Kourtney Paranteau never stopped loving the “Asian-inspired” chicken salads that filled chain restaurant menus of her youth, even if she was embarrassed to admit it, but as she got older she realized she could make an even better version. Here is her take in this classic, with preserved kumquats replacing sad tangerine segments, a silken miso dressing rather than sticky and sweet one, and deep fried Umi yakisoba noodles for irresistible crunch.
Read moreBirria Ramen (aka Birriamen)
There’s only one way to improve upon the pure culinary genius of birria ramen: use Umi Organic noodles. And you don’t have to use take-out birria consomé (broth) or spend hours making it—by using a pressure cooker and boneless stew meat, this pared-down version of the exquisite Mexican stew makes it a more weeknight-friendly endeavor without sacrificing any of the complexity.
Read moreDan Dan Noodles with Ground Beef
This is my adaptation of a Fuchsia Dunlop recipe from her book The Food of Sichuan. She writes, “The following is my own re-creation of a legendary and unique version of dandan noodles served in a tiny restaurant near Sichuan University… These noodles are not for the faint-hearted—they are shamelessly spicy, but utterly delicious.” These dan dan noodles were even more satisfyingly delicious than I’d imagined AND it took almost no time to make, which shocked me. This is going to become a regular thing. If Fuchsia Dunlop’s is a re-creation, then mine is even one step further removed—an adaptation of a re-creation. I’ve changed some of the promotions I hope you will make it your own.
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