Iced Matcha Latte

By on May 20, 2013 in Recipes

Iced Matcha Latte | Appetite for China

For the last few weeks I’ve been switching over my morning caffeinated beverages from hot to cold. For the mornings when I’m groggier than usual and in dire need of caffeine, I’ll do cold brew coffee instead of hot. And for the rest of the time, when I’m already pretty functional, I’ll make a nice iced matcha latte in place of hot green tea.

As someone who’s not a fan of the coffee chains that sell overly sweetened iced matcha lattes, I like making them at home much better. It’s really pretty simple. And all you really need is some matcha powder, agave nectar or honey, almond or soy milk, hot water, and ice.

Iced Matcha Latte

If you’ve never made drinks with green tea powder before, you’re in for a treat. It has a more concentrated earthy flavor than bagged or even whole leaf green tea that you would normally buy in the US. You can get matcha powder at many Japanese markets or online at places like Matcha Source, Amazon, or Kalustyan’s.  (In addition to matcha lattes, you can use the powder for desserts, such as green tea cookies and matcha pound cake.) (more…)

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Naan Breakfast Pizza

By on May 14, 2013 in Recipes

Naan Breakfast Pizza

If you like making pizza at home and want a quick method that doesn’t include fussing with pizza dough, this is a great recipe to try.

I first met Chitra from The ABCD’s of Cooking in the winter of last year at a food blogger potluck. Since then, we’ve become good friends, and I’ve become a big fan of her blog, which specializes in Indian vegetarian cooking. What I love is that in addition to writing about traditional North and South Indian food, she’s also plenty creative when it comes to fixing up new dishes with Indian spices and other ingredients.

Like this breakfast pizza using naan as a base. I had it bookmarked for months before finally trying it yesterday. And of course, like many recipes, it was one that I should have made much sooner.

Naan Breakfast Pizza

The pizza was just so splendidly easy. I made a few tiny changes to Chitra’s original recipe, such as just tossing the onions in olive oil before roasting instead of searing them. I also used rosemary and basil for the herbs instead of cilantro, and a combination of mozzarella and cheddar instead of parmesan and cheddar (you can also try Gruyère). But that’s about it. The recipe is so versatile that it opens itself to a lot of variations with cheeses, herbs, and other toppings. (more…)

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10 Favorite Asian Recipes for the Spring

By on May 7, 2013 in Recipes

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10 Favorite Asian Recipes for the Spring

In April, I taught a couple of seasonal cooking classes at ICE and Haven’s Kitchen that focused on pairing Asian techniques with in-season local spring. The classes were quite a hit! So I thought I’d share some of the recipes we did in the round-up below, plus a few extras from Appetite for China and its sister blog Brooklyn Atlas.

(And even though I have my own Thai basil plant growing on the windowsill, it’s good to know that starting now there are big bunches available at the farmer’s markets, in case I plan on whipping up a big Thai feast.)

Here are ten of my favorites for this season. What are some Asian dishes you like to make with spring produce?

1. Ramp and Swiss Chard Dumplings

Ramp and Swiss Chard Dumplings

2. Garlic Beef and Asparagus Stir-fry

Garlic Beef and Asparagus Stir-fry

3. Avocado and Coconut Smoothies from Brooklyn Atlas (a lighter take on Vietnamese avocado shakes.)

Avocado and Coconut Smoothies

4. Lamb and Fava Bean Stir-fry

Lamb and Fava Bean Stir-Fry (more…)

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Mapo Tofu

By on May 6, 2013 in Recipes

mapo-tofu-2

Many of you loved the easy mapo tofu recipe I first posted in March 2008. Since then, I’ve taught the dish many times in cooking classes, which allowed me to revise it here and streamlined the process. After all these years, it’s still a crowd-pleaser. Make it for one of those nights when you want a quick main dish that’s packed with flavor! And if you’re looking for a similar dish with noodles, try my Mapo Tofu Ramen.

(P.S. The original post is still here for posterity’s sake, but I no longer live in China.)

If I had to make a list of my top favorite comfort foods of all time, mapo tofu would be among the top 10. I almost always order it at Sichuan restaurants, despite that voice in my head pushing me to try something new. But the craving is too hard to resist. Thinking about the spicy thick sauce that wraps sublimely around white rice, and the soft tofu contrasting with the slightly crispy pork, makes me surrender to the tried-and-true. (more…)

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The Chinese Takeout Cookbook Giveaway!

By on May 3, 2013 in Blog

What a great 5 months it has been since the release of The Chinese Takeout Cookbook! The last few months have been a whirlwind of interviews, classes and events, article-writing, and the like. Thank you for all the support. You’ve helped so much by buying the book, recommending it to your friends and family, participating [...]

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Salted Lassi

By on May 1, 2013 in Recipes

It’s finally May and all I want to do these days is make cold blended drinks. So I’ve been wearing out my blender and recently made a wonderful frothy beverage I first posted over 3 years ago: salted lassis. Here is a newly revised recipe for this unexpectedly refreshing drink.  A few years ago, when [...]

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Asparagus and Ginger Fried Rice

By on April 29, 2013 in Recipes

This past week I taught two cooking classes that focused on using seasonal produce in Asian stir-fries, dumplings, salads, and noodle dishes. They were both really fun, and I got a lot of great feedback from students who loved that it was traditional cooking with a twist, using super fresh, locally sourced vegetables. We used [...]

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Appetite for China Cooking Videos

By on April 26, 2013 in Blog

(Photo by The Crepes of Wrath) Have you had a chance to check out the Appetite for China cooking videos yet? A few months ago I started putting together short ‘n sweet cooking videos set to music. As a visual learner myself, I personally think cooking videos are great for easing into new or somewhat [...]

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