Tag: noodles

Potsticker Noodle Bowls

Potsticker Noodle Bowl

Potsticker Noodle Bowls

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: Easy
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Potstickers, Pierogies, Gyoza, or simply Dumplings all have one thing in common…… they are pieces of dough stuffed with very tasty fillings and then fried to perfection. Serve them with an awesome dipping sauce and you have a fantastic meal or even a simple appetizer and since my dough making skills are less than stellar I sought out a different way of bringing those awesome flavours together in a dish and so we have Potsticker Noodle Bowls.

Here’s how we do this one.

Shopping list:

  • 8 ounces Rice noodles
  • 2 tablespoons Canola oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds ground Pork
  • 2 Eggs
  • 14 ounce bag Coleslaw
  • 7 green Onions – rough chopped
  • 2 Garlic cloves – minced
  • 1/2 cup Low Sodium Soya sauce
  • 1/4 cup Chicken broth
  • 2 teaspoons Rice vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Sambal
  • 2 teaspoons Fish sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated Ginger
  • White pepper to taste

Putting it all together:

  1. Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions.
  2. In a non reactive bowl mix together the soy sauce, chicken broth, rice vinegar, sambal, fish sauce, and ginger and set aside.
  3. In an other non reactive bowl whisk together the eggs and set aside.
  4. Heat the oil in a wok or large skillet and add the pork and the white pepper and stir fry until cooked through.
  5. Add coleslaw and green onions and continue to cook until the coleslaw starts to wilt. Add garlic and stir fry for 30 seconds.
  6. Make a well in the center of the wok or skillet, add eggs and scramble. Toss with the stir fry to combine.
  7. Drain the noodles and add to the wok stir frying for 1 minute.
  8. Add sauce and continue to stir fry until the noodles are tender.
  9. Plate and enjoy.

There you have it another “Simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond.”

Until next time…….

                            Bon Appetit

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Bahn Mi Pork and vegetables over Udon noodles

  • Servings: ”2″
  • Difficulty: ”easy”
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Bahn Mi is the traditional Vietnamese term for “baguette” or simply bread however in some North American culinary circles Bahn Mi has come to represent something else…… The flavourful marinade used to make the traditional Bahn Mi sandwich.

The basic sauce only has four ingredients and while you may turn your nose up at say, fish sauce, don’t let that stop you from trying this delightful recipe. I even go so far as to add the sauce to ground meat and make Bahn Mi burgers and meatloaf. If you make a larger batch of the Bahn Mi place the unused sauce in an air tight container and refrigerate.

Here’s how we do this one……….

Shopping List:

  • 3 Boneless pork loin chops – sliced into thin strips
  • 1/2 each of yellow and orange sweet pepper – julienned
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion – sliced
  • Two “heads” of Baby Bok Choy
  • 1/4 cup Soya sauce
  • 1/4 cup Fish sauce
  • 2 Teaspoons Garlic Chili sauce (found in the Asian section of your grocery store)
  • 2 Teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 package Udon noodles
  • 2 Tablespoons Canola oil

Putting it all together:

  1. Put the Soya sauce, Fish sauce, Garlic chili sauce and sugar in a measuring cup and mix well
  2. Put the pork and the Bahn Mi sauce in a resealable bag and shake until all the meat is coated. Refrigerate for approx. 20 mins.
  3. Heat the Canola oil in a Wok or a large saute pan
  4. Add the pork and the marinade and cook until almost done
  5. Remove the pork leaving the sauce in the pan
  6. Add the vegetables and heat until soft. About 5 minutes
  7. Add back the pork and mix well
  8. Cook the Udon noodles according to the package directions- usually 3 to 4 minutes
  9. Place the noodles in a bowl and top with the pork mixture. Enjoy.

There you have it……. another “simple but tasty recipe for the grilling season and beyond”.

Until next time……….

                           Bon Appetite

Korean take out

 

 

 

Korean take out

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About a week ago I was running late for my Pool League and did not have time to eat before I left home and so about mid way through the evening I discovered that I was starving but the only thing the pool hall has to eat, besides potato chips and the like, is deep fried “bar food”. You know the stuff……. Mozzarella sticks, battered mushrooms, french fries and the ever popular Chicken Fingers! Now seeing as how I work in a fast food joint that sells chicken wings, chicken fingers etc and it’s all deep fried what are the odds that I would order deep fried fare from a pool hall? My search for dinner was on and since the pool hall allows its patrons to bring in their own food it was just a matter of deciding on what I wanted.

I’m not a picky eater per say but there are some things I don’t particularly like but will have it when there is nothing else on the menu. Things such as Shwarma, Wraps and Pizza (yeah yeah I can here the howls now “how can you not like pizza?”—– I will eat it but it’s not my go to food) and there are a ton of these places within a short walk of the pool hall but none of these appealed to me so I decided to do a Guy Fieri and keep my eye out for a funky little joint with something different on the menu. Well this little jaunt led me to Shinla Garden which is a tiny hole in the wall Korean place and when I say tiny I mean if it seats 15 I’ll eat your hat and the great thing is it’s only a 6 minute walk from the pool hall.

Upon entering the restaurant one is made aware of just how unpretentious the place is with its plain decor, minimal wall art and simple hostess desk but that’s fine with me because I am there for the food not the ambiance and with the aromas that hit me smack in the face when I enter I know already that I have made the right choice. I was greeted warmly by the owner who handed me a take out menu and a small cup of green tea which is not something I have experienced in any other take out establishment and helped to endear me to this place even more. The menu is small in comparison to most other places I’ve been, 28 items in total, and besides having the usual suspects, Fried Rice, Korean BBQ Beef Ribs, Stir Fries , they also had some more exotic style Korean dishes. Things like, Traditional Korean Rice cakes in Hot Sauce, Traditional Korean Seafood Soft Tofu Soup, and the one I settled for Korean Style handmade Noodles in Black Bean Sauce with Shrimp and Vegetables…….. Can you say Jackpot?

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Saying this dish was to die for would be an understatement. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, the noodles were a little clumpy but it was the end of the night so I can forgive that one. The Kimchi was crunchy with just enough heat to announce its presence and the Black Bean sauce was the perfect foil to tie it all together.

When I got back to the pool hall with a truck load of food, all at a cost of $17.00, the aroma had everyone drooling and asking where I got it from. Looks like this place will be getting more business in the future. I know I will be going back and if you are ever in Waterloo Region in Southern Ontario I strongly suggest you drop into this funky little place and treat yourself to some simply awesome Korean food…. you won’t be disappointed.

That’s it for now but remember to keep those peepers open for those hidden gems because you never know where your next culinary adventure will begin.

Until next time…………

 

             Bon Appetite