Baked Adzuki and Vegetable Wontons

As I've said before, I love appetizers that you can dip in some kind of sauce. I like wontons with sweet chile garlic sauce, which can be found in the Asian section of most large grocery stores. Just be sure to check the label because some brands may contain fish or oyster sauce. Also check the ingredient list on the wonton wrappers you purchase because some brands contain egg. I used Wing Hing brand pot sticker wraps and Mae Ploy brand sweet chile sauce.

2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/2 a medium red onion, minced
3-4 scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 c. celery, diced
1/2 c. baby bella or button mushrooms, diced
1/2 c. cooked adzuki (also called aduki) or small red beans, rinsed and drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. minced fresh cilantro
2 Tbsp. vegetarian hoisin sauce (or vegetarin stirfry sauce with 1/8 tsp. Chinese 5 spice powder)
1 Tbsp. shoyu or tamari
1 12 oz. package of pot sticker wrappers
2 Tbsp. non-dairy milk
Black or toasted brown sesame seeds
Sweet chile garlic sauce for dipping

1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line at least 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper, or lightly oil them and set aside. Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium heat and saute all of the vegetables until soft, abotu 5-7 minutes.

2) Once the vegetables are soft add the adzuki beans, hoisin sauce and shoyu or tamari. Toss to incorporate.

3) One by one, wet the circumference of a pot sticker wrapper with your finger dipped in water. Place about 2 tsp. of the filling mixture on the bottom half of the wrapper. fold the top half of the wrapper down over the filling, using your fingers to force the filling to stay inside. Seal the wrapper by pressing down on the edges with a fork.

4) Place all of the wontons onto the prepared baking dishes as you complete them and then brush the non-dairy milk over the top of each wonton (I just use my fingers dipped in the milk to do this) and sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

5) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until just golden brown. Place on a serving platter and serve with sweet chile garlic sauce for dipping.

This makes abotut 8-10 appetizer servings.

Spicy Asian Slaw

I can't deny my love for spicy, tangy food. Added to that fact, cabbage has been my favorite vegetable this winter. I'm not saying it's my favorite vegetable of all time, just that I am using it a lot this winter and am really enjoying it. It's inexpensive, super healthy and very versatile. This slaw takes about 1 minute to make if you use the pre-cut slaw mixture, and it makes a nice lunch on its own or could be used as a side with any Asian inspired meal. The spice in this slaw comes from Sriracha sauce, an Asian (I think it's originally Vietnamese) hot sauce that can be found in almost any grocery store.

1 lb. thinly sliced cabbage, either one of those pre-shredded slaw bags from the store or slice your own
A pinch of sea salt, about 1/4 tsp. or so
2 heaping Tbsp. Veganaise
As much Sriracha hot sauce as you want, I use a lot because I like it spicy
Several dashes of rice wine or brown rice vinegar (about 2 tsp.)
A small drizzle of toasted sesame oil, maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp.

1. In a large bowl toss the cabbage with the pinch of sea salt and set it aside.

2. In a smaller bowl whisk together the other ingredients.

3. Pour the sauce over the cabbage and toss to combine.

This makes about 2-4 servings.

Pad See Ew

This is far and away my kids favorite dish. It is so rare for all 3 of them to like the same thing prepared in the same way - for example, they all like apples but one of them likes her apples whole, one of them likes them peeled and chopped, and the other one likes them chopped but not peeled. And so it goes with almost everything. This is one of the few things I can just make a big pot of an all of them will devour it without a single complaint or request for alteration.

So of course I have to be the annoying one with this recipe. My kids all eat it with broccoli, but I prefer gai lan (Chinese broccoli), so I make it with broccoli for them and with gai lan for my husband and I. You can use whichever one you want.

The signature of Pad See Ew is the sweet sauce. This is achieved by using kecap manis, which is a syrupy soy sauce. I've tried to make my own by caramelizing sugar in soy sauce but it's way easier and less messy to purchase it. They have it at my regular grocery store in the ethnic foods section or you could find it at any large Asian grocery or online. Often pad see ew will have fish sauce, I just add a little vinegar for that tang. 

14-16 oz. wide rice noodles, cooked/soaked according to package directions but just shy of done
1/4 c. kecap manis (sweet soy sauce)
2 Tbsp. shoyu or tamari
2 Tbsp. vegetarian stirfry sauce (any kind)
1 Tbsp. vinegar (rice or distilled white both work well for this)
2 Tbsp. canola oil (or other flavorless oil)
5-6 cloves of garlic (less if you're sensitive, but you really do need a lot)
1 onion, halved and thinly slices (I leave this out when I make it for my kids)
1 lb. extra firm tofu, cubed
1 bunch of gai lan or broccoli (broccoli cut into florets, for the gai lan, use both the leaves and the stems but separate them then chop them)

1) With any stirfry it's always best to try to prep everything before you start cooking because things cook quickly when you stirfry. To make the sauce, whisk together the kecap manis, shoyu or tamari or soy sauce, vegetarian stirfry sauce and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside. Slice your onion, cube your tofu, mince your garlic and prepare your broccoli or gai lan.

Here is what gai lan looks like.

2) Prepare the rice noodles according to the package directions, but keep them al dente because you will also stirfry them. If you can, try to time it so that the noodles finish cooking right before you're ready to add them to the wok.

3) Heat the oil in a large wok or pot over pretty high heat and add the garlic, saute until fragrant but not browning.  Add the onion, tofu, and the chopped gai lan stems if using. Continue to cook until the onions have softened a bit.

4) When the noodles are ready drain them and add them to the stirfry along with the sauce. Toss to mix well and cook for about 5 more minutes.

5) Add the greens and continue to cook until they are just barely wilted.

This makes 4-6 servings.

Baked Samosas

Samosas are an Indian pastry with a savory filling, usually some mixture of vegetables or ground meat. They are usually deep fried but they can easily be baked. I make a quick dipping sauce to go along with this, but you could serve them with a chutney if you'd prefer. I hate to brag again, but these are fantastic - even my kids loved them.

For the Samosas
1-2 tsp. canola oil
1/4 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 a medium onion, diced
2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/4 tsp. ground corriander
1/2 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. sea salt
3/4 c. frozen or fresh diced potatoes, thawed under hot water in a strainer and drained well
1/2 c. frozen peas, thawed under hot water in a strainer and drained well
1 tsp. vegetable broth
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, minced
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed according to package directions

For the Dipping Sauce
3/4 c. ketchup
2 Tbsp. mango chutney (optional)
1/2 tsp. curry powder

1) To make the sauce whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.

2) Preheat the oven according to the package directions for the puff pastry you are using. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or lightly oil it, and set aside.

3) Preheat the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat and add the cumin seeds. Toast the seeds until they are lightly browned and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

4) Add the onion, jalapenos, spices, and salt. Saute until the onions are soft, about 5 more minutes.

5) Add the drained potatoes and peas and saute until warmed and mixed through with the onions, peppers and spices. Then add the vegetable broth and tomato paste and stir until incorporated with the vegetables.

6) Remove the pan from the heat and toss in the fresh cilantro.

7) Flatten the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it out until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to slice the pastry into 4 long strips lengthwise and then 6 long strips widthwise so that you end up with 18 squares.

8) Fill each square with about 2 tsp. of the filling and then fold the edges in and crimp the edges closed to form a ball. Gently squeeze the ball in your hand to round it out and then flatten it a little bit between your palms. Repeat until your dough is used up placing the finished samosas on the prepared baking tray.

9) Bake the samosas for 15-17 minutes until lightly browned. Serve with the dipping sauce.

This makes about 4-6 appetizer servings and would be very easy to double for more.

Sesame Ginger Tempeh Sandwiches

As far as I know, Asian food and sandwiches aren't really synonymous. I'm not claiming to know all the food from every country in Asia, but I haven't heard of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese Korean or Indonesian sandwiches. If you know of any, please let me know so that I can try them because this sandwich is delicious.

This brings me to another point. When I say "Asian food" I recognize that Asia is a continent made up of vastly different people groups and cuisines. But this sandwich isn't really from any particular Asian country, it just uses various traditionally Asian flavors. So be notified, I know "Asian food" is a very general term and all food from Asia is not alike.

For this recipe you'll be making a marinade to bake the tempeh, a simple sauce, and a simple slaw. Then it's all assembled on a roll of your choice.

8 oz. tempeh (as usual for these tempeh sandwiches, try to get a long rectangle shaped tempeh cake rather than those short, stubby square ones).
1/4 c. water or vegetable broth
2 Tbsp. shoyu or tamari
2 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice (or rice vinegar in a pinch)
1 Tbsp. chile garlic paste
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2" knob of fresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely minced
2 scallions, roughly chopped
2 tsp. arrowroot powder or corn starch and 4 tsp. water, mixed together
2 c. cabbage, shredded
1/2 tsp. rice wine or brown rice vinegar
1/4 tsp. toasted sesame oil
A small pinch of sea salt
about 1/3-1/2  c. Veganaise
Sriracha hot sauce or chili garlic paste to taste, I like about 1 Tbsp.
4 rolls of your choice, (I like multigrain ciabatta, just because they're usually the right size for the tempeh patties)

1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare the marinade by whisking together the water or broth, shoyu, lemon, chili garlic paste, garlic, ginger and scallions in a small bowl. Set aside.

2) Slice the tempeh in half width wise to make two squares. Then slice each square in half lengthwise through the center forming two flat squares (not two little fat rectangles).

3) Place the tempeh in a 2 quart baking dish and pour the marinade over the top. Gently toss the tempeh around to coat in the marinade and cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
 

4) Mix the arrowroot or corn starch and water together in a small bowl and set aside.

5) As the tempeh bakes prepare the slaw by sprinkling 1/4 tsp. sea salt, the vinegar, and the toasted sesame oil over the thinly sliced cabbage (you could also use a bagged slaw mix from the grocery store) and tossing it together. Set aside.

6) Also prepare the Sriracha mayo in a small bowl by whisking the Veganaise and Sriracha hot sauce or chile garlic paste together in a small bowl. Set aside. You can also slice open your rolls at this point.

7) When the tempeh has baked for 15 minutes, remove the foil, give the arrowroot/water mixture one last whisk and pour it over the tempeh sauce (try to pour it into the spots where the sauce is visible). Use a fork to try to mix the arrowroot into the sauce a bit. Flip the tempeh patties over with a spatula and return to the oven, uncovered, for an additional 10-15 minutes to let the sauce thicken a bit.

8) To assemble the sandwiches, spread the Sriracha mayo over the tops and bottoms of each roll. Place a tempeh patty on the bottom half of each roll and top the tempeh with some of the slaw. Place the top of the roll over the slaw and secure with a toothpick or some similar device.

This makes 4 sandwiches.

Liquid Sunshine (Green Juice)

Sorry to be annoying, but you need a juicer for this recipe and you need one that can juice greens. Good juicers are pricey, but I figured most chronic diseases are even more costly so a few years ago I decided to invest in my family's health and get a juicer. Everything I read always posits green juice as one of the most beneficial health foods. Greens just can't be beat, they are so jam packed with nutrients. Juicing is a delicious and easy way to get loads of greens into your diet. Some people complain about the taste of green juice, but if you ask me this tastes like summertime, warm breezes, sunshine, and happiness.

1 bunch of kale, collards or other dark green (warning: mustard greens are disgusting in this), about 10 leaves (you can juice the stems too)
4 ribs celery
1 whole lemon, peel and all
1 medium-small golden beet (or purple if you can't find golden), ends cut off but peel left on
1/2" piece of ginger, washed but not peeled
2 apples - peels, seeds and all

1) Juice all of the ingredients according to the directions for your juicer. I do mine in the order listed above and turn it from low to high for the beet, ginger and apples. Run the vegetables through slowly so you can extract the maximum amount of juice.

2) Stir, transfer to a glass, and enjoy.

This makes 1-2 servings and even kids like it!

Cold Soba Salad

This could be as easy as just making the dressing and tossing with the noodles, but you can also add various combinations of vegetables. My favorite vegetables in this salad are thinly sliced shallots and green peas.

Soba noodles are found in the Asian section of most large grocery stores nowadays. They are traditionally made with buckwheat flour, but I've noticed a lot of the brands have part buckwheat flour and part wheat flour. If you can find 100% buckwheat flour soba noodles you should give them a try if you like sea vegetables because they do taste a little like wakame and have an interesting almost slimy texture. The ones that include wheat flour are more mild and grainy.

8 oz. dry soba noodles, cooked according to package directions
1/4 c. seasoned or brown rice vinegar
1/4 c. natural peanut butter
1 Tbsp. (overflowing) shoyu, tamari or low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. (or more) sriracha (found in the Asian section of most grocery stores, it's a lovely Asian hot sauce)
Small drizzle each of toasted sesame oil and pure maple syrup
About 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger (optional but really good)
1 thinly sliced shallot or red onion
1/2 c. green peas, thawed by running under hot water in a strainer (if using frozen)

1) Cook the soba noodles according to package directions, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until the pasta is completely cooled.

2) As the noodles cook, whisk together everything but the vegetables in a large bowl.

3) When the noodles are finished cooking and have been rinsed under cold water add them, along with the peas and shallots, to the dressing and toss to coat.

Eat immediately or chill first. This makes 4-6 servings, depending on how hungry everyone is and what else you're eating.