**Asian Greens: A Culinary Journey Through a World of Leafy Delights**
In the realm of Asian cuisine, greens occupy a prominent place, offering a symphony of flavors, textures, and health benefits. From the vibrant emerald of Chinese broccoli to the delicate peppery notes of mizuna, Asian greens encompass a diverse array of leafy vegetables, each with its own unique culinary charm. In this comprehensive guide, we'll embark on a delectable journey through the world of Asian greens, exploring their versatility and showcasing a collection of enticing recipes that highlight their culinary prowess.
Our culinary adventure begins with a classic stir-fry, where tender gai lan, or Chinese broccoli, takes center stage. Marrying the flavors of garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, this dish epitomizes the harmonious balance of tastes that characterizes Asian cuisine. Next, we'll venture into the realm of soups, crafting a nourishing and flavorful broth infused with the earthy essence of komatsuna, a Japanese leafy green. For a lighter option, we'll create a refreshing salad, featuring the delicate crunch of mizuna and the piquant notes of yu choy, dressed in a tangy sesame-ginger vinaigrette.
No exploration of Asian greens would be complete without delving into the art of dumplings. Here, we'll craft succulent pork and shrimp dumplings enveloped in a silky wrapper, enhanced by the aromatic addition of chopped chives. For a vegetarian delight, we'll prepare a vibrant filling featuring stir-fried bok choy, mushrooms, and water chestnuts, encased in wonton wrappers and steamed to perfection.
Our journey concludes with a delightful side dish, where velvety sautéed spinach, enriched with the nutty flavor of toasted sesame seeds, offers a simple yet satisfying accompaniment to any main course. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of Asian greens, discovering their culinary versatility and savoring the symphony of flavors they bring to the table.
STIR-FRIED ASIAN COLLARD GREENS
This stir-fried, Asian-inspired, fast and easy way to prepare collard greens doesn't have the 'slimy' factor in long-cooked versions, making it a hit with my picky family!
Provided by runnerk
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add collards and toss to lightly coat with oil. Pour in broth and soy sauce. Cover, reduce heat, and steam until tender, turning every few minutes, 7 to 8 minutes total. Remove from heat, drizzle with sesame oil, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 61.6 calories, Carbohydrate 5.4 g, Fat 4 g, Fiber 2.7 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 0.5 g, Sodium 297.3 mg, Sugar 0.8 g
ASIAN-INSPIRED MUSTARD GREENS
I don't know what it is about this combination of flavors, but I could eat these every day. Even though it contains the right ingredients in the right proportions for a teriyaki sauce, which is what I was aiming for originally, to describe the flavor as such would be inaccurate. I'm usually perfectly happy with this and a bowl of rice as a meal in itself, but when I'm forced to share, it pairs well with roasted chicken or just about any kind of pork.
Provided by trepto
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the sesame seeds into a large skillet over medium heat, and cook and stir constantly until the seeds are toasted a golden brown and make a continuous crackling noise, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the seeds immediately to a bowl to stop the cooking process. Set seeds aside.
- Place sesame oil in the hot skillet, and heat until it just begins to smoke (this should happen very fast). Place mustard greens into the hot oil, and pour in water. With a spatula, gently toss the greens until they are wilted and reduced in quantity, about 2 minutes. Mix in garlic, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sake, and sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stir until sugar has dissolved, and cover the skillet. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the greens are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. If a thicker sauce is desired, remove greens with a slotted spoon, and cook the liquid down to desired thickness; return greens to the skillet, toss in the pan juices, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 54.2 calories, Carbohydrate 6.3 g, Fat 2.5 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 3 g, SaturatedFat 0.3 g, Sodium 247.3 mg, Sugar 1.2 g
GRILLED TOFU AND SAUTEED ASIAN GREENS
Categories Ginger Leafy Green Sauté Vegetarian Quick & Easy Tofu Spinach Grill/Barbecue Healthy Vegan Sesame Soy Sauce Gourmet
Yield Makes 2 main-course servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cut tofu crosswise into 6 slices. Arrange in 1 layer on a triple layer of paper towels and top with another triple layer of towels. Weight with a shallow baking pan or baking sheet and let stand 2 minutes. Repeat weighting with dry paper towels 2 more times.
- Stir together soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, Tabasco, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a glass pie plate. Add tofu slices in 1 layer and marinate, turning over every couple of minutes, 8 minutes total.
- Heat a lightly oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Lift tofu from marinade with a slotted spatula (reserve marinade) and grill, turning over once carefully with spatula, until grill marks appear and tofu is heated through, 4 to 6 minutes total.
- While tofu grills, heat remaining teaspoon vegetable oil in a 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté greens, tossing with tongs, until beginning to wilt. Add reserved marinade and sauté, tossing, until greens are just wilted, about 1 minute. Lift greens from skillet with tongs, letting excess marinade drip off, and divide between 2 plates.
- Serve greens with tofu slices.
THAI SPICES SHRIMP SALAD WITH ASIAN GREENS AND PESTO DRESSING
Categories Salad Food Processor Pasta Coconut Basil Macadamia Nut Shrimp Curry Chill Cabbage Cilantro Simmer Boil Bon Appétit
Yield Makes 6 first-course or 4 main-course servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Make dressing:
- Blend basil, nuts and vinegar in processor until nuts are finely ground. With machine running, gradually add oil and blend well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to small bowl. (Dressing can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before using.)
- Make shrimp:
- Whisk coconut milk and curry paste in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until blended; bring to simmer. Add shrimp and simmer until shrimp are almost opaque in center, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Refrigerate shrimp in curry liquid, uncovered, until very cold, about 2 hours.
- Place rice sticks in medium bowl. Cover with very hot water. Let stand until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain rice sticks. (If using pasta, cook in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain well; rinse pasta with cold water and drain again.) Using knife or poultry shears, cut rice sticks or pasta into shorter (about 6-inch) lengths. Place noodles in medium bowl and toss with enough dressing to coat.
- Combine cabbage, bok choy, green onions and chopped cilantro in large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Divide greens among plates. Top with noodles. Drain shrimp; place atop noodles, dividing equally. Garnish with cilantro sprigs. Pass any remaining dressing separately.
ASIAN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH MUSTARD GREENS
I adapted this recipe from a cooking magazine. Serve with rice or noodles. Enjoy!
Provided by TJ Lombard
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken Chicken Thigh Recipes
Time 43m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add oil and swirl to coat the skillet. Cook and stir chicken until browned, about 4 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until softened, about 4 minutes. Add ginger and garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour chicken broth and rice wine into the skillet; scrape any browned bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer sauce until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir 1/3 of the mustard greens into the skillet; cook and stir until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Repeat twice more with remaining mustard greens.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 218.9 calories, Carbohydrate 11.5 g, Cholesterol 68.4 mg, Fat 8.8 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 21.9 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 319 mg, Sugar 5.1 g
ASIAN STIR-FRIED COLLARD GREENS
This is my Asian twist on my country collard greens. These collards are quick and easy and very tasty! Cooking with Love & Passion sw:)
Provided by Sherri Williams
Categories Vegetables
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1. In a large heated skillet, fry bacon until crispy.
- 2. Add onion, garlic, gourmet peppers, ginger and crushed red pepper to the skillet. Stir fry until onion ares translucent.
- 3. Add collard greens. Stir-fry for about 10-12 minutes on medium-high heat. Add remaining ingredients and a little water if needed. Cook for an additional minute or so.
WILTED ASIAN GREENS
Categories Ginger Leafy Green Side No-Cook Quick & Easy Vinegar Spring Summer Soy Sauce Gourmet
Yield Makes 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, and sesame oil in a small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved (do not let boil). Pour hot dressing over greens in a large bowl and toss well. Serve immediately.
UDON WITH TOFU AND ASIAN GREENS
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 17m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook the udon noodles as the label directs. (Don't overcook or they will get mushy.) Drain, reserving about 1/3 cup of the cooking water.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Pat the tofu dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Add the tofu to the skillet and sear until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside and keep warm.
- Add 1 tablespoon oil and the greens to the skillet. Cook, tossing, until just wilted. Add the scallions, red pepper flakes, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the soy sauce and sugar. Add the reserved cooking water; heat to create a broth. Divide the noodles and greens among 4 bowls and top with the tofu.
Tips:
- Prep your greens properly: Wash and trim your greens thoroughly to remove any dirt or impurities. For leafy greens, remove the tough stems before cooking.
- Choose the right cooking method: Different greens have different cooking times and methods. For tender greens like baby bok choy or spinach, a quick stir-fry or sauté is ideal. For heartier greens like kale or collard greens, braising or slow-cooking is a better option.
- Don't overcook your greens: Overcooked greens can become mushy and lose their nutrients. Cook them just until they are tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes for leafy greens and 5-7 minutes for heartier greens.
- Season your greens well: Asian greens have a slightly bitter taste, so it's important to season them well to balance out the flavors. Try using a combination of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar.
- Serve your greens with a variety of dishes: Asian greens are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of dishes, including rice, noodles, stir-fries, and soups. They can also be used as a topping for salads or sandwiches.
Conclusion:
Asian greens are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal. With their vibrant colors, unique flavors, and health benefits, they are a great way to add variety and flavor to your diet. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious side dish, give Asian greens a try!
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