Seared Bean Sprouts with Beef & Sesame Orange Sauce

Picture from catesworldkitchen.com

{Picture from cate’s world kitchen}

 
Sprouts. 
Fillers. 
Tasteless. 
Waste of space. 

Well Mark Bittman, you’ve done it again.

Maybe this is the theme of this Food Matters Project, but I was scared of the amount of sprouts in this recipe. SPROUTS? They are a filler food to me. I hate when Benihana or better yet, KOBE’s, puts them in their fried rice. Total blemish in a perfect food.

But these sprouts won me over. Just like the brussels sprouts won so many people over last week. Pretty good @Bittman, pretty good. This recipe is for keeps. Thanks for a great pick this week Dominica!

I was excited to try this recipe because of the asian style sauce and the quick cook time (less than 20 min!).  Minus the sprouts- I know, I know I can stop with the sprouts. But that’s the idea of this Food Matters Project right? Expand my horizons and eat a little better. I did make a side of chicken fried rice though just in case. 😉

I stuck to the recipe 100%, but hesitated while searing the beef on high. It was sliced so thin and the pan is supposed to be on high with oil, I really thought I would ruin it. My bad, I turned the heat down and afterwards wish I had seared it on high. Cooking such thin cut meat on high for just 2 minutes will help it stay tender, mine ended up a bit more tough.

This recipe’s sauce was pretty watery since it’s made with fresh squeezed orange juice, orange zest, soy sauce, and honey.

::: I’d like to make it again, but begin by sautéing the sauce in a saucepan on the side with a bit of corn starch. This will thicken it up a bit before pouring it over the sprouts and beef.  I will also add crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 more tablespoon each of  honey and soy sauce. :::

Seared Bean Sprouts with Beef and Sesame Orange Sauce

Full Recipe by Mark Bittman found HERE at WINE FOOD LOVE

Ingredients:

  • thinly sliced beef
  • 2 oranges, squeezed and zested
  • soy sauce
  • honey
  • lots of sprouts
  • sesame seeds
  • scallions

Tips:

  • Good pick for a quick carb free meal (less than 20 minutes)
  • Don’t be afraid to sear the meat on high, just keep it to 2 minutes
  • Potentially try cooking the sauce on the side and thickening it with a bit or corn starch before pouring it over
  • For a bold flavor add 1 more tablespoon each of soy sauce and honey
  • For spice add a pinch of crushed red pepper
 ::: Head here to see how the other members of the Food Matter’s Project fared. I can’t wait to see if anyone got creative! :::

Chicken Fried Rice       side serves 4

  • 1 chicken breast, chopped very small
  • 1 cup of white or brown rice, cooked and set aside (makes 3 cups cooked)
  • 1/2 a large sweet onion diced
  • 3 scallions, sliced up to some of the green
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup light soy sauce
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ginger powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Heat olive oil on medium high heat. Cook chicken for 3 or 4 minutes until there is no pink you can see. Add onions, scallion, and carrots and cook for 4 minutes. Add peas and edamame cook for 4 more minutes. Add rice, garlic powder, ginger, soy sauce, and salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 4 more minutes.

Push rice to the side and crack the eggs into the pan. Let cook for 30 seconds (until fluffy) then mix into the rice. Add sesame seeds.  Add more seasonings to your preference.

::: keelymarie :::

Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs, Pears, Apples, Fontina & Gruyère

I  love, love, love cooking for friends and family. It is such a release to me and a great excuse to have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand with the music blasting (and not the TV).

Last night we had some friends over because I planned to cook this week’s Food Matter’s Project dish “Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs & Bleu Cheese.”

Continue reading “Baked Rigatoni with Brussels Sprouts, Figs, Pears, Apples, Fontina & Gruyère”

The Food Matters Project ::: Chipotle-Glazed Squash Skewers

 

Interrupting your :::Super Bowl Hangover Monday::: with your new favorite butternut squash dish.

When I saw that Sarah chose Chipotle-Glazed Squash Skewers as the first recipe for The Food Matters Project I was really curious to see what’s used to make the “Chipotle-Glaze.”

The glaze is pretty simple, made using a mix of chili peppers in adobo sauce (canned at your grocery store), olive oil, honey, and garlic. These squash skewers are a great dish to bring to a BBQ or potluck and a fantastic main dish if you are eating more vegetables and less meat.

 

Head over to 20somethingcupcakes for the full recipe.

The glaze is a blend of smoky, spicy, and sweet. I added an extra tablespoon of honey after tasting. I was a little worried because there are not many dishes I make that call for so much olive oil for, but a lot if it drips off while you roast the skewers. The recipe calls for the glaze to be muddled, but somehow I am without a muddler (makes no sense with  my love of mojitos!). I used the chop option on a food processor for a few seconds.

{TIP: I had a hard time getting the bamboo skewers in the squash without breaking them, I think I soaked the skewers in water too long. So instead I used metal skewers. They were long enough to sit on the sides of my baking sheet which was perfect for roasting the squash cubes. The skewers suspended in the air above the baking sheet, which made it easy to turn them once in a while.}

Next time I make these I will add some pineapple and green bell pepper to the skewers for color & variety in flavor. Since I’m not used to eating only vegetables for a meal (especially not just 1 type of vegetable), adding something else to the skewers would make it more interesting and I think the flavors would go really well together.

You can also head here to see how the other members of The Food Matters Project fared.

::: Chipotle-Glazed Squash Skewers Recipe :::

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keely marie