WGBH - Rice and Grains RSS

Ma Po Tofu-Zucchini by Ming Tsai

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:33 PM +0000

Today I'm using two of the easiest east-west ingredients to work with—and they work really well together: Tofu and zucchini. I grew up eating tofu in stir fries and salads and discovered it truly is nature's vegetarian meat. Zucchini requires very little prep and it's almost as versatile as tofu. You'll see what I mean in today's recipe.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 medium yellow onion, 1/4-inch dice
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 large red jalapeno, minced
1 tablespoon sambal
1 bunch scallions sliced thinly, white and green separated
1 medium zucchini, 1/2-inch dice
2 packages silken tofu, 1/2-inch dice
1 pound dark meat ground chicken
1 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Canola oil to cook
House rice (brown/white rice combo)

Directions
In a hot wok coated with oil over high heat, stir-fry the chicken, season and cook through. Remove chicken to a plate. Add more oil and stir-fry the onion, ginger, jalapeno, sambal and scallion whites for 2 minutes. Add zucchini, season, and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

Add the tofu, gently stirring/flipping, taking care not to break up the pieces, then add chicken and naturally brewed soy sauce. Serve family style with house rice, garnish with scallion greens.

Drink pairing
Qupe Chardonnay 2006 "Bien Nacido - Y Block" Qupe Chardonnay

-- from Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California

Taste: From a cool vintage, therefore flavor is leaning more towards citrus and minerality. Feels firm in the mouth

Aroma: Honey and toasted oak with a slight bit of earthiness

—grapes are whole cluster pressed
—aged in French oak

Dad's Chicken And Rice
By Annie Copps

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:28 PM +0000

In addition to being a bona fide rocket scientist, my dad is a great cook (and a great dad). He's tackled everything from baklava to tempura to grilled oysters to making waffles with his grandchildren. This is my favorite from his considerable repertoire. I never wanted to learn how to make it myself, because it was always his dish. Now I make it when I miss him or if I have to feed a crowd.

Preparation Time: 45 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 105 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
1 cup olive oil (approximately), divided
2 small onions, diced
¾ cup flour
3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 jalapeno peppers, minced
2 14.5-ounce cans chicken broth
1 green pepper
3-1/2 cups rice (approximately)
3 small tomatoes, cut into 8 wedges each

Directions
In a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot (cast iron works well) over medium heat, add 1/4 cup olive oil and cook onions until softened. Remove onions from pan and reserve.

Place flour and chicken in a large paper bag and shake gently to coat chicken with flour. Raise heat to medium-high. Shake excess flour from chicken, and cook in pot in batches, adding more oil as needed (it may get quite dark, and that's okay), until well browned on all sides. Then remove chicken to a plate. Stir in jalapenos and cook 1 minute.

Add reserved cooked onions and chicken back to pot. Add chicken broth, saving one empty can. Add 2 cans worth of water. Bring to a boil; then lower to a simmer. Cover and cook 25 minutes.

Slice top and bottom off green pepper. Carefully run a knife in a circular motion around the inside to remove white membrane and seeds (be careful not to puncture the pepper). Slice into thin rounds.

Add rice to pot, stirring well.

Cover and cook 10 minutes. Layer pepper slices in a decorative pattern over mixture in pot, and top with tomatoes. Cover and cook 10 minutes more.

Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes before serving.

(Courtesy: Yankee Magazine)

___________________________________________________________

Annie B. Copps is a senior editor at Yankee Magazine. Annie oversees the magazine's food coverage, both as an editor and as a contributor of feature stories and columns.

Bacon-Cilantro Fried Rice
By Ming Tsai

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:48 PM +0000

This great East-West combination is my favorite: Bacon-cilantro fried rice. There are two keys to a great fried rice: Dried rice (left over from the day before and super fluffy eggs. The secret to fluffy eggs? Hot oil. Here's the dish.

Ingredients
4 eggs
8 slices of bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 bunch scallions sliced thinly, separate white and green
8 cups cooked jasmin rice, day old
1 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Canola oil for cooking

Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs together until well-combined. In a large sauté pan over high heat coated with 1/4-inch of oil, gently lower the eggs in and season. Eggs will puff up and cook through very quickly; transfer eggs and oil to a paper towel-lined plate.

In the same pan, cook the bacon. When bacon is almost fully cooked, add the garlic, ginger and scallion whites and stir-fry for 1 minute, until softened and fragrant.

Add the rice, naturally brewed soy sauce and eggs and stir to heat through and break up the eggs. Check for flavor and season if necessary.

Toss in the cilantro and scallions greens and serve.

Rice & Lentils by Lidia Bastianich

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:42 PM +0000

Riso e Lenticchie

Serves 8 or more as a first course or soup

Ingredients
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut in pieces
1 cup onion cut in 1-inch chunks
1 cup carrot cut in 1-inch chunks
1 cup celery cut in 1-inch chunks
6 fresh sage leaves
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup dry white wine
8 to 10 cups hot water
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 ½ cups lentils, rinsed and picked over
1 ½ cups Italian short-grain rice, such as Arborio, Carnaroli, or Vialone Nano
1 cup chopped scallions
½ cup grated Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for passing

Directions
Drop the pancetta or bacon pieces into the food-processor bowl, and pulse several times, to chop the meat into small bits. Scrape all the chopped pancetta right into the heavy saucepan. Put the onion, carrot, and celery chunks and the sage leaves into the empty food-processor bowl, and mince together into a fine-textured pestata.

Put the butter and olive oil into the saucepan with the minced pancetta, and set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, as the butter melts and the fat starts to render. When the pancetta is sizzling, scrape in the vegetable pestata, and stir it around the pan until it has dried and begins to stick, 4 minutes or so. Clear a space on the pan bottom, and drop in the tomato paste, toast it in the hot spot for a minute, then stir together with the pestata.

Raise the heat, pour in the white wine, and cook, stirring, until the wine has almost completely evaporated. Pour in 8 cups of hot water and the tablespoon salt, stir well, and heat to the boil. (Add all 10 cups of hot water if you want to serve the rice and lentils as a thick soup rather than a denser riso.)

Cover the pan, and reduce the heat slightly, to keep the water at a moderate boil, and let it bubble for 20 minutes or so, to develop the flavors.

Stir in the lentils, return to a gentle boil, and cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the lentils just start to soften, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the rice, return to a bubbling simmer, and cook, cover ajar, until the rice is al dente, 13 minutes or so. If the dish is thickening more than you like, lower the heat and cover the pan completely. If it seems too thin and wet, remove the cover and cook at a faster boil. When the rice and lentils are fully cooked, turn off the heat. Stir in the scallions and grated cheese.

Serve in warm bowls, passing more cheese at the table.

Asian Ratatouille with Couscous By Ming Tsai

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:24 PM +0000

Hopefully you've already seen Ratatouille, a fantastic movie that my kids love. Ratatouille is a traditional country dish made of healthy vegetables that originated in Nice, France. Here's an Eastern spin on this French classic.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
1 small red onion, 1/4-inch dice
1 Japanese eggplant, 1/2- inch dice, skin on
1 red bell pepper, 1/2-inch dice
1 large heirloom tomato, 1/2-inch dice
2 cups (12 ounces) whole wheat instant couscous
2 tablespoon Wanjashan wheat-free organic tamari
3 cups water, boiling
12-15 Thai basil leaves, ripped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a non-stick saute pan over medium-high heat coated lightly with extra virgin olive oil add onion and eggplant and season and cook until soft, about 3 minutes.

Add bell peppers and saute until slightly softened, then add tomato, stir and season.

Meanwhile, make couscous: in a large, heat-proof bowl, combine couscous, tamari and 2 tablespoons olive oil and season. Pour boiling water over and stir quickly to blend and immediately cover bowl with plastic wrap, sealing tightly.

Allow to steam until couscous is tender, about 5-7 minutes. Fluff couscous with the back of a fork and stir in Thai basil ribbons.

Check flavor and season if necessary. To serve, using a ring mold or similar, plate couscous in mold on plate and layer ratatouille on top.

Unmold and drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil and garnish with Thai basil sprig, if desired.

__________________________________________________________
Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming and chef/owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, Mass.

Bacon-Pineapple Fried Orzo
By Ming Tsai

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:34 AM +0000

Ingredients
5 slices of bacon
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/2 cup sliced scallions, some greens reserved for garnish
1 cup 1/4-inch dice pineapple
5 cups cooked orzo
3 tablespoons Wanjashan organic ponzu
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Canola oil

Directions
In large saute pan or wok over medium-high heat, cook bacon until crisp and remove to a paper towel-lined plate. When cooled, crumble. Drain bacon fat, wipe pan clean and lightly coat with canola oil. Over medium heat, saute garlic, ginger, scallions and pineapple. Add orzo, ponzu and crumbled bacon. Toss to combine and heat through. Check flavoring and season. Serve family style, garnished with scallion greens.

Shrimp Scampi By Ming Tsai

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:18 AM +0000

If you think about the term "shrimp scampi," you may assume that "scampi" is the technique by which shrimp is prepared, but in actuality scampi is plural for scampo, the term for shrimp in Italian. In this recipe I give you my shrimp scampi, or shrimp-shrimp, with an east-west twist.

Ingredients
1 pound pappardelle
1 tablespoon minced lemongrass (white part only)
4 shallots, sliced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
12 large shrimp, U-15, peeled, deveined
Juice of 3 lemons
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 tablespoons butter
Canola or grapeseed oil for cooking
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Fill a stockpot 1/3 full with water and bring to a boil over high heat. When boiling, add salt. Add pappardelle and cook until al dente.

Drain pappardelle and set aside. In same stockpot over medium heat, coat lightly with oil and sautê the lemongrass, shallots and garlic for 1 minute, then season.

Add the shrimp and sautê until cooked through, about 3-5 minutes. Add lemon juice, fish sauce and pasta and toss to combine. Check for flavor and season, if necessary. Add the shrimp and sautê until cooked through, about 3-5 minutes. Add lemon juice, fish sauce and pasta and toss Add butter, toss to melt, taste and serve.

Curried Butternut Squash
By Annie Copps

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:25 PM +0000

Squash is everywhere this time of year, but what to do with it? First the good news. Squash lasts a long time, so no rush to figure it out. Second, more good news, gourds are super versatile, delicious, and packed with all kinds of vitamins.

From soup to dessert, there are any number of delicious things to do with all kinds of squash and here in New England, we have dozens of varietals. One of my favorites is butternut squash and one of the ways I like to prepare it is as a curry. And like many seasonal recipes, this one makes for a quick yet deeply satisfying vegetarian (and vegan if you like) meal.

Cut the squash into small pieces and simmer it with onions, cumin, ginger, curry, and a bayleaf until it is soft and flavorful. Add some rice and stir in raisin, pistachio nuts, and a chopped orange and you have dinner on the table in no time.

Total time: 45 minutes
Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 small butternut squash, peeled, deseeded, and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 small onion, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 bay leaf
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
3 cups cooked rice
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup toasted pistachios or pinenuts
1 orange, peeled and roughly chopped
Garnish: 1 tablespoon chopped scallions or chives

Directions
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, sauté butternut squash and onion in oil until slightly softened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add spices and bay leaf, stir well, and cook about 2 minutes longer, stirring ingredients a few times (spices will become very fragrant). Add stock and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer, cover pan, and cook 8 to 10 minutes.

Chicken Salad with Apple, Quinoa, Fennel, and Pinenuts
By Annie Copps

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:00 PM +0000

Quinoa has been around for centuries, but this super food from Peru is my latest favorite.

Back in the days when the Incans ruled, one of their staple dishes was the dried seed, quinoa. Yes it’s a seed, thus giving it crazy nutritional benefits, but you cook it like a grain.

I have been eating it for breakfast with a poached egg on top or in a quick salad which you could vary in any number of ways, but I like to add crunchy things to it, such as thinly sliced fennel, apples and pine nuts. Add a bit of leftover roasted chicken and that is yet another quick, easy and healthy meal that is not the same old, same old.

Works as a salad on its own or filling for a wrap sandwich. This is very filling, but crunchy and light. The apple and fennel are great crunchy companions.

Ingredients
5 scallions, white and green parts, finely chopped
1 small fennel bulb, core removed and very thinly sliced
1 granny smith or other firm tart apple, peeled and cored, thinly sliced
2 cups cooked quinoa (wheatberries, farro, or brown rice)
Meat from 1 whole roasted chicken, roughly chopped, about 3 pounds
1 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup flat leaf parsley leaves
kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients and toss well to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Yield: 8 servings.

_________________________________________________________
Annie B. Copps is a senior editor at Yankee Magazine. Annie oversees the magazine's food coverage, both as an editor and as a contributor of feature stories and columns.

Best Ever Lamb Tacos with Chile-Tzatziki
By Ming Tsai

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:41 PM +0000

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Who doesn't love tacos? Beef, chicken, tuna, duck, even veggie. For today's Daily Dish I want to share a recipe for tacos. But with a Greek twist!

Ingredients
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 red onion, minced
1 minced jalapeno
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pound ground lamb
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
6 mint leaves, fine ribbon
1 cup 1/4-inch diced cucumbers
1/2 head iceberg, finely shredded
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 package small corn tortillas, heated up on grill
extra virgin olive oil for cooking

Directions
In a large skillet or saute pan coated lightly with oil, sautee the garlic, onion, jalapeno and cumin until lightly caramelized.

Add in the lamb, season and cook through, about 5 minutes.

Fold in lemon juice and check for flavor.

Meanwhile, mix the sriracha, yogurt, mint, cukes and lemon zest, season.

Warm tortillas, make tacos.
__________________________________________________________
Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming and chef/owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, Mass.

Coconut-Cranberry Chicken Curry
By Ming Tsai

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:43 PM +0000

What happens when you take coconut milk from the East and combine it cranberries from the west? Well, you get today's dish: a quick Coconut-Cranberry Chicken Curry that introduces India to Cape Cod.

Ingredients
6-8 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in, seasoned for 10 minutes before cooking
2 red onions, sliced
2 sweet potatoes, peeled, 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 heaping tablespoon minced jalapeno
heaping 1/2 cup Craisins
2 tablespoon Madras curry powder
1 13.5 ounce can of coconut milk
1 cup water
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Steamed Brown Rice

Directions
In a cast iron skillet or stockpot coated very lightly with oil on medium-high heat, sear the chicken, skin-side down, and completely render the fat.

Flip and brown meat-side. Remove chicken. Wipe out excess fat and saute the onions, potatoes, ginger, jalapeno, Craisins and curry powder and season. Add coconut milk and water, check for seasoning, then add chicken back. Bring to a simmer and cook chicken through, about 45 minutes. Serve family style on rice.

Beverage pairing
Jean-Luc Colombo La Violette Viognier From Pays d'Oc, Southern France. The aroma is intensely violet, which is where it gets its name, with nuances of licorice, lychee, apricot and peach. Well-structured, finishes with elegance and opulent fruit. 100% Viognier

________________________________________________________________
Chef Ming Tsai is a local restaurateur and host of Simply Ming.

Creamy Risotto with Baby Shrimp and Bok Choy
By Ming Tsai

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:29 PM +0000

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 minced shallots
2 tablespoons minced lemongrass
2 cups koshi hikari or similar sushi rice (or Arborio rice)
1 cup white wine
2-3 cups chicken stock, hot
1 pound baby Contessa shrimp
3 heads baby bok choy, shredded
4 tablespoons room temperature cream cheese
Minced chives, for garnish
Olive oil to cook
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Coat a skillet over medium heat lightly with olive oil and saute the garlic, shallots, and lemongrass for about 2 minutes. Add the rice, stir to coat with oil and season. Deglaze with white wine and reduce by 75%. Slowly add stock a ladle at a time, stirring rice until each ladle of liquid is absorbed. When just beyond al dente, add the shrimp and bok choy to heat through. Add cream cheese to melt, check again for flavor and garnish with chives. Serve.

________________________________________________________________
Chef Ming Tsai is a local restaurateur and host of Simply Ming.

Farro Salad By Annie Copps

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:13 PM +0000

The key to this hearty salad is the ancient Italian grain farro. You could substitute with brown rice, spelt, or even barley, but farro is pretty easy to find and it is more flavorful. Now that I know about it, I cook up a batch and add it to salads all the time.

Ingredients
3 cups cooked farro (substitute with barley or spelt)
4 to 5 sun- or oven-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
6 to 8 basil leaves, roughly chopped
2 to 3 scallions, finely chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon red-wine or balsamic vinegar

Directions
In a medium bowl or zip-top bag, combine ingredients until well mixed.

___________________________________________________________
Annie B. Copps is a senior editor at Yankee Magazine. Annie oversees the magazine's food coverage, both as an editor and as a contributor of feature stories and columns.

Soy-Braised Short Ribs
By Ming Tsai

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:13 PM +0000

Who doesn't loooove ribs? Today east meets west — and goes south — with my Soy-Braised Short Ribs, a hearty main dish that is a great one-pot meal you can make either in your slow cooker or on your stovetop. I guarantee these ribs will be fall-off-the-bone delicious and will wow your barbecue guests with the flavor of kechap manis.

Serves 4

Ingredients
6 2×3 short ribs (about 4x3x2)
2 tablespoons coarse ground black pepper
Coarse ground sea salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 large carrots, peeled, roll cut
4 stalks celery, roll cut
2 yellow onions, 1 inch dice
5 slices of ginger
2 cups red wine
1 cup kechap manis
Water to cover
Rehydrated rice stick noodles, to serve
Canola oil to cook
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
Place a stovetop-safe slow cooker insert over medium-high heat, coated lightly with oil. In a pie plate, combine pepper and flour. Season ribs well and coat with flour. Place short ribs in oil and sear until browned on both sides, about 12-15 minutes. Remove short ribs to a plate and wipe out pan. Add just enough oil to lightly coat and add carrots, celery, onions, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper and sweat until just softened. Deglaze with wine and allow to reduce by 25%. Add kechap manis and short ribs and pour in just enough water to almost cover. Check for flavor and season if necessary. Cook on high setting in slow cooker for 4-5 hours. Serve hot with rice stick noodles.

Ming’s wine suggestion
2004 Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia

Flavor: Spicy, dark berry with nuances of dark plum
Aroma: Deeply aromatic, with notes of mulberry followed by black and red berry fruits
Finish: Soft tannins

—Aged in French and American oak
—Made up of grapes from 3 separate locations, each yielding slightly different aromas and flavor profiles, resulting in a complex, multifaceted wine. This is a great match with the Soy-Braised Short Ribs.

________________________________________________________________

Chef Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming. Each week, Simply Ming brings mouthwatering recipes inspired by the combination of East and West into homes across the nation.

Pesto Alla Anna
By Lidia Bastianich

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:58 PM +0000

You're hungry! You just don’t feel like cooking — but you love pasta, right? Although the pasta in this recipe does have to be cooked, the pesto sauce does not!

Most of you know the traditional basil pesto: a paste of basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, salt, and garlic. Make it in the blender, and voilà! The pesto is ready! But don’t stop there. That’s not enough. Let me give you another one of my favorites — pesto alla anna — which I recently learned about in Sicily and featured in my cookbook, Lidia’s Italy.

Ingredients
About ¾ pound sweet cherry tomatoes
12 fresh basil leaves
2 plump peeled garlic cloves
1/3 cup of whole toasted almonds
A pinch of salt
A pinch of peperoncino
Half a cup or more of extra virgin oil

Directions
In a blender, drop in all ingredients.
Blend until it’s nice and smooth.
Toss this fresh and delicious pesto with cooked and drained spaghetti.
While still hot, add some pasta cooking water if it’s too dry and finish with grated cheese.

Buon appetito!
___________________________________________________________
Lidia Matticchio Bastianich was born in Pola, Istria, on the northeastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. She is a cookbook author, restaurateur, and TV chef extraordinaire. Watch Lidia’s Italy Saturdays at 1:30pm on WGBH 2 or Sundays at 4pm on WGBH 44.

Thai Curried Clams and Chorizo
By Ming Tsai

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:40 PM +0000

Not only do I look to the East and the West for sources of inspiration, I also look to the past for great ingredients about which we may have forgotten…like buttermilk, which used to be a staple in American kitchens. It’s not only a lighter alternative to cream, but also to Asian coconut milk, as I’ll show you today with my Thai Curried Clams and Chorizo. It’s a great one-pot-meal that features a clams and sausage combo that’s well-loved in both the East and West.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups 1/4-inch-dice chorizo or 1/4 pound ground sausage
2 large leeks, white part julienned
2 pounds cockles or small littleneck clams, purged overnight in water/cornmeal/pinch of salt solution
3 tablespoons red Thai curry paste
1 cup white wine
1/2 cup buttermilk
Juice of 2 limes
2 cups cooked orzo
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Canola oil

Directions
In a stock pot coated lightly with oil over medium-high heat, add chorizo, leeks, cockles (discard any open cockles), and curry paste, and sauté about 2 minutes, then season. Deglaze with wine and cover; cook for 6-8 minutes. Add buttermilk, lime juice, and orzo, stir to combine and check for seasoning. Serve, discarding any unopened cockles.

Drink recommendation
Chateau Villa Bel-Air Blanc, Bordeaux, France

Taste: Rich and complex with white fruit and caramel flavors.
Aroma: Honey mixed with smoky notes
60% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon

__________________________________________________________
Chef Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming. Each week, Simply Ming brings mouthwatering recipes inspired by the combination of East and West into homes across the nation.

Soba Noodle-Shrimp Pancakes By Ming Tsai

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:37 PM +0000

You may think that pasta is only as flavorful as its sauce, but that would mean you haven’t tried Japanese soba noodles. Made of buckwheat, they have an earthy, nutty flavor that evokes the countryside, which is why I’ve paired them with an Italian ingredient that has the same effect, pancetta. And this east-west pair is going to be the platform for today’s all in one dish: my Soba Noodle Shrimp Pancakes.

Serves 4

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 pound shrimp
1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus some leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons yuzu or fresh lemon juice
1 cup diced, rendered pancetta, cooled
2 cups blanched soba noodles (leave a pinhole of rawness in center)
Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)
Canola oil for frying
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a food processor fitted with blade, add the eggs and shrimp and pulse until chopped into a chunky mousse. Season with salt and pepper. Have soba noodles in a large bowl and pour mousse over noodles. Fold in parsley, yuzu and pancetta. Check flavor by cooking a small portion and season if necessary. Spread noodle pancake mixture in an even layer in a sauté pan over high heat coated with oil. Shallow fry pancakes until golden, brown and delicious, both sides, about 6 minutes. Cut into wedges and garnish with parsley.

Drink pairings
Sapporo Beer
—From Japan

A lager, quite refreshing with a moderately light body. Pairs very nicely with the Soba Noodle-Shrimp Pancakes.

Jean Luc Colombo Rose
—Provence, France
Taste: Surprisingly complex, with intriguing notes of raspberry, cherry and black olive
Aroma: Subtle hints of peach, rose petals and pepper on the nose

Colombo is hailed as “the winemaking wizard of the Rhone” for introducing innovative methods in his vineyards and throughout the production process while making well-regarded, original wines. He believes good wine relies on 3 key elements: terroir, human endeavor and modern winemaking techniques.

—Enjoy on its own or with a wide range of appetizers, fish, poultry dishes and vegetarian fare. This wines pairs equally well with Michel Richard’s Beet Soba Bolognese and Ming’s Soba Noodle Carbonara.

—40% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre, 20% Counoise

__________________________________________________________
Chef Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming. Each week, Simply Ming brings mouthwatering recipes inspired by the combination of East and West into homes across the nation.

Miso Butter Pork Udon Noodles
By Ming Tsai

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:23 PM +0000

One of the most satisfying meals I’ve ever had was a big bowl of Japanese udon noodles topped with—are you ready for this—miso butter. Yes, a combination of Japan’s traditional miso paste blended with our own very western butter. It’s a rich, savory marriage made in heaven—or nirvana—and today I’m am going to show you how to make it.

So without further ado, Miso-Butter Pork Udon Noodles, an all-in-one noodle dish that enhances one of my favorite duos, pork and apples. Let’s get cooking.

Serves 4

Ingredients
3 shallots, minced
1 pound ground naturally fed pork
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced, white and green separated
1/2 cup mirin
2 quarts chicken stock
1 apple, skin on, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons shiro miso
1 pound fresh ramen noodles, blanched
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a stockpot coated lightly with oil over medium high heat, saute shallots and pork. When pork is cooked through, add scallion whites and deglaze with mirin. Add chicken stock. Add apples and check for flavor. When simmering, whisk in miso over a strainer and check for flavor. Add ramen noodles and heat through. To serve, divide noodles and broth amongst 4 soup bowls and top each serving with scallion greens and pat of butter. Serve immediately.

__________________________________________________________
Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming and chef/owner of Blue Ginger restaurant in Wellesley, Mass.

Homemade Granola
By Annie Copps

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:00 PM +0000

Monday through Friday, I eat breakfast on the go—usually a cup of coffee and a bowl of yogurt with granola. Store bought granola can have some hidden ingredients, too much salt, and sugar as well as extra calories that may not be the best way for you to start the day.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Start to Finish Time: 1.5 hours
Yield: about 5 cups

Ingredients
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup whole almonds
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 cup raisins or chopped dried cherries

Directions
Heat oven to 250.° In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except raisins (or cherries); make sure oats, almonds, and coconut are well coated with sugar, syrup, and oil. Spread out on one large baking sheet (or two small sheets). Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes for even browning.

Remove the sheet from the oven and let cool on wire racks. Scoop or pour granola into a large bowl, add raisins or cherries, and mix well. Store in well-sealed containers at room temperature up to two weeks.

(Courtesy: Yankee Magazine)
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Annie B. Copps is a senior editor at Yankee Magazine. Annie oversees the magazine's food coverage, both as an editor and as a contributor of feature stories and columns.

Wok Stirred Maitakes with Blood Oranges
By Ming Tsai

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:03 PM +0000

One of the things I love best about cooking is beating the bushes for hidden treasures—ingredients that are unfamiliar or underutilized. Today I bring you two terrific ingredients that are now readily available in supermarkets across country, but you may not know how to use them: Maitake mushrooms and blood oranges. They go beautifully together in my Wok Stirred Maitakes with Blood Oranges- an all in one veggie dish you can use as an entr&3234;e or a side dish. Let’s get cooking.

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 large head of white Maitake mushroom, florets broken off and stem julienned
2 tablespoons oyster sauce (can be vegetarian oyster sauce too)
5 blood oranges, segmented, 2 zested first, juice from supreming reserved
Chopped chives for garnish
House rice for serving (white/brown combo)
Canola oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions
In a wok over medium-high heat lightly coated with oil, add garlic and ginger and saute. Add maitake stems and saute, adding florets a few moments after. Add oyster sauce and saute until cooked down. Add zest and deglaze with juice and orange segments. Check for flavor and season, if necessary. Serve on steamed house rice and garnish with chopped chives.

Drink pairings
Mas de la Dame Rose du Mas 2007
—Provence, France

Taste: Subtle flavors of fresh berries and fennel with a flowery finish
Aroma: Fresh strawberries, peaches and roses

—Pairs nicely with barbecue, pesto pasta, salads, fish and grilled meat.
—50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cinsault
—Certified organic (Agriculture Biologique) by Qualite France

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Chef Ming Tsai is the host and executive producer of public television series Simply Ming. Each week, Simply Ming brings mouthwatering recipes inspired by the combination of East and West into homes across the nation.

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