In the Kitchen with: Anna Li

Hey there, foodies! If chasing viral food trends is your jam, you’ve got to meet Anna! She’s a corporate girly by day and a content creator by night, dishing out Asian-inspired twists on viral and traditional recipes (drooling yet? Us too!)

We caught up with Anna in her kitchen to uncover why food is her ultimate love language, her secret garnishing hacks, and why Crumble is her ride-or-die. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, Anna’s tips and recipes will have you revamping your cult favourites in no time! 

Hey Anna, thanks so much for having us in your kitchen! Can you spill the tea on what really goes on behind-the-scenes at @latenightannaa? 

“Hello! I’m Anna and I’m a 30-year-old corporate girly based in Sydney who loves to cook. I love [giving] traditional recipes [my own creative twist] and experimenting with different ingredients in the kitchen!”

“[latenightannaa started after travelling to Japan and South Korea.] I was craving their local foods, however they weren’t available in Australia. So, one day I decided to just recreate those recipes in my own kitchen!”

“[When I’m not juggling my full-time job with content creation, you can find me baking up a storm.] Growing up I was always a savoury girl but then I developed [a] love for desserts! A few years ago, [I even launched] my own home baking business, ‘Burnt Sydney’ - [specialising in] baked Basque Burnt Cheesecake.”

Wow, is there anything you can’t do! You’ve mentioned that the kitchen is where you let your creativity shine! What is it about cooking that makes it such a passion for you? 

“My cooking journey started [in the kitchen with my parents] when I was around 6 years old. I was [also] exposed to a variety of delicious food when I studied in China for a few years, which really broadened my knowledge and experience of food.” 

“Cooking is my way of destressing and unwinding, it’s also my love language. I love [creating] delicious recipes and then sharing my dishes with family and friends. To me, food is a universal language and brings together people of all cultures.”

We couldn’t agree more, food really does bring all kinds of people together! Speaking of which, do you have any fun hacks or food tips to jazz up cooking for our Crumble community? 

“Garnish, garnish and garnish! Garnishing a dish at the end is often overlooked but it adds the perfect finishing touch and elevates the dish aesthetically.” 

“I love to finish my savoury dishes with freshly chopped up scallions, sesame seeds, freshly grated cheese, crumbled feta, and a range of other herbs. For desserts, I love to garnish with icing sugar, drizzle of honey, cookie crumbles etc - the options are endless!”

So true about garnishing being underrated! Now, switching gears to Crumble, we know it’s hard to choose but which product is your must-have? 

“I am a huge fan of Crumble Cookware! I love that the cookware pieces are high quality, aesthetic and affordable. [Since using Crumble] I've felt so inspired to create delicious home cooked meals that are both delicious and beautiful to look at!” 

“I have the Crumble Classic Dutch Oven in Pink Sand and Deep Fry Pan in Cream and I’ve used them for so many recipes already! It’s been the perfect cookware for making winter soups, stews, braised meats, stir fried dishes, desserts and so much more.”

You read our mind, Pink Sand and Cream are the ultimate duo! We heard you’ve been testing a new viral recipe? Spill the deets, we’re all ears! 

“Recently I’ve been recreating viral recipes at home with my Crumble Cookware! I recreated the viral Flat Croissant dipped in Matcha Strawberry and Dark Chocolate and it was so delicious! Check out my recipe below.” 

Anna's Viral Flat Croissant Recipe

Anna Li (@latenightannaa)

Rated 5.0 stars by 2 users

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Ingredients

For the Croissant

• Croissant, store-bought

• Butter
• Honey

For the Strawberry Matcha

• 1 cup strawberries, frozen or fresh 

• ½ tbsp lemon juice 
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• ½ cup white chocolate chips, melted 
• ½ tsp matcha powder
• Coconut flakes

For the Dark Chocolate

• ½ cup dark chocolate chips, melted

• Biscoff cookies, crumbled

Directions

To Make the Flat Croissant

1. Microwave your croissant for 20 seconds so it becomes soft and easy to flatten.

2. Place your croissant onto a chopping board and use a rolling pin to flatten the croissant.
3. Preheat your Crumble Deep Fry Pan, add in a knob of butter and wait for it to melt.
4. Add a small drizzle of honey to the centre of your pan.
5. Place your flattened croissant into the centre of your pan, on top of the honey. Layer a piece of baking paper on top, then place something heavy on top to keep the croissant flattened.
6. Grill one side for about 2-3 minutes.
7. Flip the croissant and repeat on the other side.
8. Once both sides of the croissant are golden brown, remove and allow to cool.

Strawberry Matcha Flat Croissant

1. To make the strawberry jam, add strawberries into your Crumble Deep Fry Pan. Add lemon juice and sugar and cook on low heat until the jam thickens. Let it cool.

2. To make the matcha chocolate, melt white chocolate chips in the microwave, at 30 second intervals, until completely melted.
3. Add matcha and mix well with the chocolate
4. Dip one end of your flat croissant into the matcha white chocolate and use a spoon or knife to spread it evenly.
5. Spread strawberry jam to the end tip of the croissant, on top of the matcha chocolate.
6. Optional - sprinkle coconut flakes to decorate.

Dark Chocolate Flat Croissant

1. Melt dark chocolate chips in the microwave, at 30 second intervals, until chocolate is completely melted.

2. Dip one end of your croissant into the chocolate and use a spoon or knife to spread it evenly.
3. Optional - sprinkle crumbled biscoff biscuits onto the chocolate side to decorate.

Recipe Note

Can’t get enough of Anna? We don’t blame you, make sure to follow @latenightannaa to keep up to date with all of her latest recipes, plus tips on how to elevate your cooking and bring those viral trends straight to your kitchen.