Stir-Fried Tofu, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Chinese Peas

RECIPE

In this recipe, fresh ginger is combined with salt then sits for five minutes. The salt draws out some of the ginger juice, making it drier, which is better for stir -frying; it also decreases the ginger's pungency.

Yield
2 servings (serving size: 1 3/4 cups)

Ingredients
1 tablespoon julienne-cut peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cups thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1 cup snow peas, trimmed
1/2 teaspoon minced bird chile or 1 teaspoon minced serrano chile
1 (12.3-ounce) package reduced-fat firm tofu, drained and cubed
1/2 cup (1-inch) sliced green onions
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

Preparation
Combine ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; let stand for 5 minutes. Rinse ginger with cold water; pat dry. Combine ginger and cornstarch in bowl.

Heat oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, and stir-fry 2 minutes or until tender. Add the ginger mixture, snow peas, and chile, and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add tofu; stir-fry 1 minute. Add onions and soy sauce; stir-fry 2 minutes.

Nutritional Information
Calories:208 (41% from fat)
Fat:9.4g (sat 2g,mono 2.5g,poly 4g)
Protein:15.4g
Carbohydrate:16.2g
Fiber:3.4g
Cholesterol:0.0mg
Iron:4.7mg
Sodium:775mg
Calcium:120mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese-Style Glazed Chicken Breasts

RECIPE

Serve with asparagus and rice.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and 1 tablespoon sauce)

Ingredients
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon apricot preserves or fruit spread
4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preparation
Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; set aside.

Place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.

Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and sauté for 3 minutes on each side. Remove chicken from pan. Reduce heat; carefully stir in broth mixture. Return chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes or until done, turning to coat.

Nutritional Information
Calories:186 (25% from fat)
Fat:5.1g (sat 0.9g,mono 1.3g,poly 2.5g)
Protein:26.7g
Carbohydrate:6.9g
Fiber:0.3g
Cholesterol:66mg
Iron:0.9mg
Sodium:526mg
Calcium:17mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Hot Pot of Beef and Vegetables

RECIPE

This comforting stew teams beef with spinach, an efficient pairing because the iron in the beef enhances your body's ability to absorb the iron in the spinach. Serve it over plain Chinese noodles or all by itself with some crusty French bread--it's delicious either way.

Yield
6 servings (serving size: 1 1/3 cups)

Ingredients
4 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon aniseed, crushed
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14 1/4-ounce) can low-salt beef broth
2 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 to 3 teaspoons chile paste with garlic2 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
2 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled turnips (about 3/4 pound)
1 1/2 cups baby carrots
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons cornstarch
8 cups fresh spinach (about 1/2 pound)

Preparation
Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add half of beef, browning on all sides. Remove from pan. Repeat the procedure with remaining oil and beef. Add onions, ginger, aniseed, and garlic to pan; sauté 30 seconds. Stir in broth, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Return beef to pan. Add 2 3/4 cups water and next 5 ingredients (2 3/4 cups water through cinnamon sticks), and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour.

Add the turnips and carrots; simmer for 45 minutes or until tender. Combine 1 tablespoon water and cornstarch; add to beef mixture. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add spinach; cover and cook for 3 minutes or until wilted. Discard the cinnamon sticks.

Nutritional Information
Calories:359 (30% from fat)
Fat:11.9g (sat 3.4g,mono 5.5g,poly 1.5g)
Protein:26.4g
Carbohydrate:35.8g
Fiber:4.5g
Cholesterol:71mg
Iron:4.8mg
Sodium:536mg
Calcium:88mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Five Spice Burgers

RECIPE

You can now find Chinese five spice blends in the spice section of most supermarkets, where you'll also find prepared plum sauce and Asian sesame oil. If you can't find five spice, substitute this mixture: 1/8 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground ginger, and anise seeds.

Yield
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
About 1 teaspoon olive or salad oil
1 cup thinly sliced mushrooms (3 1/2 oz.)
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions (including tops)
6 tablespoons prepared Chinese plum sauce
1 pound ground lean beef
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five spice (see notes)
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 sesame seed-topped hamburger buns (about 3 oz. each), cut in half horizontally
Lettuce leaves, rinsed and crisped
Salt

Preparation
1. Pour oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over high heat; when hot, add mushrooms and stir until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the green onions and plum sauce and remove from heat.

2. In a bowl, gently mix ground beef with soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, Chinese five spice, and ginger. Shape beef mixture into four equal patties, each about 1/2 inch thick.

3. Lay patties on a lightly oiled barbecue grill over a solid bed of medium-hot coals or medium-high heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 3 to 4 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook patties until no longer pink in the center (cut to test) or a thermometer inserted in center reaches 160°, 6 to 8 minutes total, turning once to brown evenly. After 5 minutes, lay bun halves, cut side down, on grill and toast lightly, 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Lay a lettuce leaf on each toasted bun base, top with a beef patty, and spoon mushroom mixture equally over burgers. Add salt to taste and cover with bun tops.

Nutritional Information
Calories:608 (46% from fat)
Protein:31g
Fat:31g (sat 12)
Carbohydrate:52g
Fiber:2.5g
Sodium:1119mg
Cholesterol:85mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Potstickers

RECIPE

Variations of these little dumplings are popular throughout China. They symbolize abundance and wealth for the coming year, as they are made in large amounts and, when fried golden, represent coins. In northern China they are served in the hours between the old and new year. These may take some time to prepare, but gather a few friends to help assemble the potstickers. Cook two dozen for your party, and freeze the extras for future snacks or meals. Simply pop the extra, uncooked dumplings in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag.

Yield
16 servings (serving size: 3 dumplings and about 1 tablespoon sauce)

Ingredients
Dumplings:
3 cups chopped napa (Chinese) cabbage (about 4 ounces)
4 dried shiitake mushrooms (about 1 1/2 ounces)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons oyster sauce
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
5 ounces lean ground pork
5 ounces ground chicken breast
1 large egg white
48 gyoza skins
1/4 cup canola oil, divided
1 1/3 cups water, divided
Sauce:
3 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced green onions
3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
6 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Shaoxing (Chinese cooking wine) or dry sherry
2 teaspoons chile puree with garlic sauce
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

Preparation
1. To prepare dumplings, cook cabbage in boiling water 1 minute or until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain. Cool; chop.

2. Place mushrooms in a small bowl; cover with boiling water. Cover and let stand 30 minutes or until tender. Drain mushrooms; chop.

3. Combine cabbage, mushrooms, 1/4 cup green onions, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, and next 7 ingredients (through egg white) in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.

4. Working with 1 gyoza skin at a time (cover remaining gyoza skins to prevent drying), spoon 2 teaspoons pork mixture into center of each skin. Moisten edges of gyoza skin with water. Fold in half, pinching edges together to seal. Place dumpling, seam side up, on a baking sheet sprinkled with remaining 1 teaspoon cornstarch (cover loosely with a towel to prevent drying). Repeat procedure with remaining gyoza skins and filling.

5. Heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 12 dumplings to pan; cook 3 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes or until water evaporates. Repeat procedure with remaining canola oil, dumplings, and water.

6. To prepare the sauce, combine 3 tablespoons chopped ginger and remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Serve sauce with dumplings.

Nutritional Information
Calories:132 (0.0% from fat)
Fat:5.1g (sat 0.7g,mono 2.3g,poly 1.3g)
Protein:6.5g
Carbohydrate:14.7g
Fiber:1g
Cholesterol:15mg
Iron:0.8mg
Sodium:511mg
Calcium:23mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Almond Cookies

RECIPE

Prep and Cook Time: about 45 minutes, plus 1 hour to chill. Notes: You can store the cookies airtight for up to 3 days.

Yield
Makes about 48 cookies

Ingredients
1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon milk
1/3 cup blanched whole almonds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Preparation
1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add whole egg and almond extract and beat until well blended. Stir or beat in flour and baking powder until well blended. Cover bowl and chill until dough is firm, about 1 hour.

2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, flatten each slightly, and place each about 1 inch apart on buttered or cooking parchment-lined 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.

3. In a small bowl, beat egg yolk with milk to blend. Brush cookies lightly with egg mixture; discard any remaining. Press an almond into the center of each cookie and sprinkle each with about 1/8 teaspoon sesame seeds.

4. Bake cookies in a 325° oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes; if baking more than one pan at a time, switch pan positions halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then use a wide spatula to transfer to racks to cool completely.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per cookie.

Nutritional Information
Calories:86 (51% from fat)
Protein:1.2g
Fat:4.9g (sat 2.6)
Carbohydrate:9.4g
Fiber:0.3g
Sodium:52mg
Cholesterol:19mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Chicken and Mushroom Lettuce Cups

RECIPE

Yield
8 servings (serving size: 3 cups)

Ingredients
1 teaspoon sesame oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups minced cremini mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
1 cup minced shiitake mushroom caps (about 2 1/2 ounces)
1 pound ground chicken breast
3 cups shredded napa (Chinese) cabbage
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (8-ounce) can whole water chestnuts, drained and minced
1 cup minced green onions
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
24 Boston lettuce leaves

Preparation
Heat 1 teaspoon sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Add cremini and shiitake mushrooms and chicken; cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shredded cabbage, kosher salt, crushed red pepper, and water chestnuts; cook for 5 minutes or until cabbage wilts. Remove from heat, and stir in onions, oyster sauce, and soy sauce. Cool completely. Place mixture in an airtight container or heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; freeze.

Thaw chicken mixture overnight in refrigerator or microwave at MEDIUM for 10 minutes. Bring to room temperature, or microwave at HIGH until warm, if desired. Stir in cilantro. Spoon about 3 tablespoons chicken mixture into each lettuce leaf with a slotted spoon.

Nutritional Information
Calories:103 (13% from fat)
Fat:1.5g (sat 0.3g,mono 0.4g,poly 0.5g)
Protein:15.3g
Carbohydrate:7.4g
Fiber:2.3g
Cholesterol:33mg
Iron:1.4mg
Sodium:270mg
Calcium:44mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Five-Spice Steak with Rice Noodles

RECIPE

The delicate flavor and texture of rice sticks balances the highly seasoned beef. You can also serve the steak with basmati rice.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups beef mixture and 1 cup noodles)

Ingredients
4 ounces uncooked wide rice stick noodles (banh pho)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 teaspoon five-spice powder
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and cut into 1/4-inch strips
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons minced green onions
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
2 medium tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges
2 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil

Preparation
Cook noodles according to package directions.

While noodles cook, combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and steak in a large bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced green onions and garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add beef mixture; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato wedges, green onion pieces, and chopped basil; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Nutritional Information
Calories:374 (29% from fat)
Fat:12.1g (sat 4.3g,mono 4.3g,poly 2.1g)
Protein:28.2g
Carbohydrate:36.6g
Fiber:2.3g
Cholesterol:59mg
Iron:4.1mg
Sodium:744mg
Calcium:32mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese Chicken Salad

Yield
Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
2 navel oranges (see notes)
About 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 fresh wonton wrappers, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips (see notes)
6 cups finely shredded cabbage
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
Spicy soy-ginger dressing (recipe follows)
1 large avocado, cubed
4 green onions (including green tops), sliced diagonally
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Preparation
1. In a 2- to 3-quart pan over high heat, bring about 1 quart water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, then plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.

2. Cut off and discard ends from oranges. Following the curve of the fruit, cut off peel and outer membrane. Slice oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, then cut these rounds into quarters. Set aside.

3. Pour the vegetable oil into a 3- to 4-quart pan (the oil should be about 1/2 inch deep) and set over medium-high heat. When oil reaches 350°, add wonton strips and fry, stirring, until golden brown on both sides, about 30 seconds total. Lift out with a slotted spoon and transfer to paper towels to drain.

4. In a large serving bowl, toss the cabbage, chicken, and asparagus with the dressing. Top with avocado, orange slices, and wonton strips, then garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Spicy soy-ginger dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon Asian red chile sauce (such as Sriracha), and 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup vegetable oil or grapeseed oil, whisking constantly. Season with salt to taste.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutritional Information
Calories:308 (56% from fat)
Protein:15g
Fat:19g (sat 3.1)
Carbohydrate:20g
Fiber:4g
Sodium:317mg
Cholesterol:36mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover

Chinese-Barbecued Pork Tenderloin

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)

Ingredients
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon orange juice
1/2 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°.

Trim fat from pork. Combine sugar and next 3 ingredients (sugar through pepper). Rub pork with spice mixture.

Place pork on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; insert a meat thermometer into thickest portion of tenderloin. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes. Combine hoisin, orange juice, and oil in a small bowl; brush over tenderloin. Bake for an additional 15 minutes or until thermometer registers 160° (slightly pink).

Nutritional Information
Calories:165 (27% from fat)
Fat:5g (sat 1.5g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.9g)
Protein:24.7g
Carbohydrate:3.9g
Fiber:0.2g
Cholesterol:79mg
Iron:1.5mg
Sodium:269mg
Calcium:14mg

Chinese cooking@home
by cooking lover