Blog Archive

Friday, September 14, 2012

Class Fun, Puptides, and a Recipe

 Asian-Style Chicken Meatballs and Spring Rolls

 Class Fun, Puptides, and a Recipe
by Victoria Challancin

I'm sure that by now for those of you who follow my blog, you have the idea that I love giving cooking classes--especially to the Mexican cooks I have been lucky enough to work with.  Most have never travelled out of the state they were born in; most only have experience with Mexican cuisine.  They are like sponges--curious about world flavors, new recipes, new techniques, new sensations.  Wednesday's class was perfect training ground for all of the above with the making of sushi (nori on the outside and inside-out), spring rolls, potstickers, scallion pancakes, Asian-style meatballs, salad, and a mango cheesecake flan.

Two types of American-style sushi:  California rolls with surimi, avocado, and cucumber with the rice on the outside and Philadelphia rolls with cream cheese and smoked salmon.

 Laura, using a silpat mat to roll sushi

 Magali having success rolling out her scallion pancake--and rerolling into a spiral and rolling it out again
Vero rolling out a pancake

 Paula Grande making a spring or egg roll, which she rightly called a "chimichanga"

 Paula Chica, who begins university next week with a scholarship in gastronomy, filling a spring roll

First efforts at rolling sushi

 We pleated the potstickers by hand, then used my new gadget to form them as well--just for fun!

 Potstickers, not pretty, but such fun to make and eat



For recipes I have used in the past:
Lumpia (Miniature Filipino Spring Rolls)


Puptides
It is a known scientific fact that the mere sight of a friendly dog induces the body to produce "puptides," chemicals which help the body fight disease and create a general feeling of well-being.
Swami Beyondanada, humorist



 Angus, age 13 weeks, midst the wreckage of a milk bottle, an over-turned water bucket, my beloved Bird of Paradise plant (or what is left of it), and mango--on his legs.  Happy.  Leaving me with puptides.

 Border Collie agility 

Asian-Style Chicken Meatballs with Lime-Sesame Dipping Sauce

Cook's Notes:  I used ground chicken instead of the turkey the original recipe called for.  I also added a bit more honey in the sauce.  We also made them a bit smaller than the recipe suggests so we could serve them with toothpicks.

Recipe:  Asian-Style Chicken Meatballs with Lime-Sesame 
                                                   Dipping Sauce
                                      (Adapted slightly from the original recipe by Skinnytaste.com)

Dipping Sauce:
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon honey, to taste
1 scallion, chopped

Meatballs:
1 lb ground turkey or chicken
1 egg
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons scallions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1/4 cup panko crumbs
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame oil
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Combine the soy sauce, lime juice, water, sesame oil, green onion, and honey together in a bowl.  Whisk untel well-combined; set aside.

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.  Coat a baking tray with cooking spray.

Combine the ground meat, egg, green onion, cilantro, ginger, garlic, panko, soy sauce, sesame oil, sea salt and pepper together in a large bowl.  Gently mix the ingredients until well-combined.

Shape 1/4 cup of mixture into a ball, then place on baking tray.  Repeat with the remaining meat mixture.

Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked completely.  Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.



©Victoria Challancin.  All Rights Reserved.

Like life, recipes are meant to be shared, but please ask permission before using text or photos.  Thanks!




10 comments:

Eha said...

]Soft laughter]: Magali: methinks you and I would laugh at the same things! Angus: very funny buddy: methinks Mom may not quite be so patient any second from just now! Victoria: love gyoza and especially those gyoza: wish I had been there to taste them! And would just adore to pinch those spring rolls! You did get a lot into the one lesson - wish I had been there :) !

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Hehe I believe in puptides! There's something about a happy puppy dog that puts a smile on a face. And your class's gyoza look fantastic!

Joan Nova said...

Loved seeing the Mexican cooks trying their hand at Asian dishes. It looks like such a fun class. I would love one day to sit in on one!!

Victoria at Flavors of the Sun said...

And I would love to have you join us, Joan!

Hotly Spiced said...

I love the photo of your dog and I'm feeling the puptides. I love the photos of your cooking classes Victoria - everyone seems to be having so much fun. The meatballs look really good and they would be great finger food for parties xx

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

From the photos, not only does it look like everyone had a good time but it looks like you are a good teacher.

http://platanosmangoes.com said...

What fun...and they did a great job in this class. I too would love to one day attend...Joan and I have spoken about a visit....

Victoria at Flavors of the Sun said...

Do it! We would have such fun, you, Joan, and I. This is a great place. Truly.

tania@mykitchenstories.com.au said...

I am in love with your baby, the sight of him certainly induces peptides .Those chicken balls look really delicious.Chilli lime and sesame yum

Nagi@RecipeTinEats said...

This looks really fun. It looks like each and everyone here is having fun. And also, I like the idea of making Asian food. YUM!