Asian

"He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skills of the physician."
(Chinese proverb)

Asian style of cooking can be broken down into a few major categories: Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, etc. Asian American cooking combines elements from these cultures to create noodle, rice, and vegetable Asian style dishes.

Try these tasty asian recipes (More to come!)

Mango Sticky Rice

Bok Choy Noodles with Egg

Types of Asian Noodles

Noodle dishes symbolize happiness, friendship, and health. They are a staple food in Asian cuisine. There are so many things you can do with them! Stir fries with vegetables and tofu are my favorite. Let's very look at different types of noodles and what dishes they are used in. 

Rice Noodles

They are made with rice flour and water. You can buy them fresh at Asian markets or dry at virtually any grocery store. They are used for Pad Thai, Pho, and stir fries. 

Udon Noodles

Udon are thick wheat noodles mostly used in Japanese cooking. They are served in a soup topped with green onions and vegetables. 

Lo Mein

Lo Mein is wheat noodles. They are usually just tossed with sauce after they are boiled. They are not stir fried. Lo Mein is also used in soup dishes. 

Chow Mein

Chow Mein are stir-fried noodle dishes. They come in crispy or steamed varieties.

Glass (Cellophane) Noodles

Wheat-free noodle made with mung bean. They become translucent when cookied. They easily absort liquid, so use sauce generously. Glass noodles are excellent for stir fries, salads, and soups. 

Typical ingredients used in asian cooking

Soy Sauce

You'll notice that Asian recipes rarely call for salt. It's because soy sauce is used to salt the dishes. It's probably the most frequently used ingredient in Asian cooking. 

Toasted Sesame Oil

Used in marinades, stir fry, noodles, dipping sauces. It adds wonderful nutty flavor to Asian dishes. Use just a few drops because a little goes a long way. 

Rice vinegar

Used in marinades and stir fry sauces

Chili Sauce

Excellent way to add heat and flavor to any fish from soups to noodles.

Coconut milk

Used in sweet dishes, desserts, creamy curries, and soups. It adds a great flavor and creaminess. 

Limes

Used in Thai cooking to bring together the flavors and add freshness. 

Spices and Herbs

Turmeric

Cuisine: Thai, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Indian
Uses: oven-roasted vegetables, curry, rice, beans. It dyes your food with orangy yellow color! It’s a great anti-oxidant.

Thai Basil

Cuisine: Thai
Uses: red and green Thai curries, Thai Basil has a minty flavor. 

Ginger

Cuisine: Indian, Asian
Uses: stir fry, curries, baked goods, dipping sauces, green smoothies
Ginger gives food a distinct tangy flavor. It has a fresh and spicy flavor. For best results, use ginger root, peel and mince or grate it. Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for many illnesses since the dawn of times. It's believed to help with headaches, nausea, and flu symptoms. 

Chilies

Cusine: Asian, South American

Uses: Add a kick to virtually any dish. They also add a wonderful red color to the dish. 

Shallots

Cusine: Asian

Uses: Shallots have a stronger flavor than their older brother onion and are a typical ingredient in Asian cooking. Add them fresh or fried to rice and noodle dishes.