Simply Chinese: Recipes from a Chinese Home Kitchen

Product Information

We may think that Northern Ireland is famous for a good old cuppa, but in Hong Kong hot milk tea is an institution - so much so that in 2017 the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong declared their tea-making technique as an 'intangible cultural heritage'. Things might have exploded for Suzie Lee since winning Best Home Cook in 2020 – she’s presented two cooking shows on BBC Northern Ireland and is now releasing her debut cookbook – but that doesn’t mean she’s quit her day job.

Twenty years later, after having completed a degree in Economics and Management from Queen’s University Belfast and later completing her Chartered Accountancy exams, Suzie followed her passion for cooking in applying for and winning the BBC prime time show Best Home Cook. Her Hong Kong-born parents, Peter and Celia, moved to Northern Ireland in 1980 and food has always played a big part in family life. The couple opened a Chinese takeaway - the Man Lee in Lisburn - which is still going strong and where Suzie helped out through much of her youth. Cantonese food is actually quite different from takeaways because we grew up on fresh vegetables and ingredients. I'm trying to drive people to their local food producers suppliers because, especially here in Northern Ireland, we have so many wonderful foods available in terms of fruit, vegetables, meat, fish. Detailing a range of simple techniques, short cuts and money saving tips, Suzie takes viewers through a range of family-friendly dishes based on readily available ingredients.Suzie is keen to encourage everyone to have a go at cooking and her overriding message is “don’t be afraid”. I had to really dig deep in the memories and discover the history behind the recipes. I found it quite cathartic," adds Suzie, whose favourite recipes include seafood crispy noodles, Grandad's special steak and her mum's char siu, green bean and egg hash. Sometimes when you open a cookbook, as much as a recipe looks beautiful, there's 100 ingredients and you feel that you won't be able to make that. It's also pared down to food that my kids enjoy too so it's not difficult at all." Since winning Best Home Cook in 2020 Suzie has presented two cooking shows on BBC NI (Image: BBC NI ) She also wants to showcase the uniqueness of Cantonese cuisine, compared to other regions in China. “Cantonese food is another string to that whole Chinese story. Cantonese, it’s mainly Hong Kong, so it’s right by the seaside. So there’s fish, and it’s all about very fresh food,” she says.

Her mum worked 14 hour shifts so no wonder she didn’t want to slave over a hot stove for another day but Suzie asked her to show her how to do it. Heat your barbecue. On white coals, cook the burgers for about four-five minutes on each side. Don’t overcook as you want them to be still juicy. On the last couple of minutes add slices of cheddar on top so it melts with the heat. Suzie believes that “food is the glue that holds families together”, and encourages her own children, Zander, aged five, and two-year-old Odelia, to get involved in the kitchen. Suzie Lee’s Home Cook Heroes begins on August 6 at 7.30pm on BBC One Northern Ireland, also available on BBC iPlayer. For accompanying recipes visit Bbc.co.uk/suzieleeYou think 'oh wow I've produced this' and as much as it's lovely and beautiful, you wish she was here to share it." My recipes are not restrictive. I believe in using up ingredients you have to hand. This is especially important in this current climate where the cost of living is so crazy," adds Suzie, encouraging people to experiment. Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or frying pan (skillet) over a high heat. Add the onion, ginger and garlic and fry for a few minutes until fragrant, being careful to prevent the vegetables