salt – Page 9 – yummy food share

Fiery Garlic Blistered Long Beans

2025-11-11

If you’re searching for a dish that is incredibly fast, astonishingly delicious, and brings a bold punch of flavor to your dinner table, look no further. This recipe transforms humble long beans into a spectacular side dish that could easily steal the show. Ready in about ten minutes, this dish is surprisingly simple to master. The magic lies in a quick flash-fry technique that gives the beans a wonderfully wrinkled, “blistered” skin, locking in a tender-crisp texture. The flavor profile is a thrilling journey for your taste buds: savory, spicy from the chilies, with a unique, tingly numbness from Sichuan peppercorns, all balanced by a hint of sweetness and a bright splash of vinegar. It’s the perfect, exciting weeknight vegetable dish that tastes like it came from a specialty restaurant but is easy enough for any home cook to perfect. Here is what you’ll need to create this amazing dish. Don’t be intimidated by any unfamiliar ingredients; I’ve included simple swaps you can find at any major supermarket. For the Beans: Long Beans: 1 large handful (about 1 lb or 450g). These are also known as yardlong beans or asparagus beans. If you can’t find them, regular green beans or French beans (haricots verts) work beautifully as a substitute. Peanut Oil: About 1 cup (240ml) for frying. You can substitute with any neutral oil with a high smoke point, like canola, grapeseed, or vegetable oil. For the Aromatics & Sauce: Garlic: 3-4 cloves, finely minced. Ginger: 1-inch piece, finely minced. Dried Red Chilies: 5-10, depending on your spice preference. Arbol chilies are a good option. You can snip them in half to release more heat. Sichuan Peppercorns: 1 teaspoon. These are a key ingredient for their unique citrusy aroma and tingly, mouth-numbing sensation (known as “málà”). You can find them…

Sizzling Harvest Dry Pot

2025-11-10

If you’re craving a restaurant-style dish that explodes with flavor but is surprisingly simple to whip up at home, you’ve found your match. Meet the “dry pot,” a sensational stir-fry that’s all about intense, concentrated flavor without the broth of its soupy cousin, the hot pot. This recipe is a fantastic weekend project or an adventurous weeknight dinner, coming together in about 30 minutes once your ingredients are prepped. The process involves a quick parboiling of the heartier ingredients before they join a sizzling, aromatic stir-fry. The result is a mildly spicy, deeply savory, and utterly addictive medley of textures and tastes. It’s a customizable feast in a pan, and its hands-on, fast-paced cooking process is as fun as it is rewarding. Here’s what you’ll need to create this masterpiece. Don’t be intimidated by the list; it’s all about layering flavors, and many items can be swapped based on what you have. Ingredients: For the Core: 1 large lotus root section (about 1 cup, sliced) 1 ear of corn, cut into 1-inch wheels 2 medium potatoes, peeled and sliced 12 dried shiitake mushrooms 1 cup of your favorite meatballs (frozen beef, pork, or even fish balls work) 10 large shrimp, peeled and deveined 1 large onion, cut into wedges 2 stalks of celery, cut into 1-inch pieces For the Aromatics: 7 cloves of garlic, minced 1-inch piece of ginger, minced A small handful of Sichuan peppercorns (about 1 teaspoon) 5 small red chilies (like Thai or bird’s eye chilies), sliced For the Sauce & Seasoning: 2 tablespoons Doubanjiang (Spicy broad bean paste) Vegetable oil, for cooking Salt, to taste Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish A Note on Ingredients: This dish is incredibly flexible! Lotus Root: If you can’t find fresh lotus root in the produce aisle of your local Asian…

Vibrant Garlic Chive and Mushroom Stir Fry

2025-11-10

Looking for a recipe that’s incredibly fast, wonderfully healthy, and bursting with a unique, savory flavor? Look no further. This stir-fry is a testament to the beauty of simple cooking, proving that you don’t need a long list of ingredients or complicated techniques to create something truly delicious. Ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish, this dish is the definition of a perfect weeknight meal. It’s an incredibly easy stir-fry that highlights the fresh, subtle garlic notes of the chives and the delightful texture of wood ear mushrooms. The flavor is light, clean, and savory, making it a refreshing addition to any dinner table. Its simplicity is its greatest strength, allowing the natural goodness of the ingredients to shine through. To get started, you’ll only need a few simple things. This ingredient list is straightforward, but I’ve included some easy-to-find alternatives in case you can’t get your hands on the traditional items. For the Stir-Fry (serves 2 as a side dish): Garlic Chives: 1 large bunch (about 8 oz or 225g). These are flat, wide chives with a distinct but mild garlicky flavor. Dried Wood Ear Mushrooms: A small handful (about ¼ cup). These are thin, dark fungi that expand significantly when soaked. They are prized for their unique, slightly crunchy and chewy texture rather than their flavor. High-Smoke-Point Oil: 1 to 2 tablespoons, such as peanut, canola, or avocado oil. Salt: ½ teaspoon, or to taste. Ingredient Notes & Substitutions: Can’t find garlic chives? No problem! A great substitute is to use the green parts of 4-5 scallions (spring onions) and add one minced clove of garlic to the stir-fry along with them to replicate that signature flavor. What if wood ear mushrooms aren’t available? While their texture is unique, you can easily substitute them with fresh…

Lotus Root Pork Belly Bites A Simple Savory Supper

2025-11-10

Get ready to embark on a delightful culinary adventure with a dish that promises to charm your taste buds and impress your dinner guests, all without breaking a sweat! This recipe, known for its elegant simplicity and heartwarming flavors, brings together tender lotus root and succulent ground pork in a harmony that is both comforting and exotic. With a cooking time of just around an hour and a difficulty level that’s incredibly beginner-friendly, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create something so profoundly delicious. The technique, a gentle braise, allows the natural flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a savory, umami-rich experience that’s surprisingly mellow and deeply satisfying. It’s a wonderful way to explore new ingredients and flavors without intimidation. Let’s gather our tasty components! Here’s what you’ll need: For the Core: Lotus Root: An amount that feels right for your meal – perhaps 1-2 medium-sized roots. This is the star, offering a wonderful, slightly crunchy texture and subtle sweetness. You can usually find fresh lotus root in Asian grocery stores. If fresh isn’t available, you might find frozen sliced lotus root, which works well too after thawing. Pork Shoulder (or Pork Belly): About 1 pound (approximately 450g) of ground pork. Pork shoulder (or “front leg pork” as it’s sometimes called) is ideal for its balanced fat content, making the filling juicy. If you can’t find shoulder, regular ground pork (ideally 80/20 or 70/30 lean-to-fat ratio) is a perfect substitute. For the Flavor Boosters: Scallions (Green Onions): A small bunch, finely chopped. These add a fresh, aromatic kick. Peanut Oil: Enough for frying, about 2-3 tablespoons. Any neutral cooking oil like vegetable or canola oil will work just as well. Cornstarch: 2-3 tablespoons, divided. This acts as a binder for the meat and helps create a lovely golden…

Hearty Beef Brisket and Bitter Melon Stew

2025-11-08

If you’re looking for a dish that is the epitome of home-cooked comfort but with a unique and unforgettable flavor profile, then you’ve come to the right place. Let me introduce you to a truly special braised beef brisket and bitter melon stew. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking – bitter melon? Trust me, in this dish, its characteristic bitterness mellows into a wonderfully refreshing counterpoint to the rich, savory beef. This recipe uses a pressure cooker to transform tough beef brisket into melt-in-your-mouth tender morsels in about an hour, making it surprisingly simple and weeknight-friendly. It’s a one-pot wonder that delivers a complex, satisfying flavor that tastes like it has been simmering for hours. Easy to master and deeply rewarding, this stew is a fantastic way to explore new flavors and add an exciting dish to your cooking repertoire. Let’s gather our ingredients. The beauty of this dish is its simplicity, relying on quality ingredients to shine. For substitutions, I’ve got you covered! For the Stew: Beef Brisket: About 1.5 lbs (or 700g). If you can’t find brisket, beef chuck or boneless short ribs are fantastic alternatives that also become incredibly tender when stewed. Bitter Melon: 1 large or 2 small ones. Look for firm, bright green melons at an Asian grocery store. If you’re new to it, you can reduce its bitterness by scooping out the white pith thoroughly and soaking the cut pieces in salt water for 15-20 minutes before rinsing and cooking. If you absolutely cannot find it, zucchini can offer a similar texture, but you’ll miss the unique flavor contrast. Ginger: A 2-inch piece. Garlic: 5-6 whole cloves. Peanut Oil: About 2 tablespoons. Any neutral cooking oil like canola, vegetable, or grapeseed oil will work perfectly. Oyster Sauce: 2 tablespoons. This…

Ultimate Comfort Pork Rib and Potato Stew

2025-11-08

If you’re searching for a dish that tastes like a warm hug in a bowl, you’ve found it. This hearty pork rib and potato stew is the very definition of comfort food. It’s a rustic, one-pot wonder that brings together fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs, fluffy potatoes that soak up all the savory goodness, crisp-tender green beans, and delightfully chewy glass noodles. The magic of this dish lies in its deep, savory flavor, achieved with a few key pantry staples, and its incredible simplicity. While it tastes like it has been simmering for hours, the entire meal comes together in about an hour, thanks to a clever shortcut using a pressure cooker. Don’t worry if you don’t have one; a regular pot works just as well with a little extra time. This recipe is wonderfully easy for cooks of all levels and is guaranteed to become a family favorite. What You’ll Need Here are the ingredients to create this heartwarming stew. I’ve included common substitutions for items that might be less familiar, so you can easily find everything you need at your local supermarket. For the Stew: Pork Ribs: 1.5 lbs (about 700g), cut into individual ribs or 2-inch pieces. Potatoes: 2 large (about 1 lb or 450g), like Russet or Yukon Gold. Green Beans: ½ lb (about 250g), trimmed. Glass Noodles: 2 oz (about 50g). These are typically made from sweet potato starch and are called fentiao. They become wonderfully chewy and translucent when cooked. You can find them in the international aisle of most large supermarkets or at an Asian grocery store. Substitution: If you can’t find them, you can omit them or use thick rice vermicelli. Ginger: A 1-inch piece. Scallions (Green Onions): 2 stalks, finely chopped, for garnish. Cooking Oil: 3 tablespoons. Peanut oil is traditional, but…

Vibrant 10 Minute Summer Squash Stir Fry

2025-11-07

Welcome to one of the most rewarding recipes in my collection—a dish that looks like a ray of sunshine on a plate and comes together in just 10 minutes. If you’re searching for a side dish that is incredibly fast, stunningly beautiful, and bursting with fresh, clean flavors, you’ve found it. This simple stir-fry is a celebration of summer squash in its purest form. While the elegant presentation of thinly shredded squash might look complex, this is secretly one of the most beginner-friendly dishes you can make. The cooking process is a quick stir-fry, a technique designed to cook vegetables rapidly over high heat, locking in their natural crunch and nutrients. The taste is wonderfully subtle and refreshing, allowing the natural sweetness of the squash to be the star, lightly accented with a hint of garlic. It’s a perfect, healthy addition to any meal. Here’s what you’ll need to create this beautiful dish. The ingredient list is short and simple, and you likely have most of these items in your pantry already. Ingredients: Yellow Summer Squash: 3 medium-sized ones. This might also be labeled as yellow zucchini. Their bright color is key to the dish’s visual appeal, but regular green zucchini will work just as wonderfully if that’s what you have on hand. Garlic: 2-3 cloves, finely minced. The amount is flexible, so feel free to add more if you’re a big garlic fan! Cooking Oil: 1 to 2 tablespoons. A neutral oil with a high smoke point is best. Canola, grapeseed, or avocado oil are all excellent choices. Cooking Wine: 1 teaspoon. This refers to Shaoxing wine, which adds a specific depth and aroma. If you don’t have it, don’t worry! You can easily substitute it with a splash of dry sherry, mirin, or even just a teaspoon of…

Savory Braised Pork Ribs and Green Beans

2025-11-07

If you’re searching for a dish that delivers deep, comforting flavor without spending hours in the kitchen, you’ve just found your new weeknight champion. This recipe for braised pork ribs and green beans is a stunning example of how simple ingredients can create something truly special. It’s a hearty, savory, one-pan meal that comes together in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for a busy day. Using a quick-braising method, the pork ribs become wonderfully tender while the green beans cook to a perfect crisp-tender texture, all coated in a rich, garlicky sauce. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and its incredibly satisfying, savory flavor profile. It’s wonderfully easy for beginners, yet the taste is so robust it will impress even the most seasoned home cooks. To get started, you’ll need a handful of accessible ingredients. The key is to find good quality pork ribs and fresh, crisp green beans. Here’s a full list of what you’ll need, along with some tips and easy substitutions for a Western kitchen. For the Marinade: Pork Ribs: 400g (about 0.9 lbs), cut into small, bite-sized pieces. You can ask your butcher to do this for you. Pork riblets or St. Louis-style ribs cut into individual bones work perfectly. Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon. This is the secret to tenderizing the pork and creating a velvety coating. Light Soy Sauce: 1 tablespoon. Use a low-sodium version if you prefer. This is different from dark soy sauce; it’s saltier and less thick. For the Main Dish: Green Beans: 500g (about 1.1 lbs). The original recipe uses “knife beans” (刀豆), which are a type of flat, broad green bean. Standard string beans or flat Italian green beans are excellent and widely available substitutes. Garlic: 2 cloves, thinly sliced. Oyster Sauce: 1 tablespoon. This adds a…

Savory Salt Poached Duck with Ginger

2025-11-05

If you believe that cooking a whole duck is a complicated, all-day affair reserved for special occasions, I’m here to change your mind with a recipe that is as elegant as it is simple. This method of poaching a duck in a gently salted, ginger-infused broth is a culinary revelation. It takes a few hours from start to finish, but most of that is hands-off simmering time, leaving you free to relax. The process is wonderfully straightforward, making it perfect for even novice cooks. Instead of the rich, crispy-skinned roasted duck you might be used to, this technique yields incredibly tender, succulent meat with a clean, deeply savory flavor that is truly unforgettable. It’s a dish that celebrates the pure, unadulterated taste of duck, enhanced by the simplest of seasonings. Here’s what you’ll need to create this masterpiece in your own kitchen. The beauty of this recipe lies in its minimalist ingredient list, so using high-quality components will make all the difference. Ingredients: One whole duck: About 4 to 5 pounds (around 2 kg). A Pekin or Long Island duck works beautifully. If you can’t find a whole duck, this recipe also works well with 4-6 large duck legs, though you may need to reduce a little the simmering time. Coarse sea salt or kosher salt: About 1/2 cup (120g), divided. Using coarse salt is key, as it draws moisture out more gently than fine table salt and is easier to rub evenly over the skin. Fresh ginger: One large 3-inch (8 cm) piece, washed and cut into thick slices. No need to peel it, as the skin contains plenty of flavor. Water: Enough cold water to completely cover the duck in a large pot. Scallions (Green Onions): 2-3 stalks, finely chopped, for an optional fresh, vibrant garnish at the…