Za Recipes

Who does not love Chinese Food take-out from the favorite local restaurant? Sometimes, however, the most popular dishes can include loads of hidden fat and calories as well as ingredients you may not want in your diet like MSG. A great alternative to spending the unnecessary money on cardboard containers of brought in food is to make this spicy, sweet, sour and salty Salmon with Asian Cucumber Salad with Jasmine Rice in your own kitchen for you and your family tonight. It is so easy, very inexpensive and delicious!

Start with about 1/3 pound salmon filet per person. Great salmon can be purchased right in your local grocery store and is frequently on sale . A great tip is to check with the seafood counter to find out which day they receive fish and seafood deliveries so you will know when to purchase the freshest available. Start by cooking the Jasmine rice as it takes the longest amount of time to cook. You want the rice to be finished cooking when the rest of the meal is hot and ready to serve. The ratio for making rice is twice as much liquid to rice. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and let cook for 18-20 min. Remove from heat, let sit for 10 min. and fluff with fork prior to serving.

Meanwhile, marinate the fish for just 5-10 minutes in 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar and a teaspoon or so of garlic chili paste. Remove the fish and discard any leftover marinade. Place the fish skin side down on a paper towel to remove all moisture from the skin but not from the flesh of the fish. Sprinkle the top with sea salt, brown sugar and pepper. Place skin side down in a hot saute pan with a touch of canola oil to prevent the fish from sticking. Allow to cook in the pan for about 5 minutes without attempting to move the fish in the pan. This will create the crispiest skin possible. Remove from burner and place the pan in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 6-8 min. Allow fish to rest for a few minutes prior to serving.

One of my favorite parts of eating sushi is the pickled ginger that comes with it. These cucumbers offer similar flavors and provide the same refreshing effect. Start by thinly slicing an English cucumber and place in a bowl. Separately, combine soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic chili paste (sparingly depending on your love of heat), a touch of wasabi paste and a bit of brown sugar. Add the soy sauce mixture to the cucumbers and mix well to evenly coat.

I hope that you will try these recipes and let me know your thoughts. Please submit any questions you may have as well. Be inspired to try something new tonight, maybe salmon, and enjoy the time around the dinner table with your family.