Korean Pan-Fried Shrimp (Saeujeon)

This is one of my favorite ways to eat shrimp.  I found the recipe in my Craig Claiborne International cookbook, copyright 1971, and Maangchi, one of my favorite YouTube foodies has a wonderful step-by-step video.  Preparing the shrimp is a little labor intensive but if you do that early in the day, you will have a 10 minute meal for dinner.  Remove shells from the shrimp and butterfly them, then dust in flour and dredge in beaten eggs.  Pan-fry in oil and serve with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, vinegar and a few drops of sesame oil.  I also dipped red bell pepper rings in the flour and eggs and pan-fried them as a healthy accompaniment to the shrimp. 

Chinese Ginger Beef and Broccoli

I found this recipe on one of my favorite websites for Asian recipes, rasamalaysia.com.  It's filled with hundreds of easy and delicious recipes.  I love beef and broccoli for take-out so I decided to make a healthier at-home version.  I bought stir-fry beef strips at my local Sprouts market which makes the dish even quicker and easier.  The beef is marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine or sherry (I used Shaoxing wine), corn starch and pepper.  Heat oil in a wok and stir-fry ginger for a few minutes, then add the beef.  Cook until almost done then add the broccoli.  Add the brown sauce and continue to stir-fry until done. The brown sauce consists of a mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, sugar and corn starch.  Before serving, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
http://rasamalaysia.com/beef-and-broccoli-recipe/2/

Japanese Teriyaki Salmon

I love salmon and this is quite possibly my favorite new way of enjoying it.  I found the recipe on Just one Cookbook where I've found quite a few wonderful Asian recipes.  The teriyaki sauce is simply a mixture of equal parts soy sauce, sake and mirin, with a dash of sugar or honey.  The salmon is very lightly dredged in flour then cooked on all sides for about 3-4 minutes in butter and canola oil.  A tablespoon of sake is added then the fish is steamed for approximately 8-10 minutes depending on its thickness.  Remove the fish then add the teriyaki mixture to the pan and cook until it is reduced down.  Pour over the salmon and serve.

https://www.justonecookbook.com/teriyaki-salmon-recipe/

Japanese Soba Noodles

In Japan, soba noodles are eaten at midnight on New Year's Eve.  The long thin noodles symbolize long life, and they cut easily while eaten which symbolizes letting go of hardship for the year.  Traditionally a dashi broth is made of kelp and bonito flakes then seasoned with mirin, sake and soy sauce.   A variety of toppings can be added.  I simmered shrimp, snow peas, carrots and Chinese broccoli in the broth then sprinkled it with a dash of  shichimi togarashi to spice it up a little.  This simple bowl of noodles was a very healthy way to end one year and begin another. 

Asia 2018

My year-long project for 2018!  This year I will be focusing on cooking a multitude of dishes from around Asia.  I love the food culture and cuisine of China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and so many other Asian countries.  I will spend the year perfecting my skills in the kitchen and enjoying the food I love.  There's a new Asian market in my neighborhood that has inspired me to take on this project with all of the necessary ingredients just down the street.  Come along with me while I cook, blog and eat my way through Asia.  First stop Japan.  I'll kick off the year with the Japanese tradition of eating soba noodles to bid farewell to the year gone by and welcome the year to come.  Itadakimasu.