Steamed pipis with lemongrass

I love going to market and see what is on offer and all those lovely products that are in season. I got my hands on some very fresh pipis from the market this week and I am totally excited. I will make my favourite dish pipis with lemongrass.

Photograph this dish however poses a challenge. I want the food to look fresh and it should convey the feeling of an easy homemade dish.   I am in a mood for dark feel photography recently so I choose dark background for the shoot. The dark background also helps me to capture the steam coming out of the hot dish. Super excited about that too!

Below is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1 kg fresh pipis

5 sticks of lemongrass

A small bunch of kaffir lemon leave

Some red chilli

For the sauce:

3 tablespoon fish sauce

1 teaspoon honey

1 lemon (or 3-5 kumquat)

2 kaffir lime leaves

1 chilli

Method:

1. First , we make the dipping sauce: Mix honey, lemon juice and fish sauce and 2 tablespoon of water. Cut up chilli and lime leaves, add into the sauce. Let it rest while you cook the pipi.
2. Clean the pipis. Put them in a bowl of cold water. Smash some chilli and put them in with the pipis. Set aside for about 1 hour. This step for the pipis to release all impurities from it flesh. Drain and set aside when this done.
3. Cut lemongrass into 3inc length, smash it with pestle and mortar to release flavour.
4. Cut up chilli. Remove seeds if you don’t like too much spicy.
5. Lay lemon leave, lemongrass and chilli at the bottom of the pot. Add the pipis and half cup of water. Close the lid. Cook on high heat until all pipis are open. This should take about 5-6 minutes. Mix up all ingredients and it is ready for serve.