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Breakfast, Dinner, Eggs, Japanese, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes, Rice Dishes

Instant Ramen Fried Rice

May 31, 2020

Ramen Fried Rice with Sunny Side Up Egg

I came across this recipe on the always interesting Serious Eats blog.  It seems that instant ramen fried rice is the latest food craze in Japan.  Everyone there has instant ramen in their cupboards, and so do many of us.  This dish is inexpensive, perfect for single servings, and most of all so tasty.

Bacon Spam & Kimchi Ramen

I added some Bacon Spam to my ramen fried rice for an extra umami boost but you may omit it to make things simpler and quicker. For just one serving, use your favorite flavor of Cup Noodles instant ramen.  I used Kimchi ramen since it was what I had available and it was perfect for the two of us.

Kimchi Ramen

Unlike many other ramen recipes that suggest you throw out the flavor packet and make your own soup, you’ll want to keep it this time.  This is suppose to be a no fuss meal after all.

Ramen Noodles

Crush the noodles into small pieces before adding the soup base and boiling water.

Crushed Ramen Noodles

Crushed Ramen Noodles with Soup Base

Pour just enough boiling water over the noodles and soup base to rehydrate the noodles.  You don’t want to use too much water which would lead to soggy fried rice. Give the noodles and soup base a quick stir, cover and let sit for a few minutes.

Ramen Noodles & Soup Base Rehydrating

Bacon Spam

With Spam (the unofficial state food of Hawaii), there are two options: either you like it (add it) or you loathe it (leave it out).

Ramen Fried Rice with Bacon Spam

Almost any type of rice will work in this recipe. I used 2 cups of cooked short grain brown rice.

Ramen Fried Rice with Bacon Spam

Since eggs are one of my favorite foods, I couldn’t resist frying up a couple of sunny side up eggs to eat with our ramen fried rice.  A good drizzle of sriracha sauce is the ideal accompaniment for this satisfying meal. Oishii!

Ramen Fried Rice with Sunny Side Up Egg

Ramen Fried Rice
 
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Adapted from Serious Eats blog
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1 package (about 4.25 ounces) kimchi ramen
  • 2 cups cooked short grain brown rice
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 pieces Bacon Spam, diced small and fried until crisp (optional)
  • 2 sunny side up eggs (optional)
  • cilantro for sprinkling over fried rice (optional)
  • Sriracha (optional)
Preparation
  1. Crush ramen noodles and place in a bowl with soup base. Pour boiling water over noodles (just enough to barely cover the noodles) and give them a quick stir. Cover and rehydrate noodles while you continue with the recipe.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a large (I use 11") non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add beaten eggs and scramble just until barely set. Add rice to the pan and heat through, breaking up any large lumps, about 1-2 minutes. Add cooked Spam cubes if using.
  3. Add noodles along with any liquid (you shouldn't have too much liquid left after rehydrating the ramen) to the rice and stir constantly until excess moisture has cooked off. Taste and season with salt if needed. Press the rice mixture in an even layer on the bottom and up the sides of the pan to allow crispy bits to form. Serve ramen fried rice with sunny side up eggs, cilantro, soy sauce and sriracha.

 

Appetizers, Beef, Dinner, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes, Sandwiches

Korean Buns

March 12, 2020


Korean Buns

I posted a recipe for Korean hamburger patties back in 2012. This is one of my favorite recipes and I make it on a regular basis.  This post is a description of how my mom originally made the dish using the ground meat mixture on hot dog buns.  I always requested these Korean buns when my girlfriends came over for a slumber party (back in the day).  These are so easy to make and very tasty.

Korean Buns Ingredients

You can make the meat mixture earlier in the day and store it in your refrigerator until you are ready to prepare the buns.  The few ingredients for this recipe all have that umami flavor that makes this simple meal so good.

Korean Buns Meat Mixture

Hot Dog Buns

I used 5 hotdog buns that I split, making 10 Korean buns.  The meat mixture is spread thinly over each bun and broiled quickly.  I used the remainder of the meat for slider patties for another meal.  If you are making the buns for a crowd you can use 10-12 buns instead of 5.

Korean Buns

Serve the buns with a crispy salad and you’re all set.  If you want a little kick, drizzle a bit of sriracha on each bun.

Korean Buns

Korean Buns
 
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Author:
Serves: 10 split buns
Ingredients
  • 5 hot dog buns, split (depending on how many people you are serving, use up to 12 buns making 24 split buns)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (I use ground sirloin)
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
  • 1 medium clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce (Kikkoman recommended)
  • 1 heaping teaspoon sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • To garnish: Roasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions
Preparation
  1. Place oven rack on the second position from the top, about 6 inches away from the element. Preheat broiler on high. Line a large sheet pan (jelly roll pan works great) with foil for easy clean up.
  2. In a large bowl, gently break up the ground beef with two forks or your fingertips. Add onion, green onion, garlic, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar and egg. Mix gently to combine ingredients.
  3. Spread a thin layer of the meat mixture on each split bun, covering as much of the edge of each bun as possible.
  4. Place pan under the broiler and broil for a few minutes until the meat is cooked and the buns are nicely browned on the edges. The buns are best served right away but leftovers can be reheated in a toaster oven.

 

Appetizers, Dinner, Kimchi, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes

Kimchi & Bacon SPAM Pancakes

August 29, 2018

Kimchi Pancake with Bacon Spam

John’s favorite weekend breakfast is griddle cakes. I have to agree, they are delicious with pats of salty butter and maple syrup.  But the sweet breakfast pancake has savory relatives, one of which is this kimchi pancake.  It is mildly spicy, with a tangy flavor from the kimchi and delightfully crispy around the edges.  I couldn’t resist adding Bacon Spam to the pancake. Yum.

Kimchi

Use your favorite kimchi in these pancakes. Mild or spicy, either one works.

Bacon Spam

Don’t dismiss the idea of using Bacon Spam, it adds an abundance of flavor. But, you can skip it if you are not a Spam fan.

Sliced Green Onions

Lots of green onions (scallions) adds an additional depth of flavor to the pancakes.  Chopped, thinly sliced, or slivered are all acceptable.

Kimchi Pancakes with Bacon Spam

The dipping sauce is a simple combination of soy sauce, rice vinegar, a dash a sugar, Korean chili flakes and roasted sesame seeds.  Serve the sauce with the pancakes and a drizzle of sriracha.

Kimchi Pancakes with Bacon Spam

Kimchi & Bacon SPAM Pancakes
 
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Author:
Serves: 2 pancakes
Ingredients
  • Dipping Sauce:
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon Korean chili flakes (or dash of red pepper flakes)
  • ¼ teaspoon roasted sesame seeds
  • Pancakes:
  • 2½ ounces (3 thin slices) bacon Spam, cut into thin slices and fried until crisp (drain on paper towel lined plate)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup rice flour
  • 1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
  • ¾ cup cold seltzer water
  • ½ teaspoons sesame oil
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup kimchi, coarsely chopped
  • 4 green onions, sliced thinly
  • canola oil for frying
Preparation
  1. In a small bowl combine sugar with the rice vinegar, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add soy sauce, Korean chili flakes, and sesame seeds. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk flour and rice flour. Add the egg, seltzer water, sesame oil, and salt. Whisk until just combined. Add kimchi, fried Spam and green onions. Stir to combine.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons canola oil in a 9-inch skillet between medium - medium high heat. Once oil is shimmering, pour half of the pancake batter into the pan. Quickly spread the batter to make a thin pancake. Cook for 3 minutes or so, until the bottom is golden and crisp, adjusting the heat as necessary so the pancake does not burn. Carefully flip the pancake and cook another 2 -3 minutes until nicely browned.
  4. Slide pancake onto a large plate. Add more oil to the pan and cook the second pancake.
  5. Scatter reserved green onions over the top of the pancakes along with roasted sesame seeds. Serve with sriracha and dipping sauce.

 

Beef, Dinner, Korean, Lactose Free, Recipes

Korean-Style Pan-Fried Beef

December 1, 2017

Korean-Style Pan-Fried Beef

If you want a quick, tasty meal, this Korean-style dish fits the bill.  The thin slices of meat marinate in a flavorful sauce for just 30 minutes.  A quick sear in a hot pan makes for perfectly cooked beef with crisp edges that are delicious served with a bowl of rice.

Gochugaru

I am a fan of Whole Spice brand Korean chili flakes (also known as gochugaru).  The chili flakes add a depth of flavor to this, and many other dishes.  Vibrant red in color, mildly spicy, slightly smoky and sweet at the same time, it’s an essential seasoning for Korean cuisine.

Asian Pear

Marinade

This meal is ready in just about 45 minutes from start to finish.  The bold flavors in the sauce are what make this dish stand out.  The key is to cut your meat in to thin slices so that it marinades and cooks quickly.

Korean-Style Pan-Fried Beef

Korean-Style Pan-Fried Beef
 
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Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine
Author:
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons grated pear
  • 1 small garlic clove, grated
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2½ teaspoons gochugaru
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 8 ounces filet mignon, cut into thin strips (you may opt to use another cut of beef, chicken or pork)
  • canola oil for pan frying
  • sliced green onions for serving
  • Fresno pepper (optional)
  • roasted sesame seeds (optional)
Preparation
  1. Combine the grated pear, garlic, soy sauce, gochugaru, ginger, brown sugar and sesame oil in a medium bowl. Add sliced beef and toss to coat each piece well. Cover and refrigerated for 30 minutes.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove meat from marinade and season lightly with kosher salt. Working in batches and adding more oil along the way if needed, cook meat in a single layer without moving until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Continue to cook tossing occasionally until cooked through and crisp at edges, about 1 - 2 minutes longer.
  3. Transfer to a plate and serve topped with green onions, sliced Fresno peppers and roasted sesame seeds.

 

Dinner, Korean, Lactose Free, Pasta, Recipes, Salad, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian, Veggies

Chilled Somen with Spicy Cucumbers

December 7, 2016

Chilled Somen with Spicy Cucumbers

Cold noodles tossed with crisp vegetables are one of my favorite lunch dishes.  I often make a big bowl of Aunty Ruby’s Somen Salad and take it to work to share with my friends.  This recipe calls for perciatelli or bucatini pasta but I couldn’t resist using delicate somen noodles.  They cook up in 3 minutes and are the perfect partner for the spicy cucumbers.  I found this delightful recipe in Martha Stewart Living magazine. The subject of this particular article was Korean Barbecue and a talented Korean cook, Mrs. Pai.  This is one of her original side dishes.

Somen Noodles

Keiki Cukes

These beautiful “Keiki Cukes” are grown on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Big Island Produce is a hydroponic farm that produces cucumbers all year long.  They are super crunchy and don’t have any seeds.  We use them to make dill pickles, bread & butter pickles, and add them to all types of salads.

Chopped Scallions

Korean Chili Flakes

Korean chili flakes or gochugaru (not to be confused with red pepper powder), has a unique balance of sweet and smoky flavors with medium heat.  I have heard that hotter varieties are available but the one I buy from Whole Spice tends to be just the right heat for me.

Spicy Cucumbers

The cucumbers are mixed with Korean chili flakes, scallions, garlic, and sesame oil before being tossed with cold noodles.

somen-1-2

Chilled Somen with Spicy Cucumbers

Chilled Somen with Spicy Cucumbers
 
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Adapted from Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Author:
Serves: 2 as a main dish, 4 as a side dish
Ingredients
  • 10 ounces thinly sliced small cucumbers (Keiki, Japanese, Persian)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ tablespoons Korean chili flakes
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions
  • 1 small clove garlic, crushed in a garlic press
  • 4 tablespoons roasted sesame oil, divided (Kadoya brand recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
  • 1 package (3 bundles - 8 oz.) somen noodles
  • 4 teaspoons soy sauce
  • salt for seasoning
Preparation
  1. Toss cucumbers with ½ teaspoon salt, and let sit for 30 minutes. Transfer cucumbers to a clean dish towel and wring to remove excess liquid from cucumbers. Transfer to a large bowl. Add Korean chili flakes, sugar, scallions, garlic, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, and the vinegar. Mix seasonings into cucumbers; let sit for 10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, cook somen noodles according to package instructions. Shirakiku brand cooks for just 3 minutes. Immediately drain, rinse under cold water and place noodles in an ice bath until well chilled. Drain noodles well and add to cucumbers, tossing to combine. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and the soy sauce. Season with salt and additional Korean chili flakes before serving. Leftovers are delicious the following day.

 

Breakfast, Dinner, Eggs, Kimchi, Korean, Lactose Free, Pork, Recipes, Rice Dishes

Kimchi & Spam Fried Rice

June 7, 2016

Kimchi & Spam Fried Rice Kimchi and Spam are staples in many households here in Hawaii.  Crunchy, pungent, spicy, kimchi pairs perfectly with a bowl of steaming rice and Korean hamburger patties.  And Spam?  Well, there are lovers and haters, just as there are for cilantro, Marmite, and anchovies…. Everyone I know loves a bowl of homemade fried rice and most would not turn down this version with kimchi, Spam and a perfectly  fried egg.  Spam may look unappealing straight out of the can, but once fried up into crispy little Spam croutons, it pairs perfectly with rice of any kind.  You ought to give it a try!

KimchiThere is an abundance of kimchi choices at the markets.  Use your favorite brand, but choose one that has a medium heat level rather than mild.

Glorious SPAM!Glorious SPAM!  I always chuckle when I see this little guy on the can.

Crispy Fried SpamFrying the Spam until each piece is perfectly crisp makes all the difference.  You won’t be able to avoid nibbling on them before they make it into the fried rice.

Kimchi & Spam Fried Rice

Kimchi & Spam Fried Rice
 
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Adapted from Kenji's Serious Eats recipe.
Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 5 cups cooked jasmine rice (I use my rice cooker and the measuring cup that came with it - 2 cups uncooked rice)
  • 1½ cups finely chopped kimchi, about 325g (kimchi drained with 3 tablespoons liquid reserved)
  • canola oil
  • 1 12-ounce can Spam, cut into ½-inch dice
  • 2 cups finely diced onion
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon thinly sliced scallions
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce
  • ⅓ cup chopped cilantro (optional)
  • fried eggs, for serving
  • 1 Fresno chili thinly sliced (optional)
  • Sriracha hot sauce, for serving
Preparation
  1. Cook rice and let cool completely. I cook my rice in the morning and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. For this dish it is better to use day old rice.
  2. Place kimchi in a mesh strainer set over a bowl. Squeeze out excess liquid (reserve 3 tablespoons liquid). Finely chop kimchi.
  3. Heat a few teaspoons of canola oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add Spam cubes and cook, tossing frequently, until well browned and crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Wipe out wok.
  4. Add 2 teaspoons canola oil over medium heat and sauté onions until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir fry for 1 minute.Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  5. Add ½ tablespoon canola oil to wok. Increase heat to medium high and heat until oil just begins to smoke. Add the rice and cook, stirring and tossing, until rice is warmed. Press rice against the sides of the wok to crisp up (like bibimbap and tag dig). Add onion and garlic mixture, kimchi, Spam, and ⅓ cup scallions tossing with rice to combine. Pour in reserved kimchi juice and season generously with black pepper. Add sesame oil, fish sauce and cilantro. Toss to combine.
  6. Serve fried rice in ceramic bowls, topped with a fried egg, reserved 1 tablespoon scallions, Fresno peppers and sriracha sauce.

 

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