Black Cod over Black Rice

Black Cod over Black RiceMiso Glazed Black Cod over Black Rice
Shredded Carrot Salad, Peas, Pea Shoots
Lemon Soy Emulsion

Black cod, also known as sablefish, is brushed with a miso glaze that complements the fish’s luscious buttery flavor and silky melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Black rice, with its nutty flavor, chewy texture, and striking dark purple-black color, is paired with peas for a colorful and classic combination. A zesty carrot salad adds brightness and crunch, while a lemon soy emulsion brings vibrant, salty, umami notes.

The combination of rich miso-glazed black cod, contrasting black rice, fresh carrot salad, and sweet green peas, results in a visually stunning, Asian-influenced dish that’s both simple and impressive. And fresh local pea shoots add mild spring pea flavor and make the whole dish pop!

Black Cod over Black Rice

Black Cod over Black Rice Recipe

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Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks
Creamy Parmesan Polenta
Fresh Wild Arugula, Mint, Scallions
Hot Mustard Sesame Garlic Sauce

Gochujang brings a fiery kick, while daikon radish provides a crisp, peppery contrast to the creamy polenta. A bold hot mustard sauce balances beautifully with the rich succulent meat. These lamb shanks are slow-braised in a tangy, sweet, and savory blend of pomegranate juice and figs, then finished under the broiler for a crispy exterior and meltingly tender, flavorful interior.

With its sweet heat and deep, fermented umami notes, gochujang—Korean red chili paste—offers a balanced fruitiness, a hint of smokiness, and layers of flavor from sun-dried Korean red peppers. It complements the meat and pomegranate-fig sauce perfectly, resulting in a dish bursting with vibrant flavors, contrasting textures, bold aromas, and a wild presentation.

Gochujang Lamb Shanks, Polenta, Fresh Greens, Hot Mustard Sauce

Gochujang Lamb Shanks Recipe

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Sockeye Salmon Hot Pot

Sockeye Salmon Hot Pot

Sockeye Salmon Hot Pot

Corn, Cabbage, Shiitake, Carrot, Potato, Daikon, Tofu
Miso Bonito Broth with Butter

Ishikari Nabe is a traditional Japanese hot pot dish from Hokkaido, named after the Ishikari River region. It features fresh salmon, a staple of the area.

Nabe, which means “pot” in Japanese, refers to a traditional Japanese hot pot dish. It’s both the name of the cooking vessel and the dish itself. Nabe involves simmering a variety of ingredients in a flavorful broth, typically served communally at the dining table, making it a social and comforting meal.

Sockeye salmon is an excellent choice for a Hokkaido-style Salmon Hot Pot due to its robust flavor, firm texture, and nutritional richness.

Its deep, rich taste complements the umami-packed miso broth, while its sturdy flesh holds up well during simmering, maintaining its shape and adding satisfying bites to the dish featuring an array of fresh vegetables, tofu, and potatoes.

While sockeye salmon is not native to Japan’s northernmost island, it has been introduced to Japanese waters, including areas around Hokkaido. The texture and full flavor make it the perfect species to shine in this delicious salmon hot pot.

Sockeye Salmon Hot Pot Recipe

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Dungeness Crab with Cellophane Noodles

Dungeness Crab with Cellophane Noodles

Dungeness Crab with Cellophane Noodles

Dungeness crab…with its sweet, succulent, ocean-y taste is paired with umami-laden cellophane noodles in this outstanding yet very easy recipe by Charles Phan.

Charles Phan’s The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food cookbook captures the essence of his San Francisco Bay Area restaurants’ iconic dishes. This dish is one of their most popular.

Dungeness Crab with Cellophane Noodles

Dungeness Crab with Cellophane Noodles Recipe

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Quick Wonton Noodle Soup

Quick Wonton Noodle Soup

Quick Wonton Noodle Soup

This Quick (delicious) Wonton Noodle Soup is made with frozen/defrosted broth, frozen wontons (2 minutes) and noodles (4 minutes). Quick cooking baby bok choy adds the green vegetable component, along with plenty fresh scallion and cilantro. Garlic, ginger, soy sauce and fish sauce add depth of flavor. Sesame oil adds a toasty richness while jalapeño and chili garlic sauce definitely give it a kick!

When I make broth from scratch, I always make a big pot, and freeze some of the broth for later use. This flavorful broth was from a Vietnamese chicken soup recipe similar to pho ga. But any tasty broth would work. Here, the chicken soup with cilantro garnish is well-paired with bright herby chicken/cilantro wontons from Costco.

Vietnamese Chicken Soup Recipe

Quick Wonton Noodle Soup Recipe

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