Recipe: Celebrity chef Sam Leong's wasabi prawns

Here's a dish that is so powerful it gave a Singapore chef a career, a wife and an opportunity to travel the world.

Well, at least that's what Sam Leong, the city-state's very own celebrity chef, claimed when he held a cooking demo at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel earlier this month.

"I bring this dish wherever I go," he said.

Leong was referring to his wasabi prawns, a dish that required few ingredients and only took him 10 minutes to prepare. It was so easy to do, one would wonder how it promoted someone to master chef status.

The answer was revealed shortly after. True enough, the dish was simple but amazing -- the prawns were delicately coated in a batter that is both crunchy and hard, reminiscent of peanuts. The sauce, made from mayonnaise, condensed milk, wasabi paste and lemon juice, gave just the right amount of sweetness and spice.

It was effortlessly beautiful, like magic -- or perhaps kung fu, as others would say. No wonder it is very close to Leong's heart even if he has created tens of thousands of modern Chinese dishes.

Recipe: Pan-seared lamb chops with mixed herbs and balsamic reduction

Here's a simple yet elegant lamb dish that's sure to impress your family, friends and guests alike.

The rosemary, thyme, tarragon and balsamic reduction are a perfect match for lamb chops, which sometimes tend to taste too gamey.

Recipe: Royce and Toblerone chocolate cookie cake

Whoever said cookies can only be eaten as snacks?

These flat baked treats, when not cut into different shapes, actually make a great-tasting cake -- an ideal gift for those who prefer a no frills dessert, or those who live in small spaces (and have small refrigerators).

And unlike the usual cake with frosting, a cookie cake takes less time to make, does not get spoiled easily, and can be eaten anywhere with your bare hands.