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Sunday Dinner: Sesame Chicken With Soba Noodles

YumSugar — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:00:04 -0700

The economy may be down in the dumps, but don't let that hold you back this Mother's Day. Rather than spending big bucks to dine out, have the whole gang - including your mom and the kids - celebrate the occasion by making dinner a budget-friendly activity that the entire family can enjoy.

This quick, healthy meal, which includes fiber-rich soba noodles and crunchy vegetables, packs a flavor punch with soy sauce, sesame seeds, and ginger. To bring the family together with an affordable yet enticing pan-Asian platter, read more.

Sesame Chicken With Soba Noodles
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 8-ounce package soba noodles
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted*
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 7-ounce package mixed greens
3 carrots, cut into matchstick-size strips or shredded
1/4 sweet onion, thinly sliced

Directions

Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions and rinse under cold water.
Heat the soy sauce and brown sugar in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add the chicken and sauté until cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with the remaining chicken. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the chicken and toss to coat.
In a small bowl, whisk together the ginger, vinegar, and oil.
Divide the greens, carrots, and onion among individual plates. Top with the soba noodles and chicken. Serve with the vinaigrette.

Serves 4.

*Note: To toast sesame seeds, cook them in a dry skillet over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer them immediately to a cool plate.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Sesame Tofu Stir-Fry

partysugar — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:00:13 -0800

If you've never experimented with tofu before, consider doing so tonight. Think of tofu like chicken, it takes on the flavor of the other ingredients.

In this case, the supporting cast consists of soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and sesame seeds. Snow peas add a punch of green color and the textural element of crunch. Serve over white rice for a delicious vegetarian meal.

Get the recipe when you read more.

Sesame Tofu Stir-Fry
From The Nest

Ingredients

1 block firm tofu (14 to 15 ounces)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger
2 scallions
1 clove garlic
8 ounces snow peas
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons water
2 to 4 cups cooked white or brown rice, for serving

Directions

Drain the tofu and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 24 pieces). Whisk soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, and sugar in a glass pie plate or baking dish. Add tofu, turn the coat, and set aside for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, toast the sesame seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring and tossing, until fragrant and a shade or two darker, about 4 minutes. Pour into a bowl to cool.
Peel and grate the ginger. Trim and chop the scallions, keeping the white and green parts separate. Smash, peel, and finely chop the garlic. Pull off the stems and any tough strings from the snow peas, if necessary.
When you’re ready to cook the tofu, reserve 1 tablespoon of the marinade in a small bowl and drain off the rest: Pat the tofu dry and drain off the rest. Pat the tofu dry with paper towels.
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high to high heat. Working in batches if necessary, fry the tofu in the skillet, turning occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Transfer the tofu with a slotted spoon or spatula; toss with the sesame seeds. Set aside.
Add the remaining oil to the skillet. Stir-fry the ginger, garlic, and scallion whites until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the snow peas and water and stir-fry until the snow peas are bright green and lightly glazed, about 2 minutes.
Return the fried tofu and scallion greens to the pan, pour in reserved marinade, and stir gently to combine. Cook until the snow peas are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes more. Serve with rice.

Serves 2-4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Sesame and Ginger Chicken

partysugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:45:35 -0700

Store-bought salad dressings are a wonderful ingredient to have on hand. Besides their original purpose, they make a great seasoning for a variety of dishes. In this recipe, an Asian-style sesame and ginger vinaigrette is tossed with chicken chunks and grated carrots. The deliciously textured combination is served inside lettuce cups. Topped with crunchy peanuts and fresh squeezed lime, this meal is so scrumptious no one will know you took help from a bottle! Learn the recipe and read more.

Sesame and Ginger Chicken
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine

Ingredients

1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size strips
1/4 cup bottled light Asian-style dressing with sesame and ginger
2 cups packaged julienned carrots
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 head butterhead lettuce, leaves separated
1/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts, chopped
Lime wedges

Directions

Sprinkle chicken lightly with salt and pepper. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat.
Add chicken; cook and stir for 3 minutes or until browned.
Add 1 tablespoon of the dressing and the carrots to skillet; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes more or until carrots are crisp-tender and chicken is no longer pink.
Stir in red pepper.
On a large platter arrange 4 stacks of lettuce leaves. Serve by filling leaves with chicken mixture: Stack lettuce on plates. Top with chicken-carrot mixture. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. Serve with remaining dressing and lime wedges.

Serves 4.

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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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Reader's Recipe: Sesame-seared Tuna with Coconut Rice

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 14:57:09 -0800

There are a few dishes out there that, no matter how full I am, I can always seem to find room for more. One of these dishes is tuna, just about any kind of tuna. Be it raw, seared, baked, or grilled, as long as it's tuna I love it. So when I saw that reader WhiplashGirlchild posted a recipe for Sesame-seared tuna with coconut rice I knew it was going to be a winner. To check out the recipe for this and a snow pea salad too, read more

Recipe submitted by reader WhiplashGirlchild

Last night, the boyfriend and I met friends at Jones, my favorite restaurant in Philly.

I ordered one of my favorite dishes there last night, the sesame-seared tuna with coconut rice, snow pea salad and wasabi-sweet soy sauce. They won't share the recipe with me, but I went online and found some very similar recipes. It sounds pretty easy, and I assure you, it's delicious!

TUNA

1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
4 (6 ounce) tuna steaks
1/2 cup sesame seeds
wasabi paste
1 tablespoon olive oil

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, mirin, honey and sesame oil. Divide into two equal parts. Stir the rice vinegar into one part and set aside as a dipping sauce.

Spread the sesame seeds out on a plate. Coat the tuna steaks with the remaining soy sauce mixture, then press into the sesame seeds to coat.

Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot. Place steaks in the pan, and sear for about 30 seconds on each side. Serve with the dipping sauce and wasabi paste.

Source

RICE

Home-style Caribbean fare is often accompanied by coconut rice, a wonderful side dish to temper the heat of spicy food. Pair it with the spicy okra for a simple and satisfying vegetarian meal.

2 cups long-grain rice
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 (13- to 14-oz) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup water
1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon salt

Rinse rice in a sieve under cold running water 2 to 3 minutes, then drain well.

Melt butter in a 2- to 3-quart saucepan over moderately high heat. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until it becomes opaque, about 3 minutes.

Stir in coconut milk, water, cinnamon, and salt and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, then remove from heat and let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Discard cinnamon stick and fluff rice with a fork.

Makes 8 side-dish servings.

Source

SNOW PEA SALAD

1 pound snow peas, trimmed
1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin or dry sherry
2 teaspoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
a few gratings of fresh ginger

Steam the snow peas for NO MORE than 1 minute; then rinse them quickly under cold water and drain them well. Your goal here is to have them seem raw without being obnoxiously so. T

oss the drained snow peas with the toasted sesame seeds.

In a medium bowl, combine the other ingredients and toss the snow peas with them. Let the salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving at room temperature.

Can also chill for a few hours and serve it cold.

Serves 4-6

Source

Yummy Link: Baked Figs With Sesame and Almond

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:18:51 -0800

I am always looking for quick-fix appetizers that will wow my guests. That's why I want to make these simple figs baked with sesame seeds and almonds. Wow this sounds heavenly. - Zen in the Kitchen via Tastespotting

Come Party With Me: Chinese New Year - Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00:50 -0800

Although desserts are not tremendously popular in Asian cuisine, for a Chinese New Year celebration, there are plenty of options. First there's the traditional Nian Gao, a sticky, sweet gelatinous cake. Then there's the modern spring roll: filled with fruit, fried until a golden, and served with a caramel rum dipping sauce.

Finally, there's this recipe for sweet sesame wonton crisps. Serve with a tart tangerine sorbet for a soft-crunchy balance of textures. Not only is this dish unexpected, but it also symbolizes luck. To check out the recipe, read more.

Sweet Sesame Wonton Crisps
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

8 square wonton wrappers, thawed if frozen
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of salt
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon heavy cream
4 teaspoons white or black sesame seeds, or a mixture
1 pint tangerine sorbet, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange wonton wrappers in a single layer on baking sheet, and set aside.
Stir together sugar, ginger, and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
Whisk together the egg yolk and cream in another small bowl. Brush wontons with egg wash, and sprinkle each with about 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds and scant 1/4 teaspoon sugar mixture. Bake until wontons are golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack. Serve wonton crisps with sorbet.

Serves 4.

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Come Party With Me: Olympics Viewing - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:00:57 -0700

The Olympics are taking place in Beijing, so I plan on serving a dim sum-inspired Chinese menu. Dim sum are small dishes usually consumed at brunch. Since my viewing is in the evening, the recipes aren't necessarily über-traditional; they are, however, divinely delicious. Shrimp shau mai are bite-sized pillows packed with delicate flavors. Chinese spareribs with teriyaki glaze will satiate the hunger of carnivore guests, while sweet and spicy fried cauliflower will tantalize the vegetarian tastebuds. When served in individual take out containers, spicy sesame noodles make an excellent hors d'oeuvre.

If you have a large crowd coming over, supplement this homemade menu with store bought Spring or Summer rolls and pork buns. To check out the recipes, read more.

Shrimp Shau Mai
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1/3 cup chopped canned water chestnuts
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/2 pound shelled and deveined shrimp, chopped
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1 tablespoon sherry wine
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, optional
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 package wonton wrappers
Shau Mai Dipping Sauce, recipe below

Directions

In a large bowl, mix together water chestnuts, scallions, shrimp, sesame oil, peanut oil, sherry wine, cornstarch, sugar, if desired, salt, and pepper.
Using a knife, trim the edges of each wonton wrapper to form a round. Place 1 tablespoon filling in the center of each wrapper; moisten edges with water. Cup your hand around wrapper, gathering folds up and around the filling. Press gathered folds lightly around filling to adhere.
Fill a large skillet or wok with 2 cups water; bring to a boil.
Set a bamboo steamer into skillet and line with a damp piece of cheesecloth or a piece of parchment paper. Place shau mai in steamer about 1-inch apart. Cover and cook until filling is cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Makes 20.

Shau Mai Dipping Sauce

1/3 cup unseasoned rice-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly grated and peeled ginger

Mix together vinegar and ginger in a small bowl.

Makes enough for 20 shau mai.

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Chinese Spareribs with Teriyaki Glaze
From Tyler Florence

Ingredients

Spiced spare ribs:
2 (4-pound) racks pork spareribs, trimmed of excess fat
1/2 cup Chinese five-spice powder
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Teriyaki glaze:
1 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 cup grapefruit juice
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 fresh red chili, minced
2 garlic cloves, smashed
2-inch piece fresh ginger, whacked open with the flat side of a knife
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, for garnish
Chopped fresh cilantro and green onion, for garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Rub the ribs all over with the five-spice powder; then season generously with salt and pepper. Put the ribs in a single layer in a roasting pan and slow-roast until they are almost tender, about 2 hours.
Meanwhile make the glaze. In a large bowl combine the soy sauce, grapefruit juice, hoisin sauce, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, chili, garlic and ginger in a saucepan. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens then remove from the heat. Strain the sauce and reserve.
When the ribs are about 30 minutes away from being done, baste them with the teriyaki sauce. Cook until the meat pulls easily from the bone (about 1/2-inch of bone will show).
Just before serving, preheat the broiler. Baste the ribs again with the teriyaki sauce and brown them under the broiler for 5 to 8 minutes. Keep a close eye on these guys - ribs go from perfectly crisp to perfectly burnt in seconds.
Separate the ribs with a cleaver or sharp knife, pile them on a platter, and pour on the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and green onion before serving.

Serves 8.

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Indian-Chinese Sweet and Spicy Fried Cauliflower
From Saveur magazine

Ingredients

12 cloves garlic
4 2" pieces peeled fresh ginger
(3 cut into thin coins, 1 julienned)
1 head cauliflower, cut into large florets
Kosher salt
2⁄3 cup cornstarch
2⁄3 cup flour
1 tsp. red chile powder
Freshly ground white pepper
2 tsp. plus 3 tbsp. soy sauce
Peanut oil for frying
2 small onions, chopped
8–10 Thai chiles, thinly sliced
1⁄2 cup ketchup
1 1⁄2 tbsp. sesame oil
2 scallions, thinly sliced
Cilantro leaves

Directions

Purée garlic, ginger coins, and 1⁄3 cup water in blender; set aside. Boil cauliflower in a pot of salted water until tender, 6–7 minutes; drain.
Whisk together cornstarch, flour, chile powder, 1⁄2 tsp. salt, and 1⁄4 tsp. pepper in a bowl. Stir in half the garlic paste, 2 tsp. soy sauce, and 3⁄4 cup water to make a batter.
Pour oil into a large deep skillet to a depth of 1"; heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, dip cauliflower in batter; fry until golden, 5–6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined plate.
Drain all but about 6 tbsp. of the oil. Add onions; cook for 3–4 minutes. Add chiles and remaining garlic paste; cook until paste is lightly browned, 3–4 minutes.
Add ketchup, remaining soy sauce, sesame oil, and 1⁄3 cup water. Boil; lower heat to medium-low; simmer until thick, 1–2 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste; toss cauliflower in sauce. Garnish with remaining ginger, scallions, and cilantro. Serve with white rice, if you like.

Serves 4.

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Spicy Sesame Noodles
From Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients

1 tablespoon peanut oil
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons Asian sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
11/2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon (or more) hot chili oil*
11/2 teaspoons salt
1 pound fresh Chinese egg noodles (about 1/16 inch in diameter) or fresh angel hair pasta
12 green onions (white and pale green parts only), thinly sliced
1/2 cup coarsely chopped roasted peanuts
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh Thai basil leaves

Directions

Heat peanut oil in small skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Transfer to large bowl. Add next 6 ingredients; whisk to blend.
Place noodles in sieve over sink. Separate noodles with fingers and shake to remove excess starch.
Cook in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, stirring occasionally. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain thoroughly and transfer to bowl with sauce.
Add sliced green onions and toss to coat noodles. Let stand at room temperature until noodles have absorbed dressing, tossing occasionally, about 1 hour.
Stir in peanuts and Thai basil; toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature.

Serves 4-6.

*Available in the Asian foods section of many supermarkets and at Asian markets.

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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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Sunday BBQ: Grilled Pork Chops With Sesame Slaw

YumSugar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 06:00:45 -0700

Healthy yet hearty, quick-cooking but also succulent, pork chops are perfect for a lazy Sunday evening, and fit right into your Summer schedule when grilled and served alongside a crispy, Asian-influenced slaw.

Make fire-roasted pork chops that are tender enough to taste like a million bucks, but won't cost you anything close to that. Look for bone-in pork chops at the store to get added flavor and value. Check out tonight's dinner when you read more.

Grilled Pork Chops With Cabbage and Sesame Slaw
From Real Simple

Ingredients

4 8-ounce bone-in pork chops (about 1 inch thick)
kosher salt and pepper
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
1 tablespoon honey
1 small head Napa or green cabbage, thinly sliced (about 6 cups)
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

Heat grill to medium-high. Season the pork with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes per side.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the orange juice, oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, honey, and 3⁄4 teaspoon salt. Add the cabbage and cilantro and toss to combine. Serve with the pork chops.

Serves 4.

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