Tag Archives: asian food

Summer Pairings: A Cool Dish for a Hot Week

vietnamese_salad_edible_rhody

 

It’s hot.

The air is hot. Our political climate is hot. Our society is hot. And we’re not even halfway through the Summer of 2016.

Things could change if we all cool down our own little corners of the world, one step at a time. And a good place to start is at the table, with family and friends.

Begin with a delicious, refreshing and easy to prepare chilled dish from Jason Timothy, chef/owner of Providence’s Laughing Gorilla Catering, that’s sure to please the crowd of 2 or 10 gathered at your table. Add open bottles of icy beer and wine (our picks below), good conversation, laughter and love, and watch the mercury drop.

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We can’t get enough of the Gobelsburg Cistercien Rosé from Austria. Its bright balance of fresh acidity and excellent, round strawberry and peach fruit flavors make this a great match. The sauce’s citrus and jalapeno tang will be cooled by the fruit, while the minerality and acid provide enough structure to round out the whole dish.

We chose Revival Brewing Co.’s Fanny IPA as this noodle dish’s ideal beer partner. Its fruity hops from the Southern Hemisphere will highlight the melon’s cool notes, which piney North American hops accentuate the dish’s spicy flavors. And what’s even better, Fanny is low in alcohol, so it says as light in your  as does the salad, keeping everything in harmony.

And for the recipe, published in the beautiful Summer 2016 issue of Edible Rhody:

CHILLED VIETNAMESE RICE NOODLE SALAD
A note from chef Jason Timothy:  This is an easy, flavorful salad that is incredibly versatile. It’s been a favorite among my friends at summer cookouts when the weather is hot, the grill is going and the produce is abundant. I love to grab herbs and vegetables from the Armory Farmers’ Market that’s almost outside my door.

INGREDIENTS
1 package rice noodles (size noodle to your liking)
2 tablespoons neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola)
¼ cup fish sauce
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup fresh-squeezed lime juice, plus extra wedges for garnish
1 cucumber, seeded and sliced
2 cups sliced melon (watermelon or cantaloupe), rind removed
1 pound (3–4 cups) fresh bean sprouts
½ cup fresh Thai basil leaves, torn
½ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
3 jalapeños, sliced (optional)
Kosher or sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook for 4–5 minutes. Strain noodles. Give them a quick rinse with cold water just to get the cooling started and, once well drained, toss lightly with oil. Let rest in the refrigerator, covered.

Meanwhile, combine fish sauce, water and sugar in a 1-quart saucepan. Cook until sugar is completely dissolved, 3–4 minutes. Add lime juice and set aside to cool.

When ready, add noodles to a large mixing (or serving) bowl. Add sliced cucumber and melon slices, bean sprouts, basil, mint, cilantro and sliced jalapeños. Toss with sauce. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with lime wedges. Serve immediately or cover and chill until serving.

Serves 4–6.

Stay cool, eat well, and carry on.

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Sparkling Wine Paired with Asian Cuisine

Sparkling Wine Pairing

Asian inspired cuisine can be difficult to pair wine to, but sparkling wine is often the very best pairing. This is especially true for Edible Rhody Magazine’s delicious Make Your Own Noodle Bowl.

The tiny bubbles of sparkling wine do a great job of cleansing the palate in between bites and gets your mouth ready for another go.  We also love the tone that sparkling wine sets for your meal:  a carefree, light-hearted party time!  We strongly recommend the Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut: extremely lively bubbles and beautiful flavors of lemon and bergamot orange, with notes of butter and hazelnuts.

Looking for great holiday wines? Read the Bottles Top Holiday Wines list!

Perrier Jouet Grand Brut

MAKE IT YOUR OWN NOODLE BOWL
by Amy McCoy, author of Poor Girl Gourmet and founder of PoorGirlGourmet.com

1 (10-ounce) package udon noodles or 4 individual packs ramen, seasoning packets discarded
6 cups vegetable stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 (1-inch) knob fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 (½-pound) sweet potato, washed and peeled and sliced in ¼-inch-thick half-rounds
1 bunch scallions, sliced crosswise into ½-inch rounds
1 small head bok choy (approximately 8 ounces), washed, trimmed, sliced into 1-inch-wide ribbons
1 medium bunch Swiss chard (approximately 8 ounces), washed, trimmed, sliced into 1-inch-wide ribbons
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large eggs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges (optional)

Prepare the noodles according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Set aside.

In a large stockpot, combine the vegetable stock and soy sauce, then add the ginger and sliced sweet potato to the pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Once the sweet potato is fork-tender (approximately 10 minutes) add scallions, bok choy and Swiss chard. Simmer until the greens are wilted and bright green, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add noodles and stir well. Keep over low heat.

Working quickly so noodles don’t get mushy, heat the oil in a medium sauté or frying pan and fry the eggs to your desired doneness.

Divide noodles among 4 warmed bowls. Add vegetables and broth and season with salt and pepper. Top each with 1 fried egg and sprinkle with cilantro. Serve each with a lime wedge. Serves 4.