Rice Noodle Salad

Ginger, cilantro and mint help support a healthy immune system as well as incorporates great flavors for this exotic and healthy salad inspired from Vietnam.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: none

INGREDIENTS

4 oz. rice vermicelli noodles
2 persian cucumbers, matchstick
2 medium spicy red peppers, seeded, and minced
1 thumb sized fresh ginger, peeled and grated
3 Tbsp fish sauce
2 - 3 limes, juiced
3 cups cilantro, rough chop
2 cups green onions, chopped
1 heads of romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
3 cups fresh mint, rough chop


WHAT TO DO
1 Prepare noodles according to the package directions.

2 Mix the peppers, ginger, fish sauce, and lime juice, in a large bowl.

3 Add the noodles, cucumbers, cilantro, green onions, and lettuce to the sauce and toss well.

4 Serve and enjoy immediately.


TIP
To save time, make the dressing, prep the greens and noodles up to 1-2 days ahead of time.

Ginger Steamed Fish with Ginger Soy Sauce

I was looking for a recipe similar to what I had when I was back on Guam for vacation. I had a fish that was steamed with a soy sauce glaze. It was very delicate and light, but oh so good. I found something similar and I think even better!

I found the original recipe from www.EatingWell.com, but made some minor changes. I also served this dish with stir fry veggies with the same ingredients for the sauce.

INGREDIENTS
6 (5 oz.) portions striped bass, halibut or any flaky white fish
6 1/4-inch-thick slices peeled fresh ginger

Sauce
1/4 cup minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 cup chopped garlic
1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup gluten-free reduced-sodium soy sauce
2-3 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish

WHAT TO DO

To prepare fish: Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a pot large enough to hold a two-tier bamboo steamer. (If you don’t have a steamer, improvise by setting mugs upside down in a large pot and resting a large heatproof plate on top.) Put a heatproof plate in each of the steamer baskets. Place 3 portions of fish on each plate with a slice of fresh ginger on top. Stack the baskets, cover and set over the boiling water. Steam the fish for 7 minutes per inch of thickness.

To prepare sauce: Meanwhile, combine minced ginger, garlic and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Heat grapeseed (or canola) oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ginger mixture and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1 minute. Add sesame oil; allow the mixture to get hot. Add soy sauce (be careful, it will splatter a bit) and cook for 1 minute more.

Transfer the fish to a deep platter. Discard the ginger slices. Pour the sauce over the fish and garnish with scallions. Serve with stir fried veggies.

Nutrition

Per serving: 310 calories; 16 g fat ( 1 g sat , 6 g mono ); 45 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 31 g protein; 1 g fiber; 444 mg sodium; 674 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (74% daily value), Magnesium (31% dv), Potassium (20% dv), very good source of omega-3s
TIP: 
Fish only needs a short amount of time to steam and cook. Be careful not to overcook the fish.

Korean Chicken Bowl

This recipe is inspired by Korean Beef Rice Bowl from www.SteamyKitchen.com. I chose to use chicken because I was lazy to drive to the store and buy the beef the recipe calls for. Besides, the chicken was already in my freezer. It worked out great! My husband seemed to like it.

INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp Gluten-Free Light Soy Sauce
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 Tbsp sugar
1 lb chicken, cut up into 1/2" cubes
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 cup shredded carrots
l small zucchini, diced
2 handfuls of spinach
1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

WHAT TO DO
Mix all the first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl, large enough to hold the chicken too. Once mixed, add the chicken. There should be just enough marinade to coat the meat.

In a wok over medium-high heat, add the oil. Once heated, add the chicken mixture. Mix and cook for a few minutes until almost cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Then add the carrots and zucchini. Cook for another minute and then add the spinach. Mix the spinach until almost all wilted, about another minute. Add the sesame seeds and you're all done! Serve over steamed rice.

TIP: Make sure to cut the meat evenly. You want to cook everything fast and almost at the same time, so small bite sized meats are ideal.