Earth Eats is exploring some Asian-inspired flavors today with a side dish using baby spinach, and then we give you something to look forward to this fall (and incentive to try something new in the garden) with a recipe for sesame long beans.
Japanese Baby Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
1 pound baby spinach2 tablespoons soy sauce1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes2 teaspoons fish sauce1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil1 tablespoon ginger, cut across grain3-4 scallions, cut thin1 1/2 garlic cloves2 tablespoons sesame seeds2 tablespoons olive oilsalt and pepper to tasteDirections:
Blanch the spinach: Cook it in boiling water until it wilts and then dunk the spinach into ice water using a strainer to keep the ice cubes out of your spinach leaves.Combine the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.Add blanched spinach leaves (wring out as much water as you can before adding to the dressing) and toss until the dressing is well distributed.In the photo you'll notice an orange-colored sauce drizzled around the spinach. And if you've listened to episodes past, you'll remember this stuff from everything from our Grilled Asparagus Salad to the Harrison Lake Garden Burger.
It's a delicious red pepper coulis that Chef Orr describes as "one of those secret ingredients you can keep around and it makes your cooking look snazzy and taste great."
Here's the recipe (makes 3 cups):
Red Pepper Coulis
Ingredients:
3 red peppers, washed, cored, and roughly chopped4 shallots, chopped1/4 cup tarragon vinegar1/4 cup water1 tablespoon sea salt1 branch thyme1 bay leaf1/4 cup olive oilhot sauce, salt and pepper to tasteDirections:
In a saucepan, combine peppers, shallots, vinegar, water, salt, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until peppers are tender. Reserve liquid.In a blender, combine cooked peppers and olive oil and puree. Thin with the pepper cooking in liquid as needed.Season to taste with salt and pepper and tabasco and pass through a fine sieve.Planting Asian Long Beans
It's a great time to be planting long beans, so we wanted to give you some inspiration to try something new and plant some of these tasty additions in your garden this year.
If you're thinking of growing long beans, know that they like hot and humid weather. They also like to climb as they grow, so plant them next to a pole or a chain link fence.
Asian Long Beans With Sesame Oil
Ingredients:
2-3 cups long beans1 teaspoon garlic1 teaspoon ginger½ teaspoon lemon zestpinch red pepper flakes2 tablespoons sesame seedssqueeze of fresh lemon juicesesame oilDirections:
Blanch the long beans. (Boil long beans for 3-4 minutes, until tender. Transfer to an ice bath.)Add garlic, ginger, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes to a pan of olive oil.Add long beans and a bit of water. Salt and pepper to taste, and add the sesame seeds.Squeeze long beans with lemon juice immediately before they are served. Drizzle sesame oil overtop.News Stories On The Podcast
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