Here’s a great side dish of crunchy snow peas and earthy mushrooms in a light, sesame-soy dressing. It’s quick, delicious and perfect for your next Asian-themed meal!

Stir-Fried Snow Peas with Shiitakes and Ginger
-recipe from Fine Cooking Magazine

Tip: Choose dark green, dense-looking peas with no signs of drying or cracking. Trim them by breaking off the stem end and pulling the string away from the pod. Serves four as a side dish.

Tags: Asian, ginger, sesame oil, sesame seeds, shiitake mushrooms, Side Dish, snow peas, soy sauce, stir-fried, Vegetable

Although it’s officially spring, the cool weather here in the Pacific Northwest means it’s still soup season. A few days ago I made this super quick and easy Asian Dumpling Soup when I was home with the sniffles. Recipes like this are the reason I always like to have a package of potstickers in the freezer. This simple soup consists of fresh veggies, your favorite potstickers and a light sesame-flavored broth. To bump up the flavor, add some fresh garlic or ginger to the simmering broth and a little Asian hot sauce for kick.

Asian Dumpling Soup 
-adapted recipe from Gourmet Magazine (November 2005)

We love the homey quality and clean flavors of this colorful soup. Makes 4 main-course servings. 

1 (15- to 16-oz) package frozen Asian dumplings (also called pot stickers; about 20 to 24)
5 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (40 fl oz)
3 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage (from 1 head)
2 cups sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1 cup shredded or matchstick (1/8-inch-thick) carrots (from a 10-oz bag)
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup chopped scallions
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 teaspoon soy sauce (or more to taste)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Cook dumplings in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling unsalted water, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes. (Cut into a dumpling to check filling.) Remove pot from heat and keep dumplings warm in hot water.

While dumplings cook, bring chicken broth to a boil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot. Add cabbage, mushrooms, and carrots and boil, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes, then add peas and cook 2 minutes. Stir in scallions, sesame oil, salt, and pepper and boil until all vegetables are tender, about 1 minute.

Divide dumplings among 4 soup bowls with a slotted spoon. Ladle soup over dumplings.

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Tags: Asian dumpling soup, carrots, chicken broth, napa cabbage, peas, potstickers, sesame oil, shiitake mushrooms

If you like mushrooms, you’re going to LOVE this risotto! Like all risotto recipes, it does take some effort but, boy, is it worth it: it’s hearty, earthy and delicious!

I basically followed the recipe with a few minor substitutions. I used turkey Italian sausage and substituted Marsala wine for the Madeira. For the mushrooms, I used 6 oz. portobello, 8 oz. crimini and 4 oz. shiitake…a total of 18 ounces. I sauteed the onion and garlic in 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) of butter instead of a whole stick. If you can’t find Asiago cheese, just use Parmesan. A drizzle of truffle oil would put this risotto over the top!

Italian Sausage and Wild Mushroom Risotto
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine from Tuscany, Salt Lake City, UT

At the restaurant, this dish is served as a starter. It would also make a great main course for four. Makes 8 first-course servings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sweet sausage, casings removed, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, stemmed, dark gills scraped out, caps diced
10 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 cups Madeira (I used Marsala)

6 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (I used 1/2 stick, or 4 tablespoons)
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups arborio rice or other medium-grain rice (about 13 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add all mushrooms, thyme, and oregano and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Madeira; boil until almost absorbed, about 1 minute. Set aside.

Bring stock to simmer in large saucepan; remove from heat and cover to keep hot. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice; stir 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 cup Madeira; simmer until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot stock; simmer until almost absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, adding more stock by cupfuls, stirring often and allowing most stock to be absorbed before adding more, about 25 minutes. Stir in sausage mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Pass cheese separately.

Tags: arborio, Asiago cheese, chicken broth, Italian, italian sausage, Madeira, Main Dish, Marsala, onion, oregano, portobello mushrooms, rice, risotto, shiitake mushrooms, Side Dish, thyme, wild mushrooms

This beautiful spring dish is not only delicious but incredibly easy. I love how simple and unfussy it is: earthy mushrooms, crisp-tender asparagus, pan-seared chicken. Yumm! Serve with crusty bread for a fantastic yet quick meal!

For more recipe ideas, check out: Tuesday at the Table, Tuesday Tastes, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Finer Things Friday, Foodie Friday, It’s A Hodgepodge Friday, New Friend Friday, Friday Food, Grocery Cart Challenge.

Pan-roasted Chicken with Asparagus and Shiitakes
-recipe from Sunset Magazine

Meaty shiitakes, a good sear on the chicken, and a sprinkle of nutty parmesan cheese—not to mention the sweet, tender-crisp asparagus—make this low-fat dish a winner. Prep and Cook Time: about 30 minutes. Notes: If you prefer your asparagus more fully cooked, return it to the oven once you’ve lifted out the chicken and bake it 5 to 10 minutes more. Makes 4 servings

2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boned skinned chicken breast halves (8 oz. each)
2 large shallots, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup reduced-sodium chicken stock
3 sprigs thyme, plus chopped thyme for garnish
8 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, rinsed and halved, or halved button mushrooms
About 1/2 tsp. salt
About 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 pound slender asparagus, trimmed
1/4 cup freshly and finely shredded parmesan

Preheat oven to 375°. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy ovenproof frying pan (not nonstick) over high heat until oil is hot but not smoking. Add chicken breasts, top side down, and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn chicken over.

Add shallots and garlic to pan with chicken, stirring occasionally so garlic doesn’t burn, until shallots are soft and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add chicken stock, thyme sprigs, mushrooms, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper and cook until mixture begins to boil, about 1 minute.

Lay asparagus over chicken, then cover pan and put in oven. Bake 14 to 16 minutes, or until chicken is just cooked through (cut to check) and asparagus is tender (see Notes). Transfer chicken to a plate.

Season asparagus-shiitake-stock mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Divide vegetables among 4 rimmed plates or shallow pasta bowls, top each with a piece of chicken, and spoon sauce over all. Garnish with chopped thyme and parmesan.

Tags: asparagus, Chicken, chicken stock, garlic, parmesan cheese, Quick Cooking, shallots, shiitake mushrooms, thyme