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Monday's Leftovers: Asian Chicken Salad

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:50:35 -0700

For a wholesome yet palatable Monday night meal in a pinch, toss last night's leftover chicken with bok choy and sugar snap peas to create a succulent, Asian-style chicken salad. You'll love the cool cucumber, refreshing vegetables, and clean flavors of ponzu, ginger, and rice vinegar. For a recipe that will come together in well under an hour, read more.

Asian Chicken Salad With Snap Peas And Bok Choy
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
5 fresh cilantro sprigs plus 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
1 whole green onion plus 2 green onions, chopped
1 8-ounce package sugar snap peas
3 baby bok choy, thinly sliced crosswise
1 English hothouse cucumber, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
1 red jalapeño chile, thinly sliced
1/4 cup ponzu
2 1/2 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger

Directions

Fill medium skillet with salted water; bring to boil.
Add chicken breasts, cilantro sprigs, and whole green onion; reduce heat to medium and poach chicken until just cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer chicken to plate; cool. Add snap peas to same skillet; increase heat to high and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute.
Drain; rinse snap peas under cold water to cool.
Discard whole green onion and cilantro sprigs. Coarsely shred chicken.
Toss chicken, chopped cilantro, chopped green onions, snap peas, and next 3 ingredients in large bowl.
Whisk ponzu, vinegar, oil, and ginger in small bowl. Add dressing to salad; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Asparagus and Bok Choy Frittata

partysugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:50:43 -0700

If you consider a frittata to be a breakfast-only dish, think again. With its Asian flavors and fresh Spring vegetables, this vegetarian frittata is ideal for dinner. It's healthy because there's no cheese or cream involved, yet filling thanks to a hearty helping of bok choy, green onions, and asparagus.

The recipe finishes off the frittata with a drizzle of sesame oil, but unless you plan to use it in the future, there's no need to purchase this pricey ingredient. To look at the recipe please read more.

Asparagus and Bok-Choy Frittata
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

2 tablespoons cooking oil
3 scallions including green tops, sliced thin
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small head bok choy (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 pound asparagus, tough ends snapped off and discarded, spears cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 teaspoon salt
9 eggs, beaten to mix
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil

Directions

Heat the oven to 325°. In a medium cast-iron or ovenproof nonstick frying pan, heat the cooking oil over moderate heat.
Add the scallions, ginger, and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bok choy and cook, stirring, until the leaves wilt, about 2 minutes.
Add the asparagus and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are almost tender, about 3 minutes more.
Evenly distribute the vegetables in the pan and then add the eggs, pepper, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook the frittata, without stirring, until the edges start to set, about 2 minutes.
Put the frittata in the oven and bake until firm, about 25 minutes. Drizzle the sesame oil over the top.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Roasted Cod With Sesame Mushrooms

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:45:44 -0800

After a full weekend of birthday bashes and dinner parties, I'm feeling like something light for dinner tonight. I've got some leftover cod, and I'm going to roast it and serve it alongside sesame scented shiitakes and bok choy.

I'll be forgoing richness but not flavor, with fragrant sesame oil, loads of garlic, and lime packing a punch on my plate. To serve up this recipe, which is quick, elegant, and delicious, read more.

Roasted Cod with Sesame Mushrooms
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

2 heads garlic-2 cloves finely chopped, remaining cloves smashed and peeled
1 cup milk
Salt
3 tablespoons sesame oil
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 bunches baby bok choy, ends trimmed and leaves separated
Four 4-ounce cod fillets
Lime wedges, for serving

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the smashed garlic cloves and the milk and simmer over low heat until the garlic is softened, about 20 minutes. Strain, reserving the milk.
Using a food processor, puree the softened garlic; with the machine on, add the milk in a slow stream. Season with salt.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a medium skillet, heat the sesame oil over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic, the scallions and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, cook for 3 minutes; add the soy sauce and cook for 2 minutes more.
Fill a deep, medium skillet with enough water to reach a depth of 2 inches, bring to a boil and season with salt. Add the bok choy and cook for 1 minute. Drain in a colander and run under cold water.
Butter an 8-inch square baking dish. Season the cod with salt and place in the baking dish. Bake until opaque and easily flaked with a fork, about 8 minutes.
Transfer each fillet to a plate and top with the garlic puree. Serve with the bok choy, lime wedges and reserved mushrooms.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Vietnamese-Style Beef and Noodle Broth

partysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:15:42 -0700

Ward off the early Fall chill with a steaming bowl of this scrumptious soup. It's perfect for a Friday night - all you have to do is drop the ingredients in a pot. Crunchy bean sprouts and fresh, fragrant basil finish off the soup. To add more heat, serve with a spicy Asian sauce. Learn how to make this dish when you read more.

Vietnamese-Style Beef and Noodle Broth
From Eating Well

Ingredients

2 teaspoons canola oil
1 pound beef flank steak, very thinly sliced against the grain
4 cups chopped bok choy (1 small head, about 1 pound)
4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup water
4 ounces wide rice noodles
2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 cups mung bean sprouts
4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, or to taste

Directions

Heat oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot over high heat. Add beef and cook, stirring often, until just cooked, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate using tongs, leaving the juices in the pot.
Add bok choy to the pot and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add broth and water, cover and bring to a boil.
Add noodles and soy sauce; simmer until the noodles are soft, about 4 minutes. Return the beef to the pot and cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more.
Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with bean sprouts and basil. Serve hot.

Serves 6.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 235 calories; 8 g fat (3 g sat, 3 g mono); 33 mg cholesterol; 19 g carbohydrate; 22 g protein; 1 g fiber; 209 mg sodium.

Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (40% daily value), Zinc (27% dv), Vitamin C (25% dv).

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Monday's Leftovers: Steak and Bok Choy Stir-Fry

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:45:38 -0700

Stir-fried steak reminds me of a dish my mother used to make. This recipe calls for skirt steak, but flank steak or any leftover steak would taste great in this dish.

With rice, vegetables, and peanuts, this balanced, bold-flavored dish is a great way to have dinner on the table in less than an hour. To get the recipe, read more.

Skirt Steak and Bok Choy Stir-Fry
From Everyday Food magazine

Ingredients

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound skirt steak, thinly sliced crosswise
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 large head bok choy, cut 1-inch thick crosswise
4 medium carrots, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced on bias
Cooked rice, for serving
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped

Directions

In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, peanut butter, honey, and garlic; season with pepper.
In a bowl, toss steak with cornstarch; season with salt and pepper.
In a large nonstick skillet with a lid, heat oil over medium-high. Add half of steak; cook, tossing, until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining steak.
To skillet, add soy mixture, bok choy, and carrots. Cover and cook, tossing occasionally until tender, about 5 minutes.
Return steak to skillet; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Serve over rice; sprinkle with peanuts.

Serves 4 to 6.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Ginger-Sesame Chicken with Bok Choy and Mushrooms

partysugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:46:48 -0700

I love making quick, Asian inspired dishes because usually they only involve cleaning one pan! For example, this recipe for a fragrant chicken dinner, cooks the meat, vegetables, and sauce all in the same pan. Each ingredient is sautéed individually before being tossed together with the sherry-sesame oil sauce. Served over a bed of steamed rice, this makes a hearty, delicious meal. To look at the recipe, read more.

Ginger-Sesame Chicken with Bok Choy and Mushrooms
From Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients

1/2 cup chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sherry
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon unseasoned rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 pound oyster mushrooms, thickly sliced
3/4 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground pepper
3/4 pound bok choy, thickly sliced crosswise
1 small red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch pieces
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
Steamed rice, for serving

Directions

In a medium jar, combine the chicken stock with the soy sauce, sherry, sugar, dissolved cornstarch, rice vinegar, sesame oil and crushed red pepper and shake well.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the canola oil until shimmering. Add the oyster mushrooms and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a large plate.
Add another 2 teaspoons of canola oil to the skillet. Season the chicken breast pieces generously with salt and pepper, add them to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are golden and just barely cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces to the plate with the oyster mushrooms.
Add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to the skillet along with the bok choy and red pepper and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the plate.
Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of canola oil to the skillet along with the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return the chicken and vegetables to the skillet. Shake the sauce and add it to the skillet. Bring to a boil and simmer, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a bowl and serve.

Serves 4.

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Come Party With Me: Chinese New Year - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:13:31 -0800

There are lots of traditions to consider when planning a Chinese New Year dinner. Fish, dumplings, noodles, and greens are normally consumed because they represent a sense of togetherness, abundance, and family. Apart from the fish, this menu is vegetarian friendly. Start with vegetable dumplings with a ginger scallion dipping sauce. For the first course serve the luck bringing longevity noodles. The main course is a gorgeous whole black bass with ginger and scallions. Bok choy and broccoli, shown at left, are on the side. To take a look at these tasty recipes, read more.

Vegetable Dumplings
From David Tamarkin

8 ounces firm tofu, cut into small cubes
1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and finely chopped
8 scallions, white and light green parts only, finely chopped
One-quarter of a head napa cabbage, shredded and finely chopped
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
50 wonton wrappers
Scallion-Ginger Dipping Sauce, recipe below

In a large bowl, combine the tofu, mushrooms, scallions, cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil and ginger.
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat, add the vegetable mixture and cook until tender, about 5 minutes; transfer to a bowl and let cool.
Brush one wonton wrapper with water and place 1 heaping teaspoon filling in the center. Fold the wrapper into a triangle, squeeze out the air and press the edges together to seal, wetting the dough if necessary to make it stick. Pinch together the two corners of the folded edge. Repeat with the remaining wrappers.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, add the dumplings and boil until cooked through, about 3 minutes after the water returns to a boil. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain. Serve with dipping sauces.

Makes about 4 dozen.

Scallion-Ginger Sauce
From David Tamarkin

1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 finely chopped scallion
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well to combine.

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Longevity Noodles
From Food and Wine

2 quarts water
5 ounces mung bean or soybean sprouts (2 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 pound fresh Chinese egg noodles
1/4 cup chicken stock, vegetable stock, or canned low-sodium broth
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon light soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 tablespoon peanut oil
One 1/4-inch-thick slice of fresh ginger, lightly smashed
1/4 pound snow peas
3 large fresh water chestnuts, peeled and sliced 1/8 inch thick

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Put the bean sprouts in a strainer, lower it into the boiling water and blanch the bean sprouts for 10 seconds. Remove the strainer and rinse the sprouts in cold water; drain well.
Add the salt to the water in the saucepan and bring it back to a boil. Add the noodles and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Drain the noodles thoroughly in a colander and rinse them in cold water; drain. Rinse again then drain, lifting them to separate and dry the strands.
In a small bowl, combine the chicken stock with the soy sauce and sesame oil to make the sauce.
Warm a wok over high heat for 45 seconds. Add the peanut oil and swirl to coat the wok. Stir in the ginger and cook for 10 seconds. Add the snow peas and stir-fry until bright green, about 1 minute. Add the water chestnuts and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the bean sprouts and stir-fry for 1 minute.
Stir the sauce, add it to the wok and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and stir-fry until they absorb the sauce, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer the noodles to a platter and serve at once.

Serves 4.

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Whole Black Bass with Ginger and Scallions
From Bon Appetit magazine

1 (3-lb) whole black bass or sea bass (not Chilean), cleaned, leaving head and tail intact
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bunch scallions, white and pale green parts cut into very thin 2-inch strips and greens reserved separately
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into very thin matchsticks
3 tablespoons light soy sauce (preferably Pearl River Bridge brand)
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
Special equipment:
a large shallow baking dish (about 15 by 10 inches) to fit inside a 17- by 12- by 2 1/2-inch roasting pan
heavy-duty foil
a well-seasoned 14-inch flat-bottomed wok

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Put baking dish in roasting pan.
Rinse fish and pat dry, then rub inside and out with salt. Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with scallion strips (white and pale green) and ginger.
Stir together soy sauce and sugar until sugar is dissolved, then pour over fish. Add enough boiling-hot water to roasting pan to reach halfway up side of baking dish. Oil a large sheet of heavy-duty foil, then tent foil (oiled side down) over fish and tightly seal around roasting pan. Carefully transfer roasting pan to oven and bake until fish is just cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
While fish bakes, cut enough scallion greens diagonally into very thin slices to measure 1/2 cup (reserve remainder for another use).
Just before serving, remove foil from fish and sprinkle with scallion greens. Heat wok over high heat until a bead of water vaporizes instantly. Pour oil around side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl oil, coating side, and heat until smoking. Remove from heat and immediately pour oil over scallion greens and fish.

Serves 8.

Make Ahead: fish can be prepared (but not steamed) 6 hours ahead and chilled, covered.

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Bok Choy with Broccoli
From Everyday Food magazine

1 pound bok choy
1 pound broccoli
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Cut white stalks from bok choy; slice stems into 1-inch pieces. Coarsely chop green leaves.
Peel stalks from broccoli; slice 1/4 inch thick. Cut florets into bite-size pieces.
In a large skillet, bring 1/2 cup water to a boil. Add bok choy stalks and broccoli; cover. Simmer over medium-low heat until broccoli is bright green, 5 to 7 minutes. Uncover; cook on high heat until water evaporates, 2 to 4 minutes.
Add bok choy leaves, oil, and garlic. Cook, tossing often, until garlic is fragrant, 2 minutes. Add ginger and soy sauce; stir to combine.

Serves 4-6.

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Cooking Chicken With Harumi Kurihara

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:15:31 -0800

I recently received a copy of Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking and have been meaning to try some of the recipes. Author Harumi Kurihara, who is often called the Japanese Martha Stewart, specializes in easy, home-cooked dishes with simple but elegant flavors. While looking for dinner ideas, I was inspired by the ease of her recipe for Chicken With Soy and Balsamic Vinegar. It looked absolutely delicious and wonderfully simple. She suggested pairing it with cabbage, but I opted for bok choy. I also decided to serve it with a side of Forbidden Rice. To get the recipe for a deliciously easy dinner, read more.

I've provided one of Harumi's recipes here, but be sure to check out the rest of her book; this is just the tip of the tasty iceberg!

Chicken with Soy and Balsamic Dressing
From Harumi's Japanese Home Cooking by Harumi Kurihara

2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, sliced
coarsely ground black pepper
1 lb boneless chicken thighs [she suggests skin on, I used skinless]
a little sunflower or vegetable oil
a few basil leaves - for garnish

For cabbage:
1/2-3/4 cups of roughly chopped cabbage [I used bok choy]
1 Tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper

Put the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, garlic and pepper in a bowl and stir to combine [I also used a few dried chili peppers]. Cut the chicken diagonally into bite-sized pieces [I used smaller square chunks] and marinate for about 30 minutes.
Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken, turning halfway to brown both sides.
To make the sautéed cabbage: Roughly chop the cabbage into large pieces In a wok or frying pan, heat the oil and butter, add the cabbage, sauté until cooked, then lightly season with salt and pepper.
Place the cabbage on a serving dish and arrange the chicken on top. Pour over any remaining sauce from the chicken pan and garnish with basil leaves.Top picture is my idea of food styling, this is YumJimmy's idea of it.

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Going on the Lamb

YumSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:33:31 -0800

I'm not sure when it happened, but lamb has become one of my favorite meats to eat. I used to be weird about it, thinking it was far too gamy. However, I realized I was wrong. When prepared correctly, lamb can be absolutely delicious and positively tasty.

I've had this recipe for Cardamom-Scented Lamb With Mashed Sweet Potatoes in my to-make file for quite some time, and last night I finally got around to making it. It takes a little bit more time than a Fast & Easy Dinner, but if you're willing, it can definitely be accomplished on a school night. The meat is seared then finished in the oven, and the whole thing is served with a red-wine sauce. To get the recipe, read more.

While perfect on its own, I accompanied mine with the suggested mashed sweet potatoes and some lightly sautéed bok choy.

Cardamom-Scented Lamb With Mashed Sweet Potatoes
From Bon Appétit, December 1999

1 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. tomato paste
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
2 cups dry red wine
1 cup canned beef broth
1 cup canned low-salt chicken broth

2 tbsp. shelled cardamom seeds
2 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 lb. racks of lamb, trimmed
2 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 tsp. coarse-grained mustard
salt and pepper for seasoning
Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add tomato paste, garlic, and thyme; sauté 1 minute. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 8 minutes. Add both broths; boil until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 10 minutes. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Preheat oven to 450°F. Toast cardamom seeds in heavy small skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Cool. Transfer to spice grinder; grind coarsely. [I used a mortar and pestle.]
Sprinkle lamb with cardamom, salt and pepper.
Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add 1 lamb rack; sear until brown, turning occasionally, about 6 minutes. Transfer lamb, meat side up, to baking sheet. Repeat with second lamb rack. [I was actually only using one lamb rack and so I seared it in my heavy oven-proof skillet, moved the lamb out, drained some of the oil - careful it's hot! - and then put the lamb back on the skillet instead of a separate baking sheet.]
Roast until meat thermometer inserted into center registers 125°F for medium rare, about 18 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb between bones into chops.
While chops are roasting: Bring sauce to simmer. Reduce heat to low. Add butter and mustard; whisk just until butter melts. Season with pepper.
Spoon sauce onto plates.
Top with sweet mashed potatoes and lamb and serve. [I also lightly sautéed thin strips of bok choy, and wrapped them around the plated sauce. Seen in top photo.]

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Definition: Bok Choy

partysugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:01:02 -0700

Bok Choy
A leaf vegetable that is a member of the cabbage family and native to southern China. It's mild and versatile with crunchy white stems and dark tender green leaves. Choose bok choy that has firm stalks and crisp leaves and keep refrigerated air tight for 3-4 days. It's used raw, cooked, or pickled in Asian inspired dishes, salads, and stir frys.