Monday, March 22, 2010

'SPRING HAS RETURNED...' ~ CHICKEN SATAY & ASIAN ASPARAGUS

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems."

~ Rainer Maria Rilke


Cymbidium Orchid
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CHICKEN SATAY & ASIAN ASPARAGUS
~ Simple supper with fresh asparagus ... a hint of 'spring'
(adapted from Foodie Froggy)
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6 chicken breasts, cut in strips
1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil (more if needed)
bamboo skewers

Marinade:

6 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. Mirin (sweet rice wine), sherry or Marsala
coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Satay Sauce:

4 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. chili oil
3 Tbsp. white rice vinegar
4 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes

  • Combine soy sauce, Mirin (sherry or Marsala), salt & pepper. Add chicken strips, toss, and marinate for 20 minutes.
  • Combine ingredients for Satay Sauce in blender. Set aside.
  • Heat wok with 1 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil until it smokes a little. Add chicken and sauté about 5 minutes (don't overcrowd ... sauté in batches).
  • Lower heat and add Satay sauce and all the chicken. Cook about 5 minutes or until heated through.
  • Thread chicken on skewers. Serve in bowls with sauce and Asian asparagus. (6 servings)

Note: Chicken can also be threaded on water soaked skewers and grilled 5-7 minutes. Serve Satay sauce on side for dipping.

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ASIAN ASPARAGUS

1 lb. fresh asparagus
3 Tbsp. chopped shallots
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 tsp. chili oil
toasted sesame seeds

  • Wipe wok clean with paper towel. Heat sesame and chili oil.
  • Sauté asparagus and shallots until 'al dente'. Add soy sauce and heat through.
  • Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and serve.



New Best Friend
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31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh this is so cheering, dear Joey, thanks. It will go into the file of recipes that we have copied from your blog, this is a favorite dish but I never knew how to make th dipping sauce. That cym is incredible. New best friend indeed. :-)
Frances

Kathy said...

Yummy food recipe and pretty orchid! Love your collages... how do you do that or maybe that's a trade secret?

k

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness. I think I'd better go get something to eat! This post made my mouth water. I LOVE asparagus and chicken is one of my favourite foods.

The pictures are lovely as always!

imac said...

Beautiful Joey, and I bet the food is too,as my mouth is watering(dribbling,lol)

Gatsbys Gardens said...

I have asparagus and just came in from the store with chicken. I like the idea of the skewers on the Barbeque.

The Orchids are gorgeous.

Eileen

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Joey. Love the orchid, what a perfect shade of pink. I really have a craving for asparagus:)
Marnie

Christine B. said...

Well, now I know what's for dinner tonight. Glad I checked your blog before I went grocery shopping.

Christine in Alaska

Anonymous said...

The flowers are stunning.

Carol said...

Yummy!! I love the Asian Asparagus! Soon I will have to try this!! Beautiful Orchid shots! Happy Spring Joey!!

Shady Gardener said...

Or like ME with my new best friend, as I espy all the new Spring growth: "Oh! I remember you!" ;-) Happy Spring, Joey!

Victoria said...

Beautiful! I love asparagus..what a nice version to try!! Excellent!
Lovely post Joey..the flowers are awesome!
Kiki~

RURAL said...

You know, I will never have to think of what to make for dinner again. Just check out your blog, and get the ingredients for the next day. Ah, one of life's big dilema's solved.

More time to photograph all those spring flowers.

Jen

joey said...

Thanks, dear Frances. I did not need to adopt another cymbidium but couldn't resist this lovely face.

Welcome Kathy and thank you. No trade secret ... head over to Picasa and have a ball!

Agree, Krista ... a tasty combo, and thank you.

Thanks iMac ... wish I could share :)

Hi Eileen and thank you. These skewers are great on the grill.

Exactly why I choose the orchid, Marnie. Thanks and Happy Spring!

Thank you, Abraham. Are you enjoying spring?

Hi Christine ... hope you enjoyed your dinner! Do you still have heaps of snow?

Happy Spring, dear Carol. Can you believe it finally arrived? Oh happy day!

Hi Shady ... do hope you are enjoying your Spring Break! Now, if the weather would cooperate, we'd all be in heaven!

Thank you, Kiki. Asparagus shouts spring, doesn't it! I wish I could grow it ... do you?

Ah, thanks Jen. Love the blue theme (one of the loveliest colors in the garden) on your new blog. Not much in the food department thought except for blue cheese, blueberries, and my favorite, blue M&Ms.

F Cameron said...

What a delicate-color and bloom shape on the orchid! Swoon!

I do love satay and your recipe is without fish sauce, so I think I'll give it a try!

The Giraffe Head Tree said...

Lovely orchid! Oh! Wow! This recipe shall be tried out on the hubby the next time I get some fresh asparagus - yum! I'm salivating!

joey said...

Thanks, Cameron. I sure don't need another orchid but until I can work outside ... and create my succulent garden :) ... I must be content to play inside!

Welcome GHT and thank you. Do hope you enjoy ... must check out your playlist on iTunes ... music still humming through my head :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

One of my, erm, more demanding ex-colleagues had a habit of referring to people as his "new best friend," but I won't let that color the fact that your Cymbidium is stunning, LOL! It's sunny today, yay! We've actually had the sunniest spring I can remember in a long time.

joey said...

Thanks Monica but, erm, please share! Though predicted, we have NO sun here!

Kerri said...

We are overcast too, after a night of rather heavy rain...about an inch and a half.
Like many of the other visitors, I'm salivating! Yum! We hope to harvest our own asparagus this spring. Both dishes sound delicious!
Your orchid is breathtaking and as usual, I've so enjoyed seeing all your beautiful collages.
This is a feel-good blog for sure, dear Joey :)
Happy spring! Isn't it wonderful? Even with overcast skies :)

joey said...

Indeed it is wonderful, dear Kerri, overcast or not! Always a gift to hear from you, thank you. Wishing you wonderful weather and happy gardening!

garden girl said...

What a gorgeous orchid Joey. Yay spring!

I love chicken satay. Pairing it with asaparagus is an excellent spring dinner idea. I'll definitely be giving this a try.

Rick said...

Love those orchid shots joey! And asparagus - mmmmmmmmmmm. I'll be waiting a few more weeks before mine starts growing :(

Kala said...

Lovely composition and softness. Excellent shots!

The Idiot said...

Nice recipe. I vary my marinade, often going with a few tablespoons of dark soy (it's slightly sweeter), rice wine (a chinese one; Mirin can be oversweet with dark soy) and fish sauce, plus a couple of drops of sesame oil and some crushed garlic. It works well with beef too, although I'll add a little more fish sauce and some crushed chilli for red meat.

Nutty Gnome said...

Mmmm! We love satay chicken, but I'm going to have to give your Asian asparagus a go! It'd go really nicely with deep fried fresh tofu!

joey said...

Hi Linda and thanks. Yes, yea sping! Will you be growing asparagus in your new raised bed?

Thanks Rick. Wish I had asparagus growing! Good luck with your harvest and Bon Appétit!

Kala, thank you kindly :)

Welcome, Idiot Gardener! I vary my recipe also and did not add sesame oil since I was using it in the asparagus recipe and wanted the flavor 'to pop' there. Happy Spring Gardening!

Hi Nutty! Wish I liked tofu better but I bet I would like yours! Happy Spring dining :)

kate smudges said...

What a treat to visit your blog tonight and see the lovely Cymbidium orchid. Your photo mosaics are always beautiful. I loved seeing the sunset on Hubbard Lake. An equinox to remember! Hope you are having a great week. ox

joey said...

Hello, dear Kate, and thank you. The first week of spring, though wanting in warmth, is delightful. Though the garden is exploding in new green growth, except for colorful primrose and a few meager crocus the squirrels and chipmunks were kind enough to leave me, no other brave faces have appeared. Am searching daily for my bloodroot ...

marmee said...

love your new best friend...she is a beauty. spring is taking it's time but a few good days here and there is something to hang on to.
your recipe sounds so good.
happy springtime dear joey.

Rose said...

What a beautiful orchid--no wonder it's your new best friend:) Asparagus is my favorite spring vegetable; I'll eat any dish that has asparagus in it!

joey said...

Thanks, dear Marmee. I'm quite passionate about orchids and wish I had a greenhouse ... oh well ...

Welcome home, Rose, and thank you. I feel the same about asparagus, can't get my fill.