things I like

things I like

Shrimp Fried Rice w/ Thai Basil from woks of life

shrimp-fried-rice-152 cups broccoli florets
4 tablespoons oil, divided
8 oz. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 onion, thinly sliced
4 cups cooked rice, cool and loosen
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon of shaoxing wine
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
½ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon grounded white pepper
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup roughly chopped Thai basil

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch broccoli for 30 seconds and drain, rinsing under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Heat your wok over high heat until smoking slightly and add 2 tablespoons oil. Cook the shrimp, making sure to get a good sear, until just barely cooked through. Remove from the wok and set aside.

With the heat still on high, add another 2 tablespoons of oil and add the onion. Stir-fry for 2 minutes, until softened. Add the cooked rice to the wok, and mix, breaking up any large clumps of rice in the process. Add the fish sauce, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, soy sauces, salt and white pepper. Give everything a good stir.

Add the egg to the rice and stir rapidly, so that the egg cooks and forms a kind of glaze over each grain of rice. Add the broccoli and shrimp back to the pan, along with the Thai basil. Give everything a final stir for another minute or two, and serve. Yield: 4 servings

Prawn Cocktail with Sun Dried Pan Bread Jamie Oliver

Prawn Cocktail, King Prawns & Sun-Dried Pan Bread

  • 200g self raising flour
  • 100g jarred sundried tomatoes
  • fresh basil
  • olive oil
  • handful mixed seeds
  • 3 spring onions
  • 1 romaine lettuce
  • ½ cucumber
  • 3 ripe mixed colour tomatoes
  • 1 ripe avocado
  • punnet of cress
  • 400g cooked peeled prawns
  • fat free natural yoghurt
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Tabasco
  • tomato ketchup
  • brandy
  • 1 lemon
  • cayenne pepper
  • 4 large raw shell on king prawns
  • 4 cloves of garlic

Soy Sauce Butter Pasta with Shrimp and Shiitakes from woks of life

soy-sauce-butter-pasta-7
10 oz. dried pasta of your choice (we used thin spaghetti)
olive oil
8 oz. shrimp, peeled, deveined, and thoroughly pat dry
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
8 oz. shiitake mushrooms (about 10-12), thinly sliced
1/3 cup white wine
3 tablespoons soy sauce (salt levels vary across different brands. Try to find a low sodium version)
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper

Bring a pot of water to a boil for your pasta. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over high heat, until the pan is almost smoking. Sear the shrimp just until opaque and crisp on the outside. Remove from pan and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic and shallots. Sautee until beginning to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and caramelize, 5-7 minutes. If the pan is looking a little dry, add a bit more olive oil.

Boil pasta according to package directions, drain, and reserve a cup of pasta water. Deglaze the mushrooms with white wine and cook for another two minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Add the cooked pasta, soy sauce, and butter to the pan and toss until the butter is melted. Add the shrimp, parsley, and Parmesan, and give everything a final toss. Loosen it up with a bit of your reserved pasta water if needed. Add salt and pepper to taste (remember that soy sauce is quite salty, so you may not need any more salt at all), and serve. 4 servings

dmv note: I substituted red onion for shallots and button with cremini mushrooms for shitake.

Steamed Shrimp with Glass Noodles – Two Ways from the woks of life

steamed-shrimp-noodles
For the garlic version:
12 oz. shrimp, cleaned
1 bundle of glass noodles
1 tablespoon minced or grated garlic
1/4 cup water, plus more, to soak the garlic
1/4 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons light soy
1/2 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
For the cilantro and green chili version:
12 oz. shrimp, cleaned
1 bundle of glass noodles
1 tablespoon minced green chilies
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons light soy
1/2 tablespoon Shaoxing wine

Split the shrimp in half to the tail, leaving the tail whole. Soak the glass noodles in warm water for 20 minutes and drain.

For the garlic version, put the minced garlic into a bowl of hot water for a minute and strain. This takes some of the edge off of the garlic, and makes it sweeter once steamed. Combine the strained garlic with another 1/4 cup fresh water, sugar, light soy, and shaoxing wine.

For the cilantro green chili version, pound the minced green chilies and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a mortar and pestle. Set aside for 30 minutes. Then mix in the cilantro, sugar, water, light soy, and shaoxing wine.

Spread out the glass noodles in two shallow, heat-safe bowls. Fan out equal amounts of shrimp on each plate. Spoon the prepared sauces evenly over each of the shrimp dishes.

Boil water in a steamer with a steamer rack and place the dishes inside. Cover immediately and steam for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. The shrimp should be opaque and but not over-cooked. Keep a close eye on it, and adjust the steaming time according to the size of your shrimp.

Once you take the shrimp out, spoon the liquid over the shrimp and serve immediately.

 

okonomiyaki from food52.com

 

  • Food52
    Sauce
    1/2 cup mayonnaise
    2 tablespoons soy sauce
    2 teaspoons sriracha, more or less to taste
    Pancakes
    5 large eggs
    1 teaspoon soy sauce
    1 teaspoon sesame oil
    1 teaspoon sea salt
    1/3 cup AP flour
    2 cups cabbage, shredded with a mandoline or finely chopped
    1 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped
    3/4 cups (roughly) baby or chopped shrimp
    canola oil for frying
    1-2 tablespoon toasted sesame seed
    bonito flakes (optional)
  • Whisk the first set of ingredients together and voila, your sauce. Set aside while you make the pancakes.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs with the soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Gradually add the flour until incorporated. Fold in cabbage, scallions, and shrimp.
  • Warm a couple glugs of canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until glistening. Ladle the batter into the skillet as you would for regular old pancakes. I usually make them about the size of saucer. Cook on each side for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Keep pancakes covered in a warm oven as you make the rest. Scatter sesame seeds and/or bonito flakes on top of pancakes and serve with dipping sauce and a cold pilsner.  Makes roughly a dozen pancakes depending on their size

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad http://food52.com/

 

The dressing

  • tablespoons fish sauce
  • tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • 6 to 8 tablespoons water, to taste
  • medium clove garlic, minced
  • fresh Thai (also sold as “bird’s eye”) chile, minced

The salad

  • ounces thin rice noodles (roughly the width of linguine)
  • 3 or 4 napa cabbage leaves, thinly sliced crosswise
  • medium carrot, shredded or cut into matchsticks
  • 1/2 cucumber, halved, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • handful chopped fresh herbs, preferably a combination of basil, cilantro, and mint
  • ounces cooked meat or shrimp, cut or torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
  1. To prepare the dressing, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar, 6 tablespoons of the water, the garlic, and the chile. Whisk well. Taste: if it’s too pungent, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If you’d like more sweetness, add more brown sugar, 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Remember that you’re going to be putting this dressing on unsalted vegetables and noodles: you want the dressing to have a lot of flavor, but it shouldn’t knock you over. Pour into a serving bowl. (Covered and chilled, the dressing will keep for 3 days to a week.)
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the rice noodles, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Immediately drain the noodles into a colander, and rinse them well with cold water. Lay out a clean kitchen towel on the countertop, shake the colander to drain away excess water, and then spread the cooked noodles on the towel to drain further.
  3. Divide the noodles between two or three good-sized bowls, depending on the number of diners, and top with the vegetables, herbs, and meat. Scatter the peanuts on top. Allow each person to spoon on dressing to taste. Toss well, and eat. (Alternatively, you can present this salad family-style: Toss the vegetables, herbs, and noodles in a mixing bowl and then mound them on a serving platter. Arrange the meat over the noodles, and top with peanuts. Each diner can scoop their own portion from the platter and dress it as they see fit.)

 

Un-Chicken Laksa Recipe from food republic

 

chickenlaksaA tart, spicy Southeast Asian chicken noodle soup

Leave it to West Coast guide to the good life, Sunset Magazine, to throw together a chicken laksa soup recipe so good we’d eat it in Southern California all summer.

The spicy Malaysian laksa soup may have a long list of ingredients, but it’s super easy. Malaysian kitchens (in Southeast Asia, in Southern California, and elsewhere) weave Chinese, Indian and Malay culinary strands into a complex cuisine.

2 tablespoons coriander seeds
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
4 cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground tumeric
5 to 8 dried arbol chiles, stemmed
2 lemongrass stalks
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 lb. seitan, cubed
1 teaspoon shrimp paste*
3 large shallots, thinly sliced
1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk
1 quart veggie broth
2 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cinnamon stick
8 ounces mung beans, rinsed
8 ounces wide rice noodles
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, torn into smaller pieces
1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, torn
lime wedges
Sambal oelek chili paste

For the sambal oelek chili paste:

  1. Grind coriander, peppercorns, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, cloves, turmeric and chiles coarsely in a spice grinder; set aside. Peel tough outer layers from lemongrass, then mash core with a meat mallet or small, heavy frying pan.

For the laksa:

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add seitan, shrimp paste, shallots, and reserved ground spices and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, 2 minutes.
  2. Pour in coconut milk, broth, sugar, and salt; add cinnamon stick and lemongrass. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, 20 minutes.
  3. Boil bean sprouts in a large pot of boiling water until softened, 2 minutes. Transfer sprouts to a bowl. Add noodles to pot and cook until firm, 4 minutes. Drain; rinse well.
  4. Divide sprouts and noodles among bowls. Ladle in soup (remove cinnamon and lemongrass) and top with mint and cilantro. Serve with limes and sambal. Servings: 5

*Find shrimp paste in the Asian-foods aisle of a well-stocked grocery store or at an Asian market.

Country Shrimp with Tomato and Okra – Savannah Seasons


2 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces prosciutto — minced
1/2 cupleek — sliced
1/2 cup scallion — minced
4 tablespoons garlic — minced
2 tablespoons thyme — fresh
2 cups okra — small
or if larger cut into 1″ slices
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoonscorn starch
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg — freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds shrimp — peeled and deveined
1/4 cup oregano — fresh and minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups tomatoes — diced juice included

In a large saute pan, warm the oil over high heat. Add the ham and brown well. Add the leek, scallion, 2 tablespoons of the garlic, the thyme, and okra, and saute, stirring, until the okra is bright green, about 4 minutes.

Remove to a large plate and cool.

In the same large skillet over high heat, melt the butter. In a large bowl, stir together the cornstarch, nutmeg, and pepper and toss with the shrimp. Slide the shrimp into the skillet and saute, stirring, until the shrimp are half pink. Add the remaining garlic, the oregano, lemon juice, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat and combine with the cooked okra. Simmer just to reheat the okra.  Serves 6

Recipe Notes

9/24/12–Terry Pogue
This years version: I used bacon lardons instead of the ham, shallot instead of leeks, canned diced Muir Glen Tomatoes. Ground thyme, because I really like the flavor of thyme to pop and the juice from a half a juicy lemon… probably lightly more than called for in the recipe. I served it with steamed brown rice tonight. In the past I’ve also served it with soft polenta.

Linguine with Shrimp Scampi — Ina

  • Vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
  • 3/4 pound linguine
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
  • 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/2 lemon, zest grated
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
  • 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
  • 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.

Chipotle Shrimp With Tomato Corn Salsa

Top Tomato 2012

Barbara Brynelson invented this recipe after coming home from the Rockville farmers market with tomatoes, corn, onions and chili peppers. She also had a bottle of chipotle powder she had been wanting to use. A winner was born.
Because she’s usually pressed for time, Brynelson says, she uses frozen (uncooked) shrimp that has been peeled and deveined; if you prefer, you can buy 24 ounces of shell-on shrimp to peel and clean yourself. She also doesn’t peel or seed the tomatoes but wouldn’t object if you choose to.

If you like your food spicy, go with the jalapeno pepper; if not, you can use a poblano instead. And if you don’t like cilantro, she gives you the option of not adding it.

This can be eaten on its own, served over rice or pasta, or wrapped in a soft tortilla.

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 medium sweet onion, sliced lengthwise into strips (not rings; 1/2 cup)
  • Kernels from 1 or 2 ears of fresh corn (1 cup)
  • 1/2 jalapeno or poblano pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped (see headnote)
  • 3 large Roma tomatoes, chopped (peeled and seeded if desired)
  • Finely grated zest and freshly squeezed juice from 1 lime (1 teaspoon zest and 2 teaspoons juice)
  • 2 large cloves garlic, minced or crushed
  • 1 1/2 cups peeled and deveined raw shrimp (12 ounces, 31 to 40 count), fresh or frozen, defrosted if frozen
  • 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder, preferably Penzeys brand
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves (optional)

Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then add the corn, jalapeno or poblano pepper, the tomatoes and lime juice. Once the mixture starts to bubble, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 4 or 5 minutes, until the tomato has softened. Transfer the mixture to a bowl.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the same saute pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds, then add the shrimp, lime zest and chipotle powder (to taste). Cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are just turning pink and opaque. Return the tomato-corn mixture to the pan or skillet and cook for a few minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through.

4 servings