In its simplest form, cháo (Vietnamese rice soup) is a soup made with broth, rice, and maybe a few pieces of ginger and scallion. I’ve heard it referred to as the Vietnamese equivalent to chicken noodle soup, and the similarities are certainly there: it is …
Though I did not know the proper name for years, bun ga nuong, or a Vietnamese cold noodle bowl with chicken was my first ever taste of that Southeast Asian country’s cuisine. Back in college, when I was a much less culinarily-inclined individual, my friend …
Scallion Pancakes are thin, crispy pancakes stuffed with scallions and dipped in a sauce of soy, vinegar, and chili oil. Unlike western pancakes, which are made with batter, these are instead typically made with an unleavened wheat dough, folded through with scallions and fried to a crisp in a skillet. Continue reading Scallion Pancakes
Bánh xèo (pronounced something like bon say-oh) is a fried Vietnamese rice flour crepe. The name is actually something of an onomatopoeia, as xèo sounds like the batter sizzling in the pan.
Variously known as spring rolls, salad rolls, and summer rolls, you are likely familiar with this delicious Vietnamese appetizer made of shrimp, vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs bundled up in a rice paper and dipped in that perfect dipping sauce, nước chấm. It is hard …
Arroz con Leche is Mexican rice pudding made by simmering rice with water and milk, allowing it to slowly take in moisture and release starches until the grains are tender and float in a beautiful pudding. Cloves, cinnamon, and a bit of sugar add sweetness and complexity, making this a simple and delicious dessert that (bonus) you probably have the ingredients to make right now. It has definitely become one of our go-to recipes when we are craving sweets and don’t have anything on hand. Continue reading Arroz con Leche
Chilaquiles are, at their root, a dish to use up stale tortillas. Extra corn tortillas from the night before are fried and then simmered in a rich sauce. It may sound like a dull dish, but it will surprise you. The tortillas soak up all …
While the name tequila lime shrimp likely rings of cheap tex-mex cuisine, camarones al tequila sounds like something I would order in a heartbeat. I love shrimp, I love tequila, how could it go wrong? Frankly, I’m not sure that it can. I think this …
A good salsa roja recipe is something we should all have in our back pocket. There are an unlimited number of ways to make salsa, and I am all about exploration and creativity, but for me no salsa platter is complete without a simple, perfect salsa roja. This is the foundation from which you branch out to your mango habanero or your creamy avocado. All those salsa variations are delicious, but after each chip dipped in one of those experiments, I find myself coming back to the good old salsa roja to reset the palate. Continue reading Salsa Roja
Roasted poblano peppers must be one of the best flavors in the world. There are a lot of delicious peppers out there, but for me, poblanos are unrivaled. Unfortunately, it can be really difficult to get that amazing flavor to come through in a meal. …