Category Archives: Recipes

Cellophane Noodle Salad with Roast Pork

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For pork
1 (1-lb) pork tenderloin
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Chinese rice wine or sake
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

For dressing
3/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 cup peanut or vegetable oil**
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1 large fresh jalapeno chile, seeded and minced

For salad
8 oz very thin bean-thread noodles (also known as cellophane, glass, or mung bean noodles)
3/4 lb Chinese long beans (1 bunch) or green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch pieces
1 seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped; about 1 lb), halved lengthwise and sliced diagonally 1/8 inch thick
1 bunch scallions, cut into matchsticks
1 firm-ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
2 thin carrots, cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh small basil leaves

Make pork: Cut pork along the grain into long 1 1/2- to 2-inch-wide strips. Remove and discard any sinew but do not trim fat. Transfer pork to a large sealable plastic bag. Stir together remaining pork ingredients in a small bowl until combined well. Add to pork and turn to coat, then squeeze bag to eliminate as much air as possible and seal. Marinate pork, chilled, at least 4 hours but no longer than 24.

Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 375°F. Put 1/2 inch water in a 13- by 9-inch roasting pan and place a metal rack across top of pan (rack should not touch water).

Remove pork from marinade, reserving marinade, and arrange pork strips 1 inch apart on rack. Roast in oven 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring marinade to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan, then boil 1 minute (marinade may look curdled). Remove from heat.

Brush both sides of pork with some marinade and roast 10 minutes more. Generously brush both sides of pork with marinade again and roast, basting 2 or 3 times, 10 minutes more.

Increase oven temperature to 400°F and roast pork until strips are mahogany-colored and caramelized on edges, 10 to 15 minutes more (pork should roast for a total of about 50 minutes). Transfer to a cutting board and let stand, loosely covered with foil, 10 minutes.

Make dressing while pork roasts: Blend together all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth. Stir before using.

Cook noodles and beans for salad while pork finishes roasting: Soak noodles in cold water to cover until pliable, about 15 minutes, then drain in a colander. Cut noodles in half with kitchen shears.

Cook beans in a 5- to 6-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer with a skimmer or slotted spoon to a large bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, reserving cooking liquid in pot. Drain beans and pat dry.

Return bean-cooking liquid to a boil, then cook noodles, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 2 minutes. Drain noodles in colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Drain noodles again, then spread out on paper towels and pat dry.

Assemble salad: Cut as much pork as desired for salad across the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices.*** Toss noodles with 1/4 cup dressing in a bowl. Toss long beans with 2 tablespoons dressing in another bowl. Arrange pork, noodles, beans, and remaining salad ingredients on a large platter. Drizzle with some of dressing and serve remaining dressing on the side.

Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Sauce

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  • 1 whole Pork Tenderloin, Trimmed Of Fat
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, Divided
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter, Divided
  • ½ whole Medium Onion
  • ½ cups Red Wine (optional)
  • ¾ cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
  • ½ cups (generous) Cranberry Sauce (homemade Or Canned Is Fine!)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Generously season pork tenderloin with salt and pepper.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a heavy, oven-proof skillet over high heat. Sear tenderloin on all sides, using tongs to move it around. Remove pan from heat and place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until thermometer inserted registers 155 to 160 degrees. Set pork on a cutting board to rest.

In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook for a minute, then pour in wine (if using) and chicken broth. Add rosemary. Stir together, then add cranberry sauce. Heat mixture over medium heat and cook for two or three minutes. Add more chicken broth to achieve desired consistency.

Check seasoning and add more salt or pepper if needed.

Slice pork loin and place on a platter. Spoon cranberry sauce over the top.

Meatball Subs with Caramelized Onions and Gruyere

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Meatballs
The baguettes or seeded sandwich rolls you’ll use for your sandwiches
2 pound ground meat of your choice (I used pork but have in the past used beef, veal, chicken, turkey or a blend thereof)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of red pepper flakes
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
Olive oil
4 cups prepared tomato sauce (plus extra if you like a lot of extra sauce)

Caramelized onions
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt

Assembly
2 cups coarsely shredded Gruyère

Make the meatballs: Split your rolls almost the whole way through, leaving one side attached. Scoop out some of the roll to create a channel for the meatballs to rest in. Grind the bread you pulled out in a food processor or tear it into minuscule bits. You will need 1 1/3 cups or 2 3/4 ounces of fresh breadcrumbs for the meatballs. If you’re not making subs, you can get this same amount of breadcrumbs from 2 to 3 sandwich bread slices. Set rolls aside until later.

Place the fresh breadcrumbs in a large bowl with 3/4 cup warm water and all of the meatball ingredients except for the olive oil and tomato sauce. Combine with a fork, breaking up clumps of meat until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Form mixture into 2-inch meatballs are arrange on a tray. I find wet hands make it easier to form meatballs without them sticking too much.

Heat a generous slick of oil (few tablespoons) in a large saute pan with a lid. Brown meatballs in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan or nudge them before they are nicely browned or they will stick and you’ll leave delicious meatball bits in the pan. These meatballs are soft, so use a gentle hand. Transfer meatballs to a paper towel-lined tray and continue until they are all browned.

Discard the oil and heat your tomato sauce in the pan. Add the meatballs, cover the pan and simmer them on the lowest heat possible for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.

Caramelize onions: While the meatballs are simmering, you can cook the onions. Heat the olive oil and butter in a heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion, sprinkle with salt and a little pepper and cook until they’re tender, sweet, and a deep golden brown, stirring occasionally. This takes me about 30 minutes.

Assemble subs: Arrange meatballs with sauce in the hollowed-out roll(s). Drape caramelized onions over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Place subs under a broiler or in an oven at top heat to melt the cheese.

Miso Carrot Ginger Dressing

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1/4 cup peanut or neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoons white miso, sold at Asian markets and specialty stores
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into big pieces
1 inch-long piece fresh ginger, peeled and cut into coins
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

  1. Put all ingredients except salt and pepper into food processor and pulse a few times to mince carrots. Then let machine run for a minute or so until mixture is chunky-smooth.
  2. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to several days.

Chinese Marinated Pork Ribs

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  • 1 kilo (2.2 pounds) pork ribs, organic and/or from a provider you trust
  • 4 tbsp. hoisin sauce
  • 4 tbsp. oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp. rice wine (Mingou recommends Shao Hsing Hua Tiao Chiew; I used a Japanese cooking sake)
  • a thumb-sized knob of fresh ginger
  • 3 scallions
  • 2 tbsp. runny honey

Start marinating the meat the day before. Cut the ribs in about 6 equal pieces. In a medium bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and rice wine. Add the meat and turn the pieces to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge.

The next day, remove the meat from the fridge about an hour before baking, and preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F).

Transfer the meat and marinade to a baking dish large enough to accommodate the meat in a single layer. Slice the ginger in thin slices (scrub it first, but don’t bother peeling it), mince the scallions, and add to the dish. Cover the dish loosely with foil.

Insert the dish in the oven and bake for 2 hours, turning the meat regularly and basting it with its juices. Remove the foil after the first hour, turning the meat more frequently for even browning.

Brush the meat with the honey and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.

Slice the meat between each bone, and serve over steamed rice (I generally make 120ml or 1/2 cup uncooked rice per person), with a cucumber salad.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Black Beans and Chili Dressing

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  • 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 large onion, preferably red, chopped
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons minced fresh hot chili, like jalapeño
  • 1 clove garlic, peeled
  • Juice of 2 limes
  • 2 cups cooked black beans, drained (canned are fine)
  • 1 red or yellow bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put sweet potatoes and onions on a large baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil, toss to coat and spread out in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, turning occasionally, until potatoes begin to brown on corners and are just tender inside, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven; keep on pan until ready to mix with dressing.

2. Put chilies in a blender or mini food processor along with garlic, lime juice, remaining olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Process until blended.

3. Put warm vegetables in a large bowl with beans and bell pepper; toss with dressing and cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to a day.

Potato Skins

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  • 4 Idaho baking potatoes
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, diced
  • 6 ounces cheddar cheese
  • 1 bunch scallions
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Hot sauce, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Rub the potatoes lightly with olive oil and bake them on a foil-lined baking sheet until their skins are crisp and a fork easily slides into their flesh, about 1 hour. Transfer the potatoes to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes.

2. While the potatoes are cooking, assemble the toppings. Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, then transfer to a small bowl. Reserve the bacon fat. Grate the cheese into a small bowl; you should have about 2 cups. Trim and thinly slice the scallions. (Feeling frisky? Caramelize some onions. Shred some ham or grate some Gruyère.)

3. Using an oven mitt or a folded kitchen towel to handle the hot potatoes, cut each into quarters lengthwise to create four wedges. Using a small spoon, scoop the flesh from each wedge, leaving 1⁄4 inch or more of the flesh. (Save the scooped potatoes for another use, like potato pancakes or soup.)

4. Set the oven to broil. Return the wedges to the foil-lined baking sheet. Paint a bit of bacon fat on each, then top with cheese and bacon. Place under the broiler until the cheese is bubbling. Place the skins on a serving plate. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon a teaspoon or so of sour cream on each and scatter the scallions over the plate. Serve with hot sauce.

Stir-Fried Spiced Red Cabbage with Apples

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  • 8 oz. red cabbage
  • 1 medium Cox’s apple, cored but not peeled
  •  1 oz (25 g) butter
  •  2 teaspoons oil
  •  1 small onion, chopped
  •  2 cloves garlic, chopped
  •  ¼ level teaspoon ground cloves
  •  ¼ level teaspoon ground cinnamon
  •  a few gratings of whole nutmeg
  •  1 level teaspoon brown sugar
  •  1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  •  salt and freshly milled black pepper

First you need to shred the cabbage quite finely into ¼ inch (5 mm) shreds, discarding any tough stalky bits (including the root). Chop the apple quite small too but leave the skin on (it improves the flavour).

Now in the large, heavy-based frying pan melt the butter and oil over a medium heat, then stir in the onion and cook it for 2-3 minutes before adding the apple and garlic. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, then turn the heat up to high, add the cabbage and stir-fry it by keeping it on the move with a wooden spoon, so that it all comes into contact with the heat at the base of the pan.

After 5 minutes or so it should have shrunk a bit, so at this point sprinkle in the spices and a seasoning of salt and pepper, then turn the heat down and let it go on cooking for a further 10 minutes, stirring it once or twice during that time.

Bite a piece to see if it’s tender and when it’s ready, turn the heat up again, sprinkle in the sugar and vinegar. Stir everything thoroughly, then serve.

Ricotta

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Makes about 1 generous cup of ricotta

  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Pour the milk, cream and salt into a 3-quart nonreactive saucepan. Attach a candy or deep-fry thermometer. Heat the milk to 190°F, stirring it occasionally to keep it from scorching on the bottom. Remove from heat and add the lemon juice, then stir it once or twice, gently and slowly. Let the pot sit undisturbed for 5 minutes.

Line a colander with a few layers of cheesecloth and place it over a large bowl (to catch the whey). Pour the curds and whey into the colander and let the curds strain for at least an hour. At an hour, you’ll have a tender, spreadable ricotta. At two hours, it will be spreadable but a bit firmer, almost like cream cheese. (It will firm as it cools, so do not judge its final texture by what you have in your cheesecloth.) Discard the whey, or, if you’re one of those crafty people who use it for other things, of course, save it. Eat the ricotta right away or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Tomato Confites

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  • ripe roma tomatoes (or similar variety, firm with little juice)
  • fine sea salt, freshly ground pepper
  • chili pepper, ground or in flakes (optional)
  • dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano… (optional)
  • olive oil

Preheat your oven to 210°F.

Halve the tomatoes, and run your thumb in the cavities to remove the juice and seeds (save and filter the tomato water for drinking). Roma tomatoes have a very thin stem that you can leave in, but if the tomatoes you’re using have a tougher stem, carve it out.

Place the tomato halves, cut side up, on a well oiled baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper, ground chili pepper, and dried herbs if using. Drizzle with olive oil.

Put into the oven to bake, keeping an eye on them, for 2 to 3 hours depending on the variety and the desired consistency. Use warm or cold in pasta, salads, sandwiches, spreads, etc.

To freeze without clumping, arrange the tomatoes in a single layer on a clean baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and place the baking sheet in the freezer. After a couple of hours, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container. (Save the parchment paper for another use.)