Category: Asian flavors

Appetizers · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Fruit · Gluten Free · Soup

Chilled Asian-scented pea soup with crab and radishes

Belinda

Served in small portions, this chilled Asian-scented pea soup can feed a lot of people. If you’re going to do that, make more of the crab mixture.
Recipe from Diana Henry

Prep time: 20 minutes, plus chilling time | Cooking time: 15 minutes
SERVES 8 or more

1 tbsp groundnut oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1″ (2.5cm) piece of root ginger, peeled and grated
2 green chillies, halved, deseeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
finely grated zest and juice of 2 limes
1.5lbs (650g) frozen or fresh peas
2.5 cups (600ml) vegetable or light chicken stock
2 x 5 fl oz (160ml) cans coconut cream
1oz (25g) fresh cilantro, very roughly chopped
5 tbsp fish sauce, or as needed
Superfine (caster) sugar, if needed

To serve:
5oz (150g) white crabmeat
juice of 1 lime
½ red and ½ green chili, deseeded and very finely chopped
2 tbsp coriander, chopped
8 radishes, of mixed colors, cut into matchsticks

Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan. Add the onion and a little salt and cook over a low heat until the onion is softening, but isn’t colored.
Add the ginger, chili and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 more minutes. Add the lime zest, peas, stock and coconut cream and bring to just under the boil.
Turn down the heat, simmer for 3 minutes, then pour the soup into a cold container and leave it to cool.
Once the soup has reached room temperature, purée with the cilantro in batches, using a blender ideally, as it gives a smoother result than a food processor.
Add the lime juice and fish sauce, then purée again.
Taste for seasoning and, if needed, add more fish sauce, lime juice or even a tiny pinch of sugar – you need to get a good balance of sweet and sour flavors. Chill the soup.

To serve, mix the crab with the lime juice, chili, cilantro and a little salt.
Sprinkle some radishes on the top of each serving, then spoon some crab mixture on top.
Serve.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Grains · Vegan · Vegetable sides

Stir-fried vegetables on Asian-style coconut and pumpkin polenta

Belinda

Recipe by Olivia Andrews

Give an Asian twist to this classic Italian ingredient, and serve stir-fried greens on a bed of creamy coconut polenta.

Serves 4
14 fl oz (400ml) vegetable stock, plus 3-4 fl oz (100ml) extra
1lb (500g) pumpkin, peeled, chopped
14 fl oz (400ml) can coconut milk
5 oz (150g) instant polenta
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 garlic clove, crushed
1.5 tsp finely chopped ginger
3.5 oz (100g) fresh wood ear mushrooms, sliced
3.5 oz (100g) canned baby corn, halved lengthways
3.5 oz (100g) gai lan (Chinese broccoli), cut into 1.5″ (4cm) pieces
1 long red chili, deseeded, finely chopped
Fresh cilantro and toasted cashews, to serve

Bring the stock and pumpkin to the boil in a pan, then simmer over medium heat for 12-15 minutes until tender. Cool slightly, then puree in a food processor. Return to pan with coconut milk and bring to the boil. Gradually add polenta, whisking constantly over medium-low heat for 6-8 minutes until the mixture thickens. Season to taste and keep warm

Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat and cook the garlic and ginger for 30 seconds. Add the mushroom, corn, gai lan and chili and toss for 2-3 minutes until almost cooked. Add the extra stock and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
Divide the polenta among 4 shallow bowls, top with vegetables and scatter with cilantro and cashews. Serve immediately.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Vegan

Chili-Oil Noodles With Cilantro

Belinda

Recipe by Judy Kim from the New YorkTimes food section

In this 20-minute recipe, a mixture of savory condiments coats bowlfuls of wide noodles chilled slightly by a quick rinse in cool water. While you cook the udon, take the time to prepare the sauce, abundant with contrasting flavors, and the fresh herbs. The sauce can be made in advance, but make sure it’s at room temperature before tossing it with the noodles and the cilantro at the last minute.
Substitutions are welcome: Swap in chili crisp in place of the chili oil with crunchy garlic, or scallions in place of garlic chives. Sichuan chili oil brings a citrusy flavor that is hard to replicate, so don’t skip it.
It can vary in spice level: For a milder sauce, use only the liquid oil, or add Sichuan peppercorns from the bottom of the oil for extra tingle.
Fried shallots are here for texture, but omit them if you use chili crisp.

Serves 4

14 oz dried udon noodles
¼ cup chili oil with crunchy garlic
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 tsp Sichuan chili oil, or to taste
2 tsp soy sauce
½ cup finely sliced garlic chives or scallions, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp store-bought fried shallots, crumbled by hand (optional)
½ cup finely chopped cilantro, plus a few sprigs for garnish

Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook noodles according to package instructions, stirring from time to time to prevent them from sticking. Drain well in a colander, then run noodles under cold water until cooled.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine all three oils with the soy sauce and 1/2 cup garlic chives.

Toss the cooled noodles into the chili oil mixture.
Gently fold in the crumbled fried shallots and chopped cilantro. Divide among four bowls, and top with more garlic chives and cilantro sprigs.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Dessert · Do-ahead · Fruit · Gluten Free · Vegan

Fruit salad with ginger-lemongrass syrup

Belinda

This zesty syrup makes a great base for poached or fresh fruit

Serves 4-6

Ginger-lemongrass syrup
3/4 cup canned lychee juice or water
1 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
6 stalks lemongrass, cut into 1″ lengths and bruised with a large knife
1/4 cup (tightly packed) grated palm sugar or brown sugar

Fruit salad
1 20 oz (565g) can lychees
1 punnet (12 oz, or 1.5 cups) strawberries, hulled and halved, if large
4 just-ripe kiwifruit, peeled and sliced
Optional- 2 whole mango, cubed

Over medium heat, simmer the ingredients for “Ginger-lemongrass Syrup” in a covered pot for 10 minutes. Allow to come to room temperature and cool. Keep in the fridge.

Prior to serving, cut the fruit and pour the syrup over the fruit. Done!

Recipe Notes
The fruits you choose are up to you but the four in this recipe are my preferred.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Fish

Miso-Ginger Marinated Grilled Salmon

Belinda

This is a lovely, easy recipe from Bobby Flay.

I had two salmon fillets in the fridge and googled “Miso marinated salmon” and up popped this gem!
If you want the salmon a little sweeter, you can add 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup sake to the marinade. That too is lovely.
This is also lovely with many other thicker fish like black cod or Chilean sea bass

Just a note, Bobby says to marinate the salmon for 30 mins, but I marinated mine for 8-9 hours and it was divine.

Serves 4

1/4 cup white miso (fermented soybean paste)
1/4 cup mirin
1/4 cup sake (optional)
1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)
2 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
2 to 3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp minced green onions
1 1/2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
4 tsp toasted sesame oil
4 salmon fillets, 8 oz each
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Yuzu juice, for drizzling, optional

Whisk together the miso, mirin, vinegar, soy sauce, (brown sugar and sake, if using) green onions, ginger, and sesame oil in a small bowl.
Place the salmon in a baking dish, pour the marinade over, and turn to coat. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes (I actually marinated mine for 8 hours and it was gorgeous) in the refrigerator.

Personally, I roast the fish, skin-side down in the oven at 350 for about 20 mins max but Bobby Flay uses this method below:

Heat grill to high. Remove the fish from the marinade and season with salt and pepper. Grill the salmon, skin side down, with the cover closed, until golden brown and a crust has formed, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Turn the salmon over and continue grilling for 3 to 4 minutes for medium doneness.
Drizzle with a little yuzu juice, if desired, and serve.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Fish · Gluten Free

Vietnamese caramel salmon

Belinda

This is a wonderful, tasty and low calorie dish by Melissa Clark

“Here, I’ve replaced the more traditional catfish with salmon, which has a rich succulence that can stand up to the ginger, chiles, and black pepper. And by using brown sugar instead of making my own caramel, I’ve also hastened the process so that the whole thing is ready in less than thirty minutes. The salmon still has time to absorb all the intense flavors of the caramel, but it doesn’t overcook, staying firm but tender. Serve this with some kind of rice as a gentle foil for all the rich spiciness on the plate.

Serves 4

4 skin-on salmon fillets, preferably center-cut pieces (6 to 8 ounces each)
1 tbsp coconut or extra-virgin olive oil
Fine sea salt to taste
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tbsp Asian fish sauce
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
Finely grated zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Sliced scallions (white and green parts), for garnish
Thinly sliced jalapeño, for garnish
Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Set an oven rack 6 inches from the heat source (usually the second rack position, not the one closest to the heat source), and turn on the broiler.

Brush the salmon fillets all over with the oil and season them lightly with salt.

In a 12-inch oven-safe skillet set over medium-high heat, combine the brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, lime zest and juice, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of water. Bring to a simmer.

Place the fish, skin-side up, in the skillet. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, without moving it, until the fish is cooked through halfway, 4 to 6 minutes.

Spoon the pan juices over the fish and transfer the skillet to the oven. Broil until the fish is just cooked through and the skin is caramelized in spots, 2 to 5 minutes for medium rare, depending upon the thickness of the fish (thicker ones will take longer).

Transfer the fish to a serving plate and garnish it with scallions, jalapeños, and cilantro. Drizzle with the pan sauce, and serve.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Poultry

One-Pot Braised Chicken With Coconut Milk, Tomato and Ginger

Belinda

Bone-in chicken thighs are a favorite go-to for weeknight meals, as they cook relatively quickly, are versatile and impart a lot of flavor in a short amount of time. Here, they are browned, then braised in a fragrant tomato-coconut broth flecked with ginger, garlic, cumin and cinnamon. The result is a rich, stew-like dish, which works nicely served over white rice. By cooking the rice as the chicken finishes braising, you can get everything on the table at the same time. A good squeeze of lime is not required, but it does give the dish a bright finish. Serve any remaining sauce at the table, with crusty bread for sopping.
Recipe by Colu Henry

1 ½ to 2 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, at room temperature
Kosher salt and black pepper
2 tbsp grapeseed or canola oil
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp red-pepper flakes
1 (14-oz) can cherry or diced tomatoes with their juices
1 (13-oz) can full-fat coconut milk
Steamed white rice, for serving (optional)
3 tbsp roughly chopped cilantro
1 lime, quartered, for serving (optional)

Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper.

In a deep 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken thighs, skin-side down, and cook, undisturbed, until nicely browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Flip and brown the other side, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Turn heat to medium-low, add the onion and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, cinnamon and red-pepper flakes, and cook until the garlic and the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with salt.

Add the tomatoes with their juices and the coconut milk, and stir until combined, scraping up any brown bits that have formed at the bottom of the pan.
Nestle the chicken back into the skillet along with any juices that have accumulated. Simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, 15 to 20 minutes.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Divide the rice, if using, among bowls and plate the chicken on top, spooning additional sauce over it. Scatter with cilantro and a squeeze of lime, if you like.

Asian flavors · Pasta

Five-Ingredient Creamy Miso Pasta

Belinda

This is my kind of recipe that allows for a huge variety in flavors and has that wow factor with the added miso and nori.

This one-pot pasta comes together in minutes, and requires zero prep and minimal cleanup. It builds on the classic combination of pasta, butter and cheese with a spoonful of miso paste for complexity.
But you could experiment with using any other condiments or spices you have on hand, such as red pesto, curry paste or ground turmeric in place of the miso.
To achieve a silky smooth pasta, you’ll need to put your cacio e pepe skills to work: Vigorously toss the pasta, grated cheese and pasta water together to achieve a properly emulsified sauce. Top with shrimp, edamame, frozen peas or any steamed vegetable.
The optional nori or furikake imparts an unexpected flavor of the sea, and it’s worth using if you have it on hand.
Recipe by Alexa Weibel

Kosher salt
16 oz spaghetti, linguine or bucatini
6 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp white (or red) miso
4 oz Parmesan, finely grated (1 packed cup)
Kizami nori, furikake or thinly sliced seaweed snacks, for garnish (optional)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water, then drain the pasta.

Add the butter, miso and 1 1/4 cups pasta water to the pot and whisk over medium heat until miso breaks down and liquid is uniform, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the pasta and Parmesan and cook, stirring vigorously with tongs until cheese is melted and sauce emulsifies. (The key word here is “vigorously.” To achieve a silky smooth pasta instead of a gloppy one, put your cacio e pepe skills to work.)

Divide among shallow bowls and sprinkle with nori or furikake, if using.

Asian flavors · Curry · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Vegan

Curry cauliflower rice

Belinda

A vegan gluten-free weeknight dinner of fluffy, textured cauliflower with warm spices from chef Sophia Roe. For distinct bits of cauliflower that won’t turn into mush once they’re cooked, don’t overcrowd the bowl of your food processor. Doctor up your cauliflower rice with toasted pine nuts or almonds, dates or dried currants, lots of fresh herbs, unsweetened coconut flakes, or chopped fresh chili.

Recipe from Bon Appetite Magazine

Serves 4

1 medium head of cauliflower (about 2¼ lb.), broken into florets
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 Tbsp. curry powder
1 tsp. ground turmeric
½ tsp. ground coriander
¾ cup canned unsweetened coconut milk
1 tsp. finely grated lime zest
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. coconut sugar or granulated sugar
Kosher salt
¼ cup golden raisins
¼ cup coarsely chopped cilantro
¼ cup unsalted, roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint, plus torn leaves for serving
Plain whole-milk Greek yogurt and lime wedges (for serving; optional)

Working in 2 batches, pulse the cauliflower in a food processor until the pieces are about the size of rice (you don’t want to over-process; err on the large side). Transfer the cauliflower to a medium bowl lined with a kitchen towel to absorb any extra moisture.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add the bell pepper, shallot, and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallot and garlic are softened slightly, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in the curry powder, turmeric, and coriander and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add coconut milk, lime zest, lime juice, and coconut sugar; season with salt.
Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
Add the cauliflower and raisins; cook, tossing occasionally, until cauliflower is just tender, about 3 minutes. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

Add the cilantro, pumpkin seeds, and ¼ cup mint to cauliflower rice and toss to combine. Divide among bowls; top with a dollop of yogurt if using and torn mint.
Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over if desired.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Fish

Miso glazed Chilean sea bass (or cod)

Belinda

This recipe produces the most beautiful, elegant, buttery,
sweet fish I have ever had. You will LOVE it!

1/3 cup mirin (Japanese seasoned rice wine)
1/3 cup sake
3 tbsp dark (preferably) soy sauce
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup white miso paste
1/4 orange marmalade (optional)

4 x (6-7 oz) fillets fresh Chilean sea bass, about 1 inch thick
2 tbsp chopped green onion

Turn oven to 400F

Start marinating the fish the night before.
Whisk together the sake, mirin, soy sauce, brown sugar, miso paste and marmalade (if using) in a bowl to make the marinade. Place the sea bass fillets in a sealable plastic bag and pour the marinade into the bag.
Chill in the refrigerator overnight, turning in the plastic bag occasionally.
Remove the fillets from the bag, discarding the liquid and dabbing the fish lightly with kitchen towel to remove excess marinade.
Arrange the fillets on a greased baking sheet and lightly sprinkle a little oil over the tops of the fish.
Roast for about 15 minutes or until it starts to flake when you put a fork into it
Sprinkle with the chopped green onions and serve.