Category: Asian flavors

Asian flavors · Dessert · Do-ahead · Grains · Nuts

Kheer (Spiced Indian rice pudding)

Belinda

This recipe comes from fellow blogger “One Perfect Bite”. Well worth subscribing to!

4 -6 servings

1/2 cup basmati rice
1 tbsp clarified butter or ghee
6 cups whole milk
10 tbsp sugar
a few strands of saffron
1 tsp golden raisins (I put a 1 tbsp in)
1 tsp ground cardamon
1/2 cup thinly sliced cashews, slivered almonds or pistachios

Soak rice in water for 30 minutes before cooking. Drain.
Melt ghee in a large pan, add rice and saute until translucent.
Add milk to the rice, stir and simmer until liquid has been reduced by half.
Stir in sugar and saffron and cook until sugar is dissolved. Add the raisins, nuts and cardamon and simmer for a few more minutes.
Remove from heat and serve warm or cold.

Asian flavors · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Grains · Vegan · Vegetable-related

My brown rice salad with two sesame flavors

Belinda

This has a wonderful nutty flavor and is very moreish.

1 cup (at least) uncooked long or short grain brown rice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 cup peeled and coarsely shredded carrots
A good handful of chopped cilantro
1/2 cup thinly sliced trimmed scallions
1/2 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted in a dry skillet

Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and let stand, uncovered until cooled.

Whisk the oil, lemon  juice and sesame oil in a large bowl. Add the cooked, cooled rice, carrots and scallions and cilantro. Toss to blend and season if necessary.

Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts and sesame seeds, toss once and serve

Asian flavors · Gluten Free · Meat

Pork in Black Bean Sauce

Belinda

Serves 4. This is so easy and delicious and is a great recipe to double.

1lb pork tenderloin (1 pork tenderloin with silverskin removed)
1 tbsp Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp cornflour
1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil

1 1/2 tbsp dried Chinese black beans, rinsed and coarsely chopped (available in Asian markets)
1 tbsp garlic, finely chopped
3 tbsp scallions (spring onions) finely chopped
1 tbsp shallots, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp chicken stock
1 tbsp sesame oil

Cut the pork into thin slices 1 1/2 inches long. Put the slices in a bowl and mix them well with the rice wine or dry sherry, soy sauce, sesame oil and cornflour. Leave to marinate for about 20 minutes.

Heat a wok or large frying pan until it’s very hot. Add half the oil and when it is very hot and slightly smoking, lift the pork out of the marinade with a slotted spoon, put it in the wok and quickly stir fry for about 2-3 minutes. Transfer it to a bowl at once.

Wipe the wok or pan clean, reheat it and add the rest of the oil. Quickly add the black beans, garlic, scallion (spring onions) and shallots. A few seconds later add the rest of the ingredients. bring the mixture to the boil and then return the pork to the wok or frying pan. Stir fry the entire mixture for another 5 minutes.
Turn it on to a warm serving platter and serve at once with some hot steamed rice.

Asian flavors · Beverage · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegan

Fresh ginger ale with lemongrass

Belinda1 Comment

This is a ginger ale for grown-ups, a spicy, not-too-sweet, ultra refreshing drink that combines fresh ginger, lemongrass and chilies in a way you’ve probably never had them.
It makes 1 quart of syrup, enough to make at least 10 glasses.  The syrup keeps for weeks, refrigerated

Thanks to Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

1lb fresh ginger root, unpeeled and cut into small dice
2 stalks lemon grass, trimmed and roughly chopped
2 small chilies, stems removed
1 1/2 cups white sugar
soda water
lime wedges

Combine the ginger, lemongrass and chilies in a food processor and process until minced, stopping the machine periodically and scraping down the sides, if necessary.

Place the puree in a saucepan with the sugar and 1 quart water. Bring to the boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 15 minutes.
Turn off the heat. Cool, then strain and chill.

To serve, place about 1/4 cup of the syrup in a glass full of ice. Fill with soda water, taste and add more syrup if you like. Garnish with a lime wedge, then serve

Asian flavors · Gluten Free · Nuts · Poultry · Salad

Thai chicken, cucumber and coconut salad (CleanCuisine)

Belinda

I made this last night and we were blown away by the flavors. It’s light, healthy and full of flavor!
You can buy palm sugar in Asian supermarkets like “99 Ranch” (in Los Angeles)

Serves 4

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
165 mls coconut milk
40 grams palm sugar, (shave it off with a knife) or if you can’t find any, demerara sugar
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 large English cucumber
2 long sweet red chillies, thinly sliced  (I noticed that Trader Joes has these)
small bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked
1 good sized thai shallot or regular shallot, finely sliced
50 grams roasted peanuts. crushed

Put the chicken between two sheets of cling film and bash with a rolling pin or heavy pan to flatten a little so it is all the same thickness.

Put the coconut milk, palm sugar and fish sauce in a wide, shallow pan. Add the chicken to the cold liquid then gently bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 15 minutes. Take off the heat and leave to cool in the liquid, turning it a couple of times.

Using a vegetable peeler, cut the cucumber into long thin ribbons.

Take the chicken from the poaching liquid and slice as thinly as possible, then mix all the ingredients except the roasted, crushed peanuts.
Serve drizzled with some of the cool poaching liquid and sprinkle with the peanuts.

It’s SO delicious!

Appetizers · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Fish · Gluten Free

Coconut tuna tartare with avocado mousse

Belinda

It doesn’t get much better than this!  (c/o chef John Doherty of the Waldorf Astoria)

Ingredients
1 pound sushi grade tuna; cut into 1/4-inch dice
5 tbsp grated coconut; toasted
1 tsp soy sauce
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
4 tbsp toasted almond slivers; chopped
4 tbsp currants
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp fresh ginger; minced
1/2 tsp garlic; minced
1/2 tsp sesame oil
2 ripe avocados
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp paprika
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

How to Prepare Coconut Tuna Tartare with Avocado Mousse
In a medium stainless mixing bowl combine the diced tuna, coconut, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the lime juice, rice wine vinegar, almonds, currants, vegetable oil, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.
Toss well and season with salt and pepper.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Peel and halve the avocados and remove the pits. Give them a rough chop and place them in a small stainless mixing bowl.
Add the remaining lime juice, cayenne, cumin, paprika, and olive oil.
Mash the seasoned avocado with a sturdy whisk until creamy in texture and season with salt and pepper.
To serve:
Divide the avocado mixture equally into the bottom of 8 martini glasses.
Separate the tuna into eight equal portions and spoon on top of the avocado

Asian flavors · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Holiday Food · Vegan · Vegetable-related

Carrot puree with ginger and orange

Belinda

This is one of our favorite side dishes.

Serves 8

3 lbs carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch rounds
4 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 stick butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
1 1/2 tbsp peeled, minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp grated orange zest
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Cook the carrots and 3 tbsp sugar in a large pot of boiling salted water until the carrots are very tender, about 25 minutes.
Drain well. Return carrots to same pot. Stir over medium heat until any excess moisture evaporates.

Meanwhile, bring the orange juice to a simmer in a heavy, small saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter, ginger and orange zest, whisk until the butter melts.
Whisk in the lemon juice and remaining 1 tbsp sugar.

Puree half the carrots and half the juice mixture in a food processor until smooth. transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with the remaining carrots and juice mixture.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead)
Cover and refrigerate.
Re-warm carrots in a microwave on high for about 4 minutes or re-warm in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.

Asian flavors · Fish · Gluten Free · Nuts

Caramel Salmon with Lime (CleanCuisine)

Belinda

This is an unbeatable salad combination of Thai tastes, c/o Jill Duplex, a wonderful Australian cookery book writer. The flavors in this dish are chilli, cilantro, mint, sugar, lime juice and fish sauce, all perfect for a piece of delicate, rich salmon.
A really innovative, tasty, complex salad dish for either a main course or a starter.

Serves 4

4 thick salmon fillets, skinned (choose wild salmon, if possible)
200 grams bean sprouts
2 tbsps vegetable oil
50 grams fresh mint leaves, left whole
25 grams cilantro leaves, left whole
3 scallions, finely chopped
2 tbsps salted or dry roasted peanuts, crushed coarsely
1 lime, quartered

Sauce
100 grams soft brown sugar
125 mls water
1 red chilli, finely sliced
3 cm knob of fresh ginger, finely sliced
2 garlic cloves peeled and smashed
4 tbsps Thai fish sauce
4 tbsps fresh lime juice

To make the sauce, use the ingredients in the “sauce” list only. Dissolve the sugar in the water in a small pan and bring to the boil, stirring.
Add the chilli, ginger and garlic and let it bubble away to reduce (but do not boil over!) for 4 – 5 minutes until quite syrupy.
Remove from the heat and add the fish sauce and the lime juice.

Cut the salmon into bite-sized pieces, about 3cm square and coat lightly in the caramel sauce.
Pour a jug of boiling water over the bean sprouts then drain and set aside.
Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the salmon quickly until caramelized, keeping the inside pink.

Combine the salmon, mint, coriander, scallions and bean sprouts in a bowl and toss well.
Strain the sauce and keep warm, if necessary, reheat.
Arrange on warmed dinner plates, spoon the warm sauce over the top and scatter with peanuts.

Serve with the lime wedges and plenty of steamed rice.

Asian flavors · Gluten Free · Poultry

Chicken Jalfrezi

Belinda

This is my new favorite easy and light chicken dish. The spices are refreshing but different and the sauce is so light and fragrant. c/o BBC Good Food.

serves 4     Ready in 45 minutes


Ingredients
groundnut or canola oil
1 large onion, sliced
2-3 green chillies, sliced
3 large garlic cloves, crushed
1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger root
6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thigh fillets (I use free range, organic)
5 good sized tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 green pepper, chopped into pieces
1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves picked off
1 small pot natural yoghurt
steamed rice or naan
(I serve it with roasted cauliflower florets tossed in roasted cumin and olive oil)

Spice Mix
1 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin (again, I roast my cumin then grind it as it’s more pungent that way)
1 tsp ground coriander
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves, ground

Method
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pan. Add the onion and a good pinch of salt, then fry for about 6 – 8 minutes until golden.

Add chillies, garlic and ginger. Cook for 3 – 4 minutes. Add the spice mix and cook for another couple of minutes until fragrant.

Add the chicken and cook for 3 – 4 minutes then add the tomatoes and green peppers and a splash of water or chicken stock, and stir well.
Cover the pan and cook for about 30 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce thickened. It’s worth uncovering the chicken after 15 minutes so the sauce can thicken a bit.
Stir the yoghurt into the chicken off the heat (it will curdle if it boils) for a creamier sauce.  Stir in the cilantro and check the seasoning.
Serve with the rice, naan bread or roasted cauliflower florets.

Appetizers · Asian flavors · Do-ahead

Thai Garlic Bread

Belinda

And now for something completely different!  Thanks to Daniel Green (UK) for this recipe

 

Screen shot 2014-07-23 at 4.50.58 PM

Serves 4 – 6

3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 stalks lemongrass, inner tender white pale only, roughly chopped
1 tsp grated fresh ginger root
1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
juice of 1 lime
good handful of fresh cilantro (coriander for the Brits) stems removed, leaves roughly chopped
1 ciabatta or baguette
I don’t think you need any salt in this, but you might want to taste the mixture and see.

1/  Preheat the grill

2/ Using a pestle and mortar, grind all the ingredients, except the bread, to a chunky paste

3/ Slice the bread horizontally in half, all the way through

4/ Spread the spice mixture evenly over the two pieces of bread

5/ Place under the preheated hot grill for 1 minute until heated through