Tag Archives: Chinese cuisine

Mongolian-Style Beef to Entice the Palate

Mise-en-place for Mongolian Beef

Mise-en-place for Mongolian Beef

Mongolian-Style Beef

Mongolian-Style Beef

After vacationing in Italy for 2 weeks, it didn’t take me long to get back in “Gina’s Kitchen”. Mongolian beef is a Chinese American dish that is quick and delicious on any weeknights. Typically, I would serve it with Jasmine rice, but today, I am using sweet potatoes as a side for a healthier option. Flank steak is a lean meat and is an excellent choice for this dish.

Serves: 3-4 – Level of difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 1.1/2 lbs. flank steaks, cut in strips
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4-6 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil, divided
• 1 green pepper, cut in julienne
• 1 long hot pepper, seeded and chopped, optional
• 3-4 scallions, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• Fresh ginger cut into matchsticks (1/4 cup)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 tablespoon Hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium Soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Preparation:

1. Make sure the meat is at room temperature to ensure even cooking. Season with salt and pepper. In a medium-sized bowl, add the corn starch and drench the steaks. Shake them one by one to remove any excess.
2. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or a wok, heat 2 tablespoons oil, place half the steaks in a single layer. Cook for about 3-4 minutes (in total) on medium-high heat, the meat should sizzle. Turn it halfway through using a set of silicone thongs. Remove the cooked meat and set aside on a dish. Add 2 tablespoons oil and cook the remaining steaks. Remove and combine it with the first batch.
3. In the same skillet, on medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil, stir fry together green pepper, hot pepper, scallions, garlic, ginger for about 1-2 minutes. Add water, Hoisin, Soy, Worcestershire sauces, and the cooked meat. Give it a couple good stirs with a wooden spoon. The sauce will thicken and stick nicely to the steaks. Voila! It’s ready to be served. Your family will ask for seconds and request that you make this meal again.

Wine pairing suggestions: Sauvignon Blanc, off-dry Riesling, or a Grenache.

Gina’s notes: If you plan to make rice as an accompaniment, start preparing it first, this way it will cook while you are preparing the meat. To ensure the meat is more tender, always cut it against the grain.

Happy Cooking from Gina’s Kitchen to Yours,

Gina Martino Zarcadoolas, aka Foodiewinelover
Culinary Personality, Food & Wine Blogger
Author of the cookbook: Cuisines, Corkscrews & Cultures
Level-2 Certified world-renowned – “WSET: Wine, Spirit, Education, Trust”
Level-2 Certified Sommelier
Winner of 2019 “Salice Salentino USA Bloggers” Award

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

With today’s busy lives, people are pressed for time, and need quick and easy recipes for weeknight meals. These Chicken Lettuce Wraps take no time, and are delightful. This is my creation, and I am happy to share my passion in the kitchen with all of you.

Serves: 4   Degree of difficulty: Easy

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

  •  3 tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1/4 cup onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red bell peppers, chopped
  • 1/4 cup canned water chestnut, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 lbs ground chicken
  • 1.5 – 2 tbsp. Soy sauce, low sodium
  • Dash of Cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup carrots, grated, + more for garnish
  • Salt, optional
  • 1 head of bib, or butter lettuce leavesPreparation:  
  1. In a large skillet or wok, over medium-high heat, heat oil, add onions, peppers, water chestnut, garlic, ginger. Saute’ for 5 -6 minutes, stir occasionally.
  2. Add chicken, stir fry for 5 minutes. Add soy sauce, Cayenne pepper, carrots, salt, fry  while stirring for another 5-7 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. (Do not attempt to taste unless you are certain chicken is cooked, and has an opaque color)
  3. Fill the lettuce with the chicken and serve with a peanut, soy or any sauce of your choice. Serve with brown or white rice on the side for a complete meal. Try this easy and delicious meal, and your family will appreciate your love for them, through your cooking.
    Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Happy Stir Frying from My Kitchen to Yours!

    Gina 
    Super-High-Res-with-White-BG

Shrimp Lo Mein

Shrimp Lo Mein

Mise en place for Shrimp Lo Mein
This post is dedicated to a wonderful social media friend, Adrienne. She creates delicious recipes, and takes beautiful photographs of food. All her dishes are vibrant and enticing, but her Shrimp Lo Mein caught my attention on Instagram.  I immediately asked her for the recipe, and she graciously provided it to me. It didn’t take me long to try it in my kitchen, and my family  loved it. I’m excited to share this delectable Chinese dish with all of you.

Serves: 4-6 Level of difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 1 package, Lo Mein Noodles, 13.5 oz.
  • 1.5 lb. of shrimp, peeled, deveined, tail-off
  • 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil, + more to drizzle on noodles
  • 1 tsp. of sesame oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/2 tbsp. ginger, grated
  • 2 tbsp. water + more, if necessary
  • 2 tbsp. low-sodium Soy sauce, + more to drizzle
  • 1/4 cup Oyster Sauce
  •  1 small onion, chopped
  • Chinese chives, or 3 scallions * 

    Preparation:

    1) Cook the noodles according to package directions. (This one took exactly 3 minutes.) Drain and set aside. Drizzle noodles with vegetable oil to avoid them from sticking together.

    2) In a wok, or frying pan, over medium-high heat, heat vegetable oil and sesame oil. Add garlic, ginger, onions, shrimp, scallions,  Soy sauce and Oyster sauce, water.  Cook until the shrimp turns pink.

    3) Add Lo Mein noodles to the shrimp and mix well.  Drizzle with more Soy sauce, to taste.  Garnish with fresh scallions.

    The recipe calls for Chinese chives, but since they were not readily available, I used scallions. Celery can also be used as a substitute.

    This recipe hits all the high notes, and will become a part of my repertoire. Thank you Adrienne for inspiring me with your culinary creations.

    Warning: Do not use any salt, as some of the ingredients are already salty. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, this dish may not be suitable for you.

Happy Cooking from My Kitchen to Yours,

Gina

 

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