Shrimp and Carrot Salad, Ají-Soy-Limón Dressing

Peruvian Shrimp and Carrot Salad, Aji Amarillo Soy Limon Dressing

Shrimp and Carrot Salad
Okra, Cherry Tomato, Red Onion, Caperberry, Feta, Nasturtium
Ají Amarillo Soy Limón Dressing

Colorful baby carrots and my tree bursting with key limes became the source of inspiration for this sprightly salad. Carrots and limes have a curious affinity for one another. Key limes, called limones in Peru are used extensively in Peruvian cuisine. I mix the lime juice with ají amarillo paste and soy sauce to make the refreshing dressing. Ají amarillo, a yellow-orange Peruvian chile pepper is simultaneously spicy and fruity. Just a couple teaspoons of the paste gives the dressing its zing and along with the shrimp and carrots paired with feta, okra, onion, and tomatoes – the result is a really zesty salad with piquant Peruvian flair.

Peruvian Shrimp and Carrot Salad Recipe

Continue reading “Shrimp and Carrot Salad, Ají-Soy-Limón Dressing”

Global Shrimp: Haricots Verts, Chickpeas, Feta

Global Shrimp: Haricots Verts, Chickpeas, Feta with a Korean Marinade

Shrimp, Haricots Verts, Chickpeas
Soy Soju Marinade
Feta, Gochugaru, and Sesame Seeds

The classic Greek pairing of shrimp and feta, along with French haricots verts, Indian chickpeas, and a Korean soju & soy marinade result in a side dish most likely to attract attention. This global amalgamation of ingredients is finished with a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds and gochugaru, a Korean red chile powder that is barely spicy, and somewhat sweet and smoky. Served at room temperature – it’s a fusion dish that would make a terrific addition to any buffet, BBQ, or picnic.

Global Shrimp Recipe

Continue reading “Global Shrimp: Haricots Verts, Chickpeas, Feta”

Korean Melon and Shrimp

Korean Melon with Shrimp

Korean Melon and Shrimp

Korean melons are delightful. They have a melon-y taste similar to cantaloupe, but with cream-colored flesh and bit more crunch. The seeds are edible so I leave them intact, to enjoy the sweet pulp that surrounds them, and for added texture. Korean melon paired with shrimp, makes a simple yet refreshing appetizer or popular side dish to serve on a spring or summer buffet.

Continue reading “Korean Melon and Shrimp”

rosé salad – a summer dish crafted to complement chilled dry rosé

shrimp, beet, raspberry, radicchio, rose salad

rosé salad
shrimp, beet, raspberry, radicchio, pickled red onion, rose petal salad

Hey summer! Where ya goin’? Not so fast, please! We’re holding on to summer by drinking our favorite pink wines: chilled dry French rosés which are the epitome of summer – light, fresh, and refreshing. This salad is crafted in a way so as to let the integrity of each ingredient shine, taking care not to overdress, but letting the raspberry vinegar and olive oil enhance the flavors. The spectrum of pink colors, fruity and flowery aromas, and range of flavors and textures beautifully complement rosé wines.

rosé salad recipe

Continue reading “rosé salad – a summer dish crafted to complement chilled dry rosé”

Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi with Shrimp and Minari

 stuffed cucumber kimchi with shrimp, minari
Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi
Oi Sobaegi 오이소박이

With Shrimp, Minari, Sesame Oil, Sesame Seeds, Gochugaru

Jupiter has aligned once again with Mars, in the blogging universe that is. Food Network’s Summer Fest features cucumbers this week. Our monthly cooking group, the Creative Cooking Club’s theme is “stuff-it.” And I planned to create another seasonal Korean fusion dish this week celebrating the honor of having my recipes featured in the Korea Herald Business.

Korean + Summer + Cucumber + Stuffed = Oi Sobaegi 

 stuffed cucumber kimchi recipe, oi sobaegi

My recipe for stuffed cucumber kimchi came from studying 5 Korean cookbooks in my collection, plus researching many recipes online. One thing I kept noticing, especially on google image – the final dish was not very attractive; green logs with all this stuffing hanging out. No doubt they were delicious, but my challenge was to make the dish pleasing to the eye as well as the palate.

Pairing with shrimp was a natural combination, as the kimchi recipe contains tiny dried white shrimp. My recipe also contains a good deal of ginger, it is quite zippy. Minari is a bright herb sometimes called Korean watercress which adds a fresh note. I also used the thicker Chinese chives to hold the sliced cucumber together, making for a neat pretty presentation. This, my first attempt at oi sobaegi was surprisingly successful, so I am sharing the original recipe here.

Cookbook Resources:

  • Korean Cooking by Young Jin Song
  • Seoultown Kitchen by Debbie Lee
  • The Korean Table by Taeyung Chung
  • The Kimchi Cookbook by Kim Man-Jo
  • Aeri’s Korean Cookbook 1 by Aeri Lee

Continue reading “Stuffed Cucumber Kimchi with Shrimp and Minari”