This cold chicken salad is not really strange–just delicious! It gets its name from the sauce which is salty, sweet, sour and hot, all in one dish. In the Chinese province of Hunan where the summers are hot, a cool yet pungent entree is always welcome. This is a great way to recycle left-over chicken. Note: This recipe requires advance preparation.

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce

• 1 ½ tablespoon peanut oil

• 1 tablespoon sesame paste (available in Asian markets) or smooth peanut butter

• 1 tablespoon Chinese red chile oil (available in Asian markets)

• 1 tablespoon sugar

• 2 teaspoons ground Sichuan peppercorns

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

• 1 teaspoon minced ginger

• ½ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes

For the Salad:

• 8 ounces cooked chicken, chopped

• 2 green onions, chopped including some of the greens

• 1 cucumber, ½ cubed and ½ sliced

• Shredded lettuce

• Garnish: 1/4 cup roasted peanuts

• Crushed red chile flakes

• Chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the dressing and mix well. Allow the dressing to sit for a couple of hours to blend the flavors.

Toss the chicken, green onions, and cubed cucumber in the dressing. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.

To serve: Make a bed of the lettuce on individual serving plates. Arrange the sliced cucumbers on the lettuce, top with the chicken salad and garnish with the peanuts, chile flakes, and cilantro.

Yakatori got its name from the Japanese words—yaki for grilled and tori for chicken. I have already taken some liberties with traditional recipes in making this spicy version, so if you would prefer, it can also be made with pork. Plain white rice and a crisp cucumber salad is all that is need to complete a light and tasty meal.

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts

• 6 green onions, cut in 1-inch pieces

• 8 water chestnuts

• Glaze:

• 2 teaspoons crushed chile piquin

• 1 tablespoon chile oil

• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

• 1 1/4 cup rice wine or dry sherry

• 2/3 cup mirin*

• 2 teaspoons soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 2 teaspoons minced ginger

Instructions

Cut the chicken into cut into 1-inch cubes or cut crosswise into pieces 2-inches long and ½-inch thick and wide. Thread the chicken on skewers alternating with the onion and water chestnuts.

Combine the chile, oils, rice wine, mirin, soy sauce, sugar, and ginger in a saucepan. Cook over a medium heat until just boiling, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is reduced by half and forms a glaze.

Grill the yakatori over a medium heat for 2 minutes per side or until slightly browned. Brush liberally with the glaze and continue cooking for a couple more minutes per side until the chicken is done. Remove, brush again with the glaze and serve.

*Mirin is sweet sake and is available in Oriental markets.

This recipe and others can be found in the following article:

Mascarene Chile Cuisine

 

By Dave DeWitt

Ingredients

• 1/8 pound butter (½ cup)

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 chicken, cut up into serving pieces

• 2 onions, peeled and chopped

• 1 clove garlic, chopped

• 2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

• 3 tablespoons curry powder

• 2 teaspoons cayenne powder

• 1 pinch saffron

• 1 eggplant, peeled and diced

• 1 large potato, peeled and diced

• Water as needed

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine the butter and oil in a large frying pan or Dutch oven and heat.

Add the chicken and fry over medium heat for fifteen minutes until golden brown, turning occasionally..

Remove the chicken and reserve.

Add the onion and garlic and fry until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the ginger, curry powder, cayenne, and saffron and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the reserved chicken, eggplant, and potato, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes over medium heat or until the chicken and potatoes are tender.

Add water if the mixture gets too thick.

Adjust the salt and pepper and serve.

‘Make your own curry powder, or buy an imported powder from India for the best results because American curry powders are inferior.’

Ingredients

butter, chicken, onions, curry powder, saffron

Instructions

Here’s the familiar-sounding chicken curry with a couple of twists from the island of Réunion. Of course, serve it with rice and accompanied by the coconut curry in this article. Make your own curry powder, or buy an imported powder from India for the best results because American curry powders are inferior.

• 1/8 pound butter (½ cup)

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 chicken, cut up into serving pieces

• 2 onions, peeled and chopped

• 1 clove garlic, chopped

• 2 large tomatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 tablespoon grated ginger

• 3 tablespoons curry powder

• 2 teaspoons cayenne powder

• 1 pinch saffron

• 1 eggplant, peeled and diced

• 1 large potato, peeled and diced

• Water as needed

• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine the butter and oil in a large frying pan or Dutch oven and heat. Add the chicken and fry over medium heat for fifteen minutes until golden brown, turning occasionally.. Remove the chicken and reserve. Add the onion and garlic and fry until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add the ginger, curry powder, cayenne, and saffron and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the reserved chicken, eggplant, and potato, cover, and cook for about 20 minutes over medium heat or until the chicken and potatoes are tender. Add water if the mixture gets too thick. Adjust the salt and pepper and serve.

Yield: 6 servings

Heat Scale: Medium