Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Luncheon Meat and Baked Beans



The other day, I posted a picture of Luncheon Meat and Baked Beans I’ve cooked on the HCP Facebook page. It is a very common dish, often cooked at home or found in cooked food stalls. So when it gathered over 50 likes and folks were asking for the recipe, I was surprised. I think it was the camera on my new phone that made it look so good haha.
A overseas Singaporean friend had posted of his take on this dish and we all agreed this is the dish that everyone had and loved when they were kids. Quick, inexpensive and makes you gobble down lots of rice. Now that I am a mom, I came to accept any dish that is fast, easy and get my kids to eat quickly is gem.
Here is my take on this homely dish enjoyed by many of my friends when we were kids.

Luncheon Meat and Baked Beans
1 small carrot – cut into cubes
1 small potato – cut into cubes
Half a tin of luncheon meat – cut into cubes
1 small tin Heinz baked beans
Handful of peas
1-2 tablespoon Lee Kum Kee tomato sauce
Some water
Oil
Black Pepper to taste (estimate 3 turns)
Sugar to taste (estimate 1-2teaspoon)

Method
1. Half cook the carrots and potatoes the HCP with some water (estimate half a mug) and set aside.  
HCP how-to: When cooking potatoes and carrots, close the lid and lock it. Switch on the fire. After it has been boiling for 2-3 min, off the fire. Leave it alone for 5mins or so before opening the lid to check. Cooking time n water is dependent on the type of potato n size of cubed vegetable.
2. Clean up HCP. Lightly coat HCP with oil (estimate half teaspoon). Add luncheon meat cubes and fry til all sides are golden.
HCP how-to: When frying the luncheon meat, heat the pan, lay them flat, close the cover but do not lock it. There is a tiny gap n this prevents moisture forming yet minimize oily fumes from getting into kitchen. Open the lid to check when to flip the cubes. I flipped them individually so all sides are nice and golden.
3.  Add potatoes, carrots, peas and black pepper. Fry for a bit. Add baked beans, tomato sauce, sugar and some water. Mix it up n let it come to a gentle boil. Adjust the taste to your liking.
HCP how-to: After mixing in baked beans, water and sugar, close the lid n lock it. Let it heat through. For this dish, I do not flip n toss the food with the lid closed as doing so spoils the look of the cubes.


This dish is meant to be a topping for rice. Suitable for school lunch boxes. Freezing not recommended.

The luncheon meat can be replaced by hot dogs and it becomes Hot Dogs and Baked Beans. Totally awesome too.