Chicken and Thai Basil Dumplings
Chicken and Thai Basil Dumplings
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
1 pound ground chicken breasts
2 ounces bean thread noodles, blanched and chopped
1 cup grated carrot, squeezed dry
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh Thai basil, chopped
1/4 cup scallion greens, cut on the diagonal
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon green curry paste, (preferably Maeploy brand)
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons coconut milk
1 package round white dumpling wrappers
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup Sriracha chile sauce
1 can (14-ounce) coconut milk
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 cup dark-brown sugar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Prepare the filling; combine all of the ingredients, except the dumpling wrappers, in a medium bowl. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon filling, and cook until no longer pink. Taste, and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
Place a dumpling skin on work surface. Using your finger, wet around the edges with water. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons filling in the center. Fold dumpling skin over to enclose. Pinch the edges together to form a half moon. Pleat the rounded edge. Set aside. Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers.
Prepare dipping sauce; combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat gently, whisking, until emulsified. Be sure not to boil. Set aside to cool. Just before serving, bring a large pot, fitted with a steamer insert lined with lightly oiled parchment paper with a few holes poked in it, to a simmer. Add dumplings and simmer until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir-Fried Tofu
Stir-Fried Tofu
Serves 4
1 (14 ounces) regular tofu, firm or extra-firm, drained
1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons peanut or canola oil
1 Chinese broccoli, stems trimmed
1 small red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, thinly sliced lengthwise
Coarse salt
1/4 cup whole basil, cilantro, and mint leaves
1/4 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
Cut tofu in half widthwise. Keep the pieces stacked and cut lengthwise into thirds (creates six rectangles), and then cut the tofu horizontally (slicing parallel to work surface) into quarters to create 24 cubes, each about 1 inch. Press the tofu. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, curry paste, and coconut milk until blended; set aside.
In a large, nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over high heat. Add the tofu and sear without moving until the cubes have browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Carefully turn the tofu and sear other side until browned, about 2 minutes more. Turn and sear a third side, again for about 2 minutes. Remove tofu to a plate and set aside.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet and heat. Add the broccoli, red pepper, 3 tablespoons of water, and salt to taste; cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are almost tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Return tofu to the skillet and stir in the sauce. Cook to heat and blend flavors, about 1 minute. Serve immediately, garnishing each portion with basil, cilantro, mint, and peanuts.
Thai-Style Steak Salad
Thai-Style Steak Salad
Serves 4
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 boneless rib-eye steaks, (each 8 ounces and 3/4 inch thick)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 pound carrots, (3 to 4 medium)
1 medium head romaine lettuce, cut crosswise into 1-inch ribbons
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1 cup cream of coconut, preferably Coco Lopez
1/3 cup salted peanuts, chopped (optional)
Make marinade: In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, red-pepper flakes, and oil. Season steaks generously with salt and pepper; place in a baking dish. Pour 1/4 of marinade over steaks (reserve remaining marinade); turn steaks to coat. Let steaks marinate up to 30 minutes.
In a large skillet, cook steaks on medium-high heat, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a cutting board; tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest, 5 to 10 minutes. Slice steaks across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices; halve slices crosswise. Transfer to a large bowl, and toss with reserved marinade. With a vegetable peeler, cut carrots into long ribbons. Add to steak in bowl, along with lettuce and mint; toss to combine. Divide salad among four shallow bowls. Sprinkle with bean sprouts and peanuts, if desired.
Cold Chicken Satay Noodles
Cold Chicken Satay Noodles
Yields 4 servings
Salt
1 pound whole wheat spaghetti
1/4-1/3 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter, softened
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup tamari (aged soy sauce)
1 clove garlic, grated with microplane or box grater
Juice of 2 limes, zest of 1
1 teaspoon hot sauce
3 tablespoons vegetable, peanut or sunflower oil
2 cups store-bought rotisserie chicken meat, skin removed and thinly sliced
A handful of shredded carrots
4 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
1 cup spinach greens, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, available in small pouches in the baking aisle
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley, whichever you prefer
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, salt water liberally, then drop pasta in and cook to al dente. Run cooked pasta under cold water to cool. Drain well and reserve. While the water is coming to a boil and the pasta is cooking, whisk together softened peanut butter, honey and warm water in a large bowl. Once they're combined, whisk in the tamari, garlic, lime juice and zest, and hot sauce.
While whisking continuously, pour the oil in a steady stream to complete the dressing. Add noodles, veggies and peanuts to the bowl and toss until everything is mixed well. Place noodles in shallow bowls and top with chicken and cilantro or parsley.
Thai Chicken Soup
Thai Chicken Soup
Serves 6
4 cups chicken stock
2 kaffir lime leaves
One 3-inch piece lemongrass, thinly sliced
One 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 scallions, trimmed and julienned
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 small fresh red Thai chile pepper, seed and ribs removed, and sliced crosswise
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
Coarse salt
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup bean sprouts
Juice of 1/2 lime, plus lime wedges for garnish
Mint leaves, for garnish
2 cooked boneless skinless chicken breast halves, shredded
In a medium saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil. Add the lime leaves, lemongrass, ginger, scallions, curry powder, cumin, chiles, chicken, mushrooms, and fish sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in carrots, cilantro, and bean sprouts. Simmer for 5 minutes more. Remove lime leaves, and discard. Season with salt and lime juice. Ladle soup into shallow soup bowls. Garnish with cilantro, mint, and lime wedges; serve immediately.
Shrimp Pad Thai
Shrimp Pad Thai
Serves 6
8 ounces rice-stick noodles
1/4 cup tomato-based chili sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon anchovy paste
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
3 cups bean sprouts, plus more for garnish
8 scallions, trimmed, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup chopped dry-roasted peanuts
1 red-pepper flakes
3 cups bean sprouts, plus more for garnish
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
Bring a large pot of water to a boil; remove from heat. Stir in noodles; let soak until softened (but still undercooked), 3 minutes. Drain; rinse under cold water until cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together chili sauce, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and anchovy paste. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp; cook, tossing often, until just opaque throughout, about 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a plate.
Return skillet to medium-high heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil along with the noodles and chili-sauce mixture; cook, tossing, until combined, about 1 minute. Add bean sprouts, scallions, and shrimp. Pour in egg; toss until noodles are coated and cooked through, about 2 minutes. Serve, topped with garnishes, if desired.
Spicy Thai Chicken
Spicy Thai Chicken
Yields 4 servings
1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
1 tablespoon light vegetable or peanut oil
1 tablespoon Asian hot chili oil
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
1 onion
2 red bell peppers
4 cloves garlic
2 cups fresh bean sprouts
1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
1/4 cup tamari (dark soy sauce)
A few dashes Thai fish sauce, about 1 teaspoon or so
2 cups, about 40 leaves, fresh basil
1/4 cup salted peanuts
A handful of cilantro
Start rice according to package directions.
Heat oils in large non-stick skillet or wok over high heat. Cut chicken into thin strips and chop into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken and stir fry until golden, 2-3 minutes. Push chicken off to sides of the skillet, and add onions and peppers to the center of the pan. Stir-fry 2-3 minutes, then combine with meat.
Add the garlic, bean sprouts and pepper, stir 1 minute, then add soy and fish sauces. Adjust seasonings to taste and wilt in basil. Remove from heat and serve over rice. Garnish with chopped, salted peanuts and cilantro.
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