-Fried Asian +2
Turmeric Coconut Rice

Turmeric Coconut Rice

Fragrant and flavorful rice cooked with coconut milk, turmeric, and aromatics, making it an excellent side dish for Southeast Asian cuisine.

5 minutes
30 minutes
3 servings
Side Dish Asian Rice
Desserts 6 recipes
Banana Split Quark Cake

Banana Split Quark Cake

A rich and layered German-style cheesecake combining a buttery shortcrust base, a creamy quark filling, sweet bananas, and a decadent chocolate layer, topped with crunchy crumbles.

30 minutes
45 minutes
8 servings
Cake Baked German
Rüeblitorte (Swiss Carrot Cake)

Rüeblitorte (Swiss Carrot Cake)

A classic Swiss carrot cake known for its moist texture from ground almonds and carrots, topped with a simple lemon glaze and optional marzipan carrots.

20 minutes
40-50 minutes
8 servings
Cake Baked Swiss
Leftover Chocolate Mini Cakes (Cupcakes)

Leftover Chocolate Mini Cakes (Cupcakes)

Rich and moist chocolate mini cakes, a perfect recipe for utilizing leftover seasonal chocolate, enhanced with ground almonds and a hint of espresso.

15 minutes
20-25 minutes
6 servings
Cake Baked Chocolate
Raspberry Tiramisu

Raspberry Tiramisu

A fresh and fruity twist on classic tiramisu, featuring a creamy mascarpone and sour milk filling, ladyfingers soaked in a homemade raspberry syrup, and topped with fresh berries.

20 minutes
15 minutes (syrup reduction)
8 servings
Italian No-Bake Fruit
Schichtdessert

Schichtdessert

An easy and refreshing layered dessert with a creamy base, crunchy cookie crumbles, and fresh fruit, perfect for making ahead of time.

15 minutes
0 minutes
6 servings
No-Bake Quick Swiss
Streuselkuchen (German Crumble Cake with Fruit)

Streuselkuchen (German Crumble Cake with Fruit)

A classic German cake with a buttery shortcrust base, a layer of fruit filling (like plums or apples), and a generous topping of crisp, golden crumbles (Streusel).

25 minutes
35-40 minutes
8 servings
Cake Baked German +1
Bread 3 recipes
Grittibänz

Grittibänz

A traditional Swiss/German sweet yeast bread shaped like a little man, typically made for St. Nicholas Day (December 6th).

20 minutes
20-25 minutes
3 servings
Baked Holiday Swiss
Knusperbrot (Crusty High-Hydration Bread)

Knusperbrot (Crusty High-Hydration Bread)

A rustic, high-hydration no-knead bread combining regular and wholemeal flour, utilizing beer and apple cider vinegar for flavor, baked in a covered pot for an extra crusty finish.

10 minutes
45-48 minutes
6 servings
No-Knead Baked
Swiss Zopf (Braided Bread)

Swiss Zopf (Braided Bread)

A recipe for Zopf, a traditional Swiss braided white bread, starting with a pre-dough for enhanced flavor and resulting in a soft, rich loaf.

25 mins
35 mins
4 servings
Baked Swiss
Sauces 2 recipes
Almost Chimichurri (Herb Sauce)

Almost Chimichurri (Herb Sauce)

A fresh, vibrant, and quick chimichurri-inspired herb sauce made with parsley, cilantro, mint, chili, garlic, and vinegar, perfect for grilling.

10 minutes
0 minutes
3 servings
Sauce & Condiment Grilled Latin American
Quick Hoisin Dipping Sauce

Quick Hoisin Dipping Sauce

A simple, simmered hoisin sauce, thinned with rice wine or juice, perfect for Peking duck pancakes, seitan/soy chunks, or as a flavorful steak condiment.

2 minutes
3 minutes
4 servings
Sauce & Condiment Chinese Quick
Miscellaneous 1 recipes
Ajitsuke Tamago (Ramen Eggs)

Ajitsuke Tamago (Ramen Eggs)

Soft-boiled eggs marinated in a sweet and savory mixture of soy sauce and mirin, resulting in flavorful yolks and perfect texture for topping ramen.

5 minutes
7 minutes (boiling) + 12-24 hours (marinating)
2 servings
Side Dish Japanese