Fragrant, steamed jasmine rice is good—but jasmine rice made with coconut milk and fresh ginger is even better! This is a great side dish for Asian-themed meals, and could even be paired with some Caribbean and Latin American dishes. It’s super easy to make and a step up from plain ol’ rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro if you like. Enjoy!

Coconut Rice
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine 

Cooking fragrant jasmine rice in a mix of coconut milk and water gives this simple side dish a luxurious, rich texture that dresses up any stir-fry or Asian-inspired main. Serves 4.

1-1/2 cups jasmine rice or long-grain white rice 
1-1/2 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
2 Tbs. canola oil
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk (preferably not “lite”)
3/4 tsp. kosher salt

Rinse the rice in three changes of cold water, or until the water becomes only slightly cloudy from the rice. Drain well in a sieve.

Heat the ginger with the oil in a small (2-qt.) saucepan over medium-high heat until it begins to sizzle steadily and becomes fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the grains and ginger start to brown in places, about 2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk,
1-3/4 cups water, and the salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the liquid has reduced to about the same level as the top of the rice, 5 to 7 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook without disturbing the rice until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender, 15 minutes.

Tags: Asian coconut rice, Caribbean rice, coconut milk, coconut milk rice, coconut rice, jasmine rice, rice

You can never have too many chicken recipes! This delicious Thai-inspired dish is easy to make and perfect for a weeknight meal. The super flavorful peanut sauce is the star of the show here. If you like Thai food then you’ll love this recipe!

Don’t feel like pounding the chicken breasts? I ‘spose you could use chicken cutlets or chicken tenders instead, although they will take less time to cook so be careful not to overcook them. Serve with Thai-Style Cabbage Salad and steamed jasmine rice. Enjoy!

Chicken Breasts with Red Thai Curry Peanut Sauce
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine
 
2 Tbs. chopped fresh ginger
1 Tbs. chopped garlic
1/2 cup natural smooth peanut better, preferably at room temperature
1/4 cup rice vinegar
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 Tbs. mirin or granulated sugar
1-3/4 tsp. red Thai curry paste
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/2 lb. total), trimmed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbs. canola oil; more as needed
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
3 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro

In a food processor, combine the ginger, garlic, peanut butter, rice vinegar, soy sauce, mirin (or sugar), 1-1/2 tsp. of the curry paste, and 3 Tbs. water. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Taste to check the heat level and add the remaining 1/4 tsp. curry paste if you like.

If the chicken breasts come with tenders, remove them and reserve them for another use. Between two sheets of plastic wrap, lightly pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with a meat mallet, a heavy pan, or the side of a cleaver. Season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Set a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add the canola oil. When the oil is very hot, add two of the chicken breasts and cook until nicely browned, 3 to 4 min. Flip the chicken and continue to cook until it’s cooked through, another 3 to 4 min. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding 1 to 2 Tbs. more oil if the pan is dry.

Reduce the heat to low and add the coconut milk and 1/2 cup of the peanut sauce to the skillet. (Save the remaining sauce for another use). Stir to combine and heat through, about 2 min. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and serve immediately.

Tags: Asian chicken, Chicken, Chicken breasts with Red Thai Curry Peanut Sauce, chicken recipe, chicken with peanut sauce, curry chicken, peanut sauce, Thai chicken, Thai curry chicken, thai curry peanut sauce

This fresh-tasting, super easy salad makes a great side dish for an Asian meal! I love the salty-sweet-sour combination of flavors and the punch of fresh herbs…delicious!

I’ve made the salad a variety of ways. Sometimes I substitute lime for lemon, or green onions for the red onions. I’ve also made it with both mint and cilantro, or just cilantro. You can even use the bagged pre-shredded cabbage and carrot cole slaw mix (about 3 1/2 to 4 cups) if you want to save a little prep time.

The recipe only makes 2 servings so do your math to increase quantities if you plan on feeding more than 2. Enjoy!

Thai-Style Cabbage Salad
-recipe from Epicurious.com (Gourmet Magazine)

Yield: Serves 2

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1/2 small red onion, sliced thin (about 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup grated carrot
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint leaves or 3/4 teaspoon crumbled dried
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil 

In a bowl stir together the lemon juice, the sugar, and the salt until the sugar and salt are dissolved, add the cabbage, the onion, the carrot, the mint, the cilantro, and the oil, and toss the salad well.

Tags: Asian salad, asian slaw, cabbage, Salad, Thai salad, Thai-style cabbage salad

If you like Thai curry then you’re probably going to love this super quick and easy-to-make dish: tender beef and fresh veggies simmered in a flavorful coconut-infused red curry…YUM! 

I had a rib-eye in the freezer so I substituted it for the sirloin steak, and used light coconut milk. I also added some sliced mushrooms and onions to the simmering curry before I added the bell peppers. If asparagus is out of season, broccoli would be a great substitute. TIP: freezing the beef for 20-30 minutes will make it easier to slice.

I crave spicy foods but found this curry dish to be quite mild. You can always add some Sriracha or other hot chili sauce if you want it spicier.

Serve the curry with steamed jasmine rice or cooked rice noodles. Enjoy!

Beef-and-Asparagus Curry
-recipe from Martha Stewart Everyday Food, April 2012

Serves 4.

1 can (13.5 ounces) unsweetened coconut milk, shaken well
1/4 cup red curry paste
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 bunch asparagus (1 pound), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound sirloin steak, trimmed and thinly sliced against the grain
Cooked rice noodles, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro leaves, for serving

In a large wok or skillet, heat 1/2 cup coconut milk over medium-high, stirring, until shiny and thick, 2 minutes. Add curry paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add remaining coconut milk, broth, fish sauce, and brown sugar and bring to a simmer. Add bell pepper and cook until softened, 2 minutes. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, 3 minutes. Add steak and cook, stirring, until just cooked through, 2 minutes. Serve over noodles with lime wedges and cilantro.

Tags: Asian, Beef, beef curry, beff and asparagus curry, coconut milk, red curry, sambal olek, sirloin, sirloin steak, Sriracha, Thai curry, Thai food

Had a bad day? Then make this Korean-inspired skirt steak. You see, you get to take out your aggression on the steak by pounding it with a meat mallet. I call that Kitchen Therapy! The quickly marinated and seared steak is tender, flavorful and super easy to make…perfect for a weeknight meal! Serve with steamed jasmine rice and Sesame Green Bean Salad or Stir-fried Snow Peas with Shiitakes and Ginger. Yum!

Korean-Style Marinated Skirt Steak
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

The steak can also be grilled; just be sure to oil the grill first so the meat doesn’t stick. Serves 4.
 
2 Tbs. sugar
3 Tbs. soy sauce  
2 tsp. sake (optional)
4 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 scallions (white part only), minced
2 tsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 lb. skirt steak, trimmed and cut into four portions
2 tsp. vegetable oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine the sugar, soy sauce, sake, garlic, scallions, ginger, and sesame oil in a medium-size flat dish or a zip-top bag, stirring to make sure the sugar is dissolved. Cover the steaks with plastic wrap and gently pound them 1/4 inch thick with the flat side of a meat mallet. Add them to the marinade and let them sit for 20 minutes, covered, turning them once after 10 minutes. Coat a large skillet with the vegetable oil and set it over high heat until the oil is just barely smoking. Sprinkle both sides of the meat with salt and pepper, add the meat to the pan, lower the heat slightly, and sear the steaks (in batches if necessary) for 2 to 3 minutes. on each side for medium rare. The steaks should be very rosy pink. Transfer them to a cutting board, tent with foil, and let rest for 3 minutes. Cut the steaks into 1/4-inch-thick slices and serve.

Tags: Asian, Korean steak, Korean-style skirt steak, Quick Cooking, sake, sesame oil, skirt steak, soy sauce

Quick and flavorful, this recipe is a nice side dish for an Asian-themed meal. Jasmine rice, a fragrant long-grain variety, is common in Thai cuisine and available in many grocery stores.

Look in the Asian section of your market (or an Asian market) for the sesame oil and both types of sesame seeds. For extra flavor and a punch of color, thinly sliced green onions would be a nice addition, too. Enjoy!

Triple-Sesame Jasmine Rice
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine
 
This rice gets three hits of sesame flavor: from toasted sesame oil and black and white sesame seeds, which also add subtle texture. It makes a perfect accompaniment to any dish with an Asian spin, especially salmon or other seafood dishes. Serves 4

1 cup jasmine rice
1 Tbs. Asian sesame oil
1 tsp. unsalted butter
Kosher salt
1 Tbs. black sesame seeds
1 tsp. toasted white sesame seeds

In a large sieve, rinse the rice under cold running water and drain. In a 2-quart saucepan, combine 1-1/2 cups of water with the rice, sesame oil, butter, and 3/4 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; stir once. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes.

Put a clean dishtowel under the lid, and let stand off the heat, covered, for 5 minutes. Add the black and white sesame seeds, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Tags: Asian cooking, Asian meal, Asian side dish, black sesame seeds, Fine Cooking Magazine, jasmine rice, rice, sesame oil, sesame seeds, Side Dish, toasted sesame seeds

Stir-fries are a great weeknight meal because they’re usually quick and easy. Plus,  many stir-fry recipes combine protein and veggies so all you have to do is add steamed rice and you’ve got a complete meal. This particular recipe features super tender pork tenderloin and napa cabbage (aka Chinese cabbage) in a flavorful hoisin sauce. Yum!

As with any stir-fry, you want to have all the ingredients prepped, measured and ready to roll before you actually start cooking. This step can even be done the night before so that once you walk in the door to start dinner, all you have to do is heat the pan and grab the prepped ingredients out of the fridge.

In case you’ve never used Napa cabbage, it’s more leafy and has a milder flavor than regular cabbage. Check in the produce area of your grocery store or swing by an Asian market. The recipe calls for 6 cups of napa cabbage but next time I’ll add several cups more. It seems like a boat load of cabbage but it wilts down considerably (kind of like spinach).

Hoisin Pork with Napa Cabbage
-recipe adapted from Fine Cooking Magazine
 
Serves four.
 
1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut into 1/4-inch-thick strips (about 3 inches long)
1 tsp. kosher salt; more to taste
3 Tbs. hoisin sauce (try Lee Kum Kee brand)
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
3 Tbs. canola or peanut oil
2 tsp. minced garlic
6-8 cups napa cabbage, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces (3/4 to 1 lb.)
1 red bell pepper, cored, thinly sliced, and cut into 2- to 3-inch lengths
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh chives or green onion tops (the dark green part)

In a large bowl, season the pork with 1/2 tsp. of the salt. In a small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar.

Heat 2 Tbs. of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet or large stir-fry pan over medium-high heat until shimmering hot. Add the pork and cook, stirring, until it browns and loses most of its raw appearance, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil to the skillet. Add the garlic, and once it begins to sizzle, add the cabbage and pepper. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and cook, stirring, until the cabbage starts to wilt, about 2 minutes.

Add the hoisin mixture, the pork, and half of the chives and cook, tossing, until heated through, about 1 minute. Let sit for 2 minutes off the heat (the cabbage will exude some liquid and form a rich broth), toss well again, and serve sprinkled with the remaining chives.

Tags: chinese cabbage, Fine Cooking Magazine, hoisin sauce, Lee Kum Kee hoisin sauce, napa cabbage, pork stir-fry, pork tenderloin, stir-fry

I woke up with a scratchy throat today (poor me!) so I’m doing everything in my power to fight off the crud: doses of Vitamin C, drinking a honey and cider vinegar elixer (my friend Amy swears by it), and this tasty chicken soup for lunch. 

The recipe calls for smashing 3 whole scallions and slicing the ginger then simmering it in the broth. This helps extract as much flavor as possible from the pieces of scallion and ginger. Next time I may also add a smashed clove of garlic to the simmering mixture for a little extra flavor and to take advantage of garlic’s natural healing  properties. Drizzle each bowl of soup with some sesame oil (a little goes a long way). Enjoy!

Ginger Scallion Egg-Drop Soup
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Steeping ginger and scallion greens in the stock and then poaching the chicken in it is a quick way to achieve a depth of flavor. The final soup is enriched with silky ribbons of just–cooked eggs, shreds of tender chicken, and fresh rings of scallion. Best of all, this satisfying soup is easy enough to pull together after work.

Yield: Makes 2 servings (light main course) or 4 servings (first course)
 
6 scallions, divided
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 (2-inch) piece peeled ginger, sliced
1 skinless boneless chicken breast half (6 to 8 ounces)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon white pepper (optional)
Accompaniment: Asian sesame oil

Smash 3 scallions and cut into 2-inch pieces, then put in a 2-quart saucepan with water, broth, ginger, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, then poach chicken at a bare simmer, uncovered, until just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let broth steep, covered, 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, chop remaining 3 scallions and shred chicken.

Discard scallions and ginger from broth and bring to a brisk simmer. Add beaten eggs in a slow stream, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in scallions, chicken, and white pepper (if using). Serve drizzled with sesame oil.

Tags: Asian soup, chicken soup, egg drop soup, ginger, scallion, sesame oil, soup

Sure, take-out is great but recipes like this one for Spicy Green Beans with Pork make it a cinch to whip up at home: tender pieces of stir-fried pork and green beans in a tasty Asian-flavored sauce. It’s a perfect weeknight meal!

As with any stirfry, it’s important to have all the ingredients prepped, measured out and ready to go when you start cooking. You could even cut the pork and trim the green beans the day before so that when it’s dinner time the next day, all you have to do is heat up the pan and start cooking. The tip on freezing the pork for 30 minutes does make it easier to slice but don’t sweat it if you want to skip that step (just cut the pork as thinly as you can).

For the sauce, I skipped the chicken stock and substituted water because I didn’t want to open a can of chicken broth for only 1/4 cup. Also, I used Lee Kum Kee brand Black Bean Garlic Sauce for the spicy bean sauce. If you don’t have any sake on hand or don’t feel like buying it, dry sherry would be a good substitute. Serve the stir fry with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Spicy Green Beans with Pork
-recipe from Family Fun Magazine (October 2008)

The green beans in this classic Chinese dish take on the flavors of ginger, chili, and garlic. And the spice is just right — not too hot for most kids but a bit of a kick for Mom and Dad. Makes about 5 cups.

1 pound pork tenderloin
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine (sake)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup chicken stock (or water)
1 tablespoon spicy bean sauce
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup peanut or vegetable oil
1 pound green beans, trimmed and snapped in half
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup toasted white sesame seeds

Shave the pork into thin strips. (Tip: first partially freeze it for 30 to 90 minutes.) In a small bowl, toss the shaved pork with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of rice wine, and the pepper. Marinate the pork at room temperature while assembling the rest of the ingredients.

In a separate bowl, combine the remaining tablespoon of soy sauce, the remaining tablespoon of rice wine, the stock, spicy bean sauce, hoisin, chili garlic sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch, and set aside.

Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the beans and stir-fry them until they begin to brown or blister, about 10 minutes. Remove the beans from the pan using a slotted spoon and pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the oil.

Return the pan to the heat and add the pork, garlic, and ginger. Stir-fry the mixture until the pork is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Add the green onions and cook for 1 minute.

Add the reserved sauce and green beans, mix well, and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about one minute. Finally, sprinkle with the sesame seeds before serving. 
 

Tags: Asian, black bean sauce, chili-garlic sauce, ginger, hoisin sauce, pork tenderloin, Quick Cooking, sake, soy sauce, spicy green beans with pork, stir-fry, stirfry, take-out

At least once a week I make a meaty pasta dish to have in the fridge for husband to take for lunch or to have on hand for a quick dinner on busy days. This recipe for Sesame Noodles with Chicken is in the rotation.

I added some shredded cabbage and carrots (coleslaw mix) to the noodles for more veggies. Although you may not use all the dressing when you first toss the noodles with it, don’t throw it out because the noodles soak up the dressing as they sit so you may end up needing to add more. Enjoy!

Sesame Noodles with Chicken
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

 This Chinese-restaurant favorite becomes a main dish with the addition of browned chicken tenders. For more color and flavor, add some thinly sliced red pepper or grated carrots. Serves six.
 
Kosher salt
1 lb. dried plain or whole-grain spaghetti
6 Tbs. Asian sesame oil
4 medium cloves garlic, peeled
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup less-sodium ginger-flavored soy sauce
6 Tbs. rice vinegar
1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
1-1/2 lb. chicken tenders
2 tsp. peanut oil
Freshly ground black pepper
6 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until the pasta is al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water until cool. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl, and toss with 1 Tbs. of the sesame oil.

In a food processor, pulse the garlic until roughly chopped. Add the remaining 5 Tbs. sesame oil, and the peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, and 1-1/2 tsp. salt. Process until smooth, stopping as necessary to scrape down the bowl, about 30 seconds. Set aside.

Trim off any exposed tendon ends from the wide tips of the tenders, if necessary. Season the tenders with 3/4 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Heat the peanut oil in a in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Cook the tenders until well browned on both sides and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the spaghetti along with half of the scallions.

Pour about 1-1/4 cups of the dressing over the pasta and chicken and toss to coat. Add more dressing to taste—you may not need to use it all. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with the remaining scallions, and serve.

Tags: Asian, chicken tenders, Chinese, Pasta, peanut butter, rice vinegar, Sesame Noodles with Chicken, sesame oil, soy wauce, spaghetti