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

I ran across this recipe for Chinese Noodle and Chicken Salad the other day and thought it would be a great pasta salad dish to make for the weekend: tender noodles, crunchy snow peas and a creamy, peanutty Asian-inspired dressing. Yumm! Husband loved it, too. 

You’ll notice that this recipe serves 20 people, which is great for a potluck or when feeding a crowd. I didn’t need to serve that many so I made half a recipe. Heck, you could even make a 1/4 recipe if you wanted to (you’re on your own with the math).

For the salad, feel free to roast your own chicken or buy one at the grocery store (I used a Costco roasted chicken). Also,  I wanted to bump up the veggie content of the salad so I added about a half bag of shredded cole slaw mix (cabbage and carrots). If you can’t find snow peas or they’re expensive, you could substitute a whole bag of shredded coleslaw mix (for a half recipe of the noodle salad) and some thinly sliced red bell pepper.

For the dressing, I added a tablespoon or so of chopped fresh ginger to the other ingredients and processed until smooth. I liked the extra flavor and zing that the nobby root added. 

Chinese Noodle and Chicken or Turkey Salad
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Leftover roasted chicken or turkey makes this rendition of a popular salad a snap to prepare. It’s made spicy by combining chilies with linguine, green onions, snow peas, cilantro and a peanut dressing.

Yield: Serves 20

Salad
2 pounds linguine
1/4 cup oriental sesame oil
2 2 1/2-pound roasted chickens, skinned, boned, shredded or 12 cups cooked turkey
4 bunches green onions, sliced
2 bunches fresh cilantro, chopped
4 jalapeño chilies, seeded, deveined, minced
1 1/4 pounds snow peas, stringed, thinly sliced lengthwise

Dressing
1 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned style or freshly ground)
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup oriental sesame oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

Napa cabbage leaves

For salad:
Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Add sesame oil; toss to blend. Mix in chicken or turkey, onions, cilantro and chilies.

Cook snow peas in medium saucepan of boiling salted water until just crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well. Mix into salad.

For dressing:
Combine soy sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and ginger in processor; blend until smooth.

Pour dressing over salad and mix with hands to blend well. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Line large platter with Napa cabbage leaves. Mound salad over and serve.

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Tags: Chinese Noodle and Chicken or Turkey Salad, cilantro, feeding a crowd, green onions peanut butter, jalapeno chilies, Pasta, potluck, rice vinegar, sesame oil, snow peas, soy sauce

This is a great summer recipe because it’s light, cool and refreshing. Be liberal with your use of the fresh mint and cilantro…it brings a ton of flavor to the salad!

I’ve made this salad with different types of rice noodles, and rice sticks work as well as rice vermicelli. Whatever type of rice noodles you use, cook them according to the directions on the package (soaking the noodles in hot water like the recipe states didn’t cook them enough). After the noodles are cooked and drained, I like to toss them with some of the dressing. Then I layer the chicken, shredded carrots, fresh herbs and chopped peanuts on top of the noodles and drizzle with more dressing. Sometimes I add a dash or two of soy sauce for a little extra flavor. Enjoy!

Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

Like a cross between a noodle bowl and a salad, this dish is low in fat and has a kick. Yield:  Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
1 package (6 oz.) rice vermicelli
1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
Chile Lime Dressing (recipe below)

1. Heat grill to medium (350° to 450°).

2. Mix soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, and sugar in a shallow dish. Turn chicken in marinade and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large pot of water to boiling.

4. Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Oil cooking grate, using tongs and a wad of oiled paper towels. Grill chicken, covered, turning once, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

5. Add vermicelli to pot of water and turn off heat. Let stand until soft, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.

6. Divide noodles among dinner bowls. Thickly slice chicken, set on noodles, and top with carrots, herbs, and peanuts. Serve with dressing.

Chile Lime Dressing
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

This recipe goes with Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad. Yield:  Makes 1 cup.

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce
6 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons minced red or green jalapeño chile

Mix 1/2 cup hot water and the sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir in remaining ingredients.

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Tags: Asian, carrots, Chicken, Chinese five-spice, cilantro, fish sauce, jalapeno, lime juice, mint, peanuts, rice vermicelli, rice vinegar, Salad, soy sauce

Here’s a great salad dressing that will go perfectly with your next Asian-inspired meal. I got the recipe out of Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2by Todd Wilbur. This recipe is his version of the dressing served at Benihana restaurants. I’ve been to Benihana and several other hibachi grill restaurants, and they all serve salads with a similar ginger dressing. The dressing is tangy, refreshing and super easy to make.  Yumm!

I didn’t have peanut oil so I substituted 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup canola oil. The dressing also makes a great marinade for chicken or pork. This recipe really is a no-brainer…you need to try it!

Top Secret Version of Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing
-recipe from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur

Before your meal at the Benihana chain of hibachi grill restaurants you are served a side salad doused in this tangy, slightly sweet, fresh ginger dressing. When spooned over a simple iceberg lettuce salad this easy clone transforms your bowl of greens into a great start for any meal. Making the dressing is as simple as dumping the ingredients into a blender, whizzing it up, and popping it into the cooler to chill. Ive seen many attempts to duplicate this coveted formula, but I think the original clone recipe presented here comes closer to the real thing than any other recipe floating around cyberspace.

1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup peanut oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced celery
2 tablespoons ketchup
4 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend on high speed for about 30 seconds or until all of the ginger is pureed. Chill. Makes 1 3/4 cups.

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Tags: celery, garlic, ginger, ketchup, lemon juice, oil, onion, rice vinegar, soy suace, sugar

These Asian-inspired chicken thighs grill up tender and flavorful, and take only minutes to prepare. Chinese five-spice powder is a blend of spices that has the five different flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, and salty. For this recipe, the five-spice (and a few other basic ingredients) are turned into a rub for the chicken. After grilling, the chicken thighs are tossed with a soy sauce and rice vinegar mixture and sprinkled with freshly chopped cilantro. To round out the meal, serve with steamed jasmine rice and some stir-fried veggies or an Asian slaw. Delicious!

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Grilled Five-Spice Chicken Thighs with Soy-Vinegar Sauce & Cilantro
-recipe by Pamela Anderson for Fine Cooking Magazine
 
Serves four to six.

2 Tbs. Chinese five-spice powder
1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 Tbs. soy sauce
2 tsp. rice vinegar
1 tsp. Asian sesame oil
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2-1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 8 large, 10 medium, or 12 small), trimmed of excess fat
2 Tbs. vegetable oil; more for the grill
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro

Mix the five-spice powder, the 1 Tbs. sugar, the garlic powder, and the salt in a small bowl. In another bowl, mix the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1 tsp. sugar.

Put the chicken in a shallow pan, drizzle with the vegetable oil, and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken; toss and rub to coat thoroughly.

Prepare a hot charcoal fire or heat a gas grill with all burners on medium high for 10 min. Clean the hot grate with a wire brush and then lubricate it with an oil-soaked paper towel. Put the chicken on the grate and grill (covered on a gas grill or uncovered over a charcoal fire) until one side has dark grill marks, 5 to 6 min. for large thighs or 4 to 5 min. for medium and small thighs. Turn and continue to grill until well marked on the other sides and cooked through, 5 to 6 min. longer for large thighs or 4 to 5 min. for medium and small thighs.

Move the thighs to a serving dish. Drizzle with about half of the soy mixture, sprinkle with the cilantro, and toss to coat. Let rest 4 to 5 min., tossing once or twice. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, with the remaining soy mixture passed at the table.

Variations:
To prepare as kebabs: Trim the thighs and then slice them lengthwise into 1-1/2- to 2-inch-wide strips. Toss with the flavorings; then thread the chicken onto six 8- or 12-inch skewers (soak wood skewers in water for at least 20 min. first), folding each strip in half as you skewer it. If some strips are very thick, cut them in half crosswise rather than folding them so that all the pieces of chicken are roughly the same size. Grill the kebabs, turning them every 4 to 5 min. as dark grill marks form, until cooked through, 12 to 15 min. total.

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Tags: chicken thighs, Chinese five-spice, crushed red pepper flakes, Grilling/BBQ, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce

I really enjoyed this simple and refreshing Asian noodle salad! I loved the combination of sweet, salty and tangy flavors.

I added some julienned red bell pepper for extra crunch and color. To make a more substantial salad, stir-fried shrimp, chicken or tofu would also be delicious additions. For the dressing, I added a little sesame oil and soy sauce for extra flavor. Since I only had seasoned rice vinegar, I omitted the extra sugar, and also omitted the salt since I added soy sauce. If you want a little kick to the dressing, add some Asian chile garlic sauce.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad
-recipe from epicurious.com

Makes 4 side-dish servings

4 oz. thin rice noodles
1/4 cup rice vinegar (not seasoned)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 carrot, coarsely shredded
2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
1 cup loosely packed mixed fresh cilantro, mint, and/or basil leaves, torn if large
1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Soak noodles in hot water 10 minutes, then drain in a large sieve.

Cook noodles in a 4-quart pot of boiling water, uncovered, until tender, about 1 minute. Drain in sieve and rinse under cold water until cold. Drain well and pat noodles dry.

Whisk together vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, and salt in a large bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add noodles, carrot, scallions, herbs, and peanuts, tossing to combine.

Tags: Asian fish sauce, cilantro, rice noodles, rice vinegar, Vietnamese

I’ve always loved Chinese Hot and Sour Soup. In fact, it’s usually one of the foods I send Husband out to get for me when I feel like I’m coming down with a cold. Now that I have this recipe, though, I can make it myself in just a few minutes.

I followed the recipe as written except for substituting regular mushrooms for the shiitakes. I also took the recipe’s suggestion of adding sesame oil to the soup. Yumm! A steaming bowl of hot and sour soup ready in no time!

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Hot and Sour Soup
-recipe from Martha Stewart Living

In this Chinese soup recipe, an egg is stirred in at the end to form tiny ribbons. For more flavor, add a teaspoon of toasted sesame oil just before serving. Serves 4.

Note: Be sure to drain the tofu thoroughly before adding it to the soup so it will soak up the flavor of the broth.

2 cans (14.5 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms (about 4 cups), stemmed, caps thinly sliced
3 to 4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 package (7 ounces) soft or firm tofu, cut into 1/4-inch cubes, drained
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
3 scallions, thinly sliced

In a large (5-quart) pot, combine broth, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add mushrooms; reduce heat, and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.

In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons vinegar and cornstarch. Add to pot; simmer, stirring, until soup is thickened, about 1 minute.

Add egg through a slotted spoon, and stir to form ribbons. Stir in tofu. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 1 minute. Put ginger in a small sieve, and squeeze to release juice into soup (discard solids). Taste; add remaining tablespoon vinegar, if desired. Serve sprinkled with scallions.

Tags: ginger, hot and sour soup, mushrooms, rice vinegar, soy sauce, tofu