Thai basil – The Pajama Chef

Main Dishes, Recipes, Rice, Sides, Turkey

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Carrot Rice

October 8, 2014October 4, 2014 Sarah

Flavorful Asian turkey meatballs served over carrot rice is an awesome, easy 30 minute weeknight dinner. Kids love it too!

This is one of our absolute favorite dinners. I’ve made it more times than I can count, but it’s never appeared on the blog because I never get a photo before it’s gone-zo. It’s pretty simple, as most meatball dinners are, but it feels so special because of the Asian flavors and wonderful aromatic ingredients in the dish. The meatballs are zingy with just a hint of spice. If spice isn’t your thing, feel free to leave out the Sriracha or use less. Don’t be afraid of the fish sauce though–a little goes a long way to making the meatballs extra tasty! Just don’t smell it. Take my word on that one. Can you say gross?! 🙂

One of the best things about this dinner is that it’s SO adaptable. Normally I make the meatballs with ground turkey, but if that’s not your thing, use pork or chicken or a combination. I also love that the rice isn’t boring. I stir carrots and cilantro [or Thai basil] in for some extra flavor and texture. To make this a 30 minute meal, using white rice is key… but if you have more time, brown rice would work too. Sometimes I make the rice with another liquid besides water, like chicken broth or coconut milk, for a lil extra something. But even if you just make the rice plain, it’s still amazing!

I love to serve this dinner with steamed broccoli or edamame. It’s the perfect meal to take to a family with a new baby. I’ve done that so many times and have gotten rave reviews from everyone, including the kiddos! Just don’t forget the lime wedges. A squeeze of lime over the whole meal is essential! Enjoy!

two years ago: Maple Cornmeal Drop Biscuits
three years ago: Garlicky Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil
four years ago: Pillow Cookies

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Carrot Rice

Servings: 4
Time: 30 minutes
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from Everyday Food Magazine

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice
2 cups liquid for cooking rice – like water, chicken broth, or coconut milk
1 carrot, shredded
1/3 cup cilantro or Thai basil, chopped
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 pound ground turkey [pork works too!]
2 green onions, green and white parts chopped and divided
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
3 teaspoons fish sauce
3 teaspoons Sriracha
3 teaspoons sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger, optional
2 teaspoons canola oil
lime wedges, for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large saucepan, combine 2 cups water [or coconut milk or chicken broth for extra flavor] and rice. Bring to a boil, stir, then cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and top with carrot and cilantro. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes, then stir to mix all ingredients and fluff with a fork.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 2 tablespoons water. Let stand for 5 minutes, then add turkey, white parts of the green onions, cilantro, fish sauce, Sriracha, sugar, garlic, and ginger if using. Gently stir to combine, then shape into 24 small meatballs.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Work in batches to brown meatballs on all sides, then transfer to a large baking dish to cook for 10 more minutes in the oven, or until cooked through. Serve meatballs over rice with green onions and lime wedges.

Main Dishes, Pork, Recipes

#10DaysofTailgate: Chipotle Mustard Pork Chops

September 28, 2014September 29, 2014 Sarah

Pork chops quickly marinated in a spicy chipotle mustard sauce are an easy and yummy weeknight dinner option!

We’re in the homestretch of #10DaysofTailgate! This is my second to last recipe for this fabulous event! But you can still enter the giveaway…go here for more info asap!

I always forget about pork chops. It’s not that we don’t like pork. When we have company over or want a dinner with loads of leftovers, I don’t hesitate to make pulled pork or carnitas. Ben’s obsessed with bacon and sausage. [True story.] But pork chops seem to sit in our freezer for.eve.r. before I make something with them. And I’m not sure why. In my opinion, they’re easier to cook than a regular old chicken breast, and they feel fancier too. But as soon as I heard about one of the sponsors for #10DaysofTailgate I KNEW I was going to be making some pork chops, because one of our sponsors is El Diablo Hot & Spicy Mustard. And mustard pork chops are amazing!! These mustards come in all sorts of fun flavors like Mango, Smoky Chipotle, and Jalapeno. I’ve already used two–Mango in an aoili for sweet potato fries [yummm!] and the Smoky Chipotle for these pork chops. Another #10DaysofTailgate sponsor came in handy for this recipe too–ThermoWorks’ ThermoPop, a pocket digital thermometer. I didn’t have a good meat thermometer before this–just a cheapo from our wedding five years ago that didn’t really work–so I’m really excited to use this thermometer in my kitchen now. 🙂 And it’s red too! Super cute. Anyways, these pork chops were so simple and so flavorful… just a mixture of spicy mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Thai basil. I grilled them indoors because it was getting dark but they can be grilled outside too obviously. If you can’t find El Diablo, any spicy mustard plus a tablespoon of chipotle peppers will do.

Thanks to El Diablo for your delicious mustards–check ’em out on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and thank you to ThermoWorks for the fun red thermometer! They’re on Twitter and Facebook too. You can win products from both awesome companies in the giveaway. And hey, do you guys see what state my pork chop looks like??! If you say INDIANA you’re right! 🙂 Happy Sunday!

three years ago: Butternut Squash Apple Soup
for years ago: Whole Wheat Pancakes

Chipotle Mustard Pork Chops

Servings: 4
Time: 60 minutes
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Ingredients:

1/3 cup El Diablo Roasted Chipotle Hot & Spicy Mustard
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup Thai basil, chopped
4 pork chops – I used a thin cut since I was grilling indoors but use whatever you like, thicker is better outside

Directions:

In a bowl, stir together mustard, vinegar, and Thai basil. Add pork to the bowl and combine to coat. Let rest for 40 minutes. If you prefer to do this in a plastic bag, that works too.

Grill until cooked through, about 4 minutes for me on my George Foreman grill. You can also grill these outdoors if you prefer.

Here’s what the rest of the team brought to the table today…

Starters

‘Da Bears in ‘Da Blankets by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs by Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

Philly Cheese Steak Eggrolls by Cooking In Stilettos

Ketchup & Mustard Glazed Meatballs by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Duck Bacon, Pear, Brie Baked Wontons by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Mains
Buffalo Chicken Sliders by girlichef

Chipotle Ranch Chicken Wings by Cheese Curd In Paradise

White Chicken Chili by A Day in the Life on the Farm

Saucy Maple Leaf Duck Sliders by Making Miracles

Three Pepper Burgers by Eliot’s Eats

Chipotle Mustard Pork Chops by The Pajama Chef

Sides

Salads in Jars by OnTheMove-In the Galley

Disclosure: I received a complementary stash of mustard from El Diablo and a complementary Thermopop as part of my participation in #10DaysofTailgate. I was not compensated in any way–for my time, to create a recipe, or to publish positive comments. I was not required to use these products as part of my recipe. My opinions are my own.

Appetizers, Beef, Main Dishes, Recipes

#10DaysofTailgate: Thai Beef Skewers

September 27, 2014September 29, 2014 Sarah

A Thai-inspired grilled beef skewer recipe that couldn’t be simpler but tastes amazing! So flavorful and exotic.

Welcome to #10DaysofTailgate! Camilla did a great job organizing this fun event, and we have 14 amazing giveaways for you guys! So check out the giveaway here. 🙂 September is winding down, and so is #10DaysofTailgate and the giveaway so check it out now!

Whenever Ben and I grill–correction: whenever BEN grills and I watch–we pretty much always have the same thing: burgers. Burgers. Burgers. Delicious, but boring. We have some skewers that came with our grill tools but we’ve never used them. And we still haven’t even though we made skewers… because FireWire Grilling [check ’em out on Twitter and Facebook too] sent me some cool flexible skewers as part of #10DaysofTailgate. Thank you SO much! They are so fun to use, and easy to grill with, even on a small grill like the one we have at our apartment complex. The tips stay cool if you keep them off the grill so they’re easier to remove.

These skewers were SO flavorful and tender. I marinated chunks of steak in a mixture of Thai basil, rice vinegar, fish sauce, and two herbs that Gourmet Garden sent as part of #10DaysofTailgate–lemongrass and chili pepper. This was my first time using those tubes of herbs and I have to say that they were super convenient, especially for something like lemongrass that you might not normally purchase. [If you want, check ’em out on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.] While fresh herbs are definitely my first choice for seasonings, I’ll definitely consider Gourmet Garden in future! For my skewers, I added bell peppers and onions to the beef but feel free to use whatever veggies you like. 🙂 Next time I make these skewers I’d love to add fresh mango or pineapple AND use coconut milk in the marinade instead of water. I highly suggest YOU try those additions. 🙂 Enjoy!

three years ago: Honey Mint Glazed Chicken
four years ago: Citrus Tilapia

Thai Beef Skewers

Servings: 4
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
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Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Thai basil – can also substitute cilantro or Italian basil
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon Lemongrass Paste from Gourmet Garden
1 teaspoon Chili Pepper Paste from Gourmet Garden
5-10 drops fish sauce
3/4-1 pound steak, cut into 2 inch cubes
1 green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
1/2 yellow bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch squares
1/2 sweet or red onion, cut into large squares

Directions:

Combine basil, water, oil, vinegar, Lemongrass paste, Chili Pepper paste, and fish sauce in a large bowl. Use immersion blender to process until smooth. A regular blender or food processor would work as well. Add steak cubes to the mixture, stirring to fully submerge. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours to marinate. After marination is complete, add steak to skewers along with bell peppers and onions. Grill over indirect heat to desired doneness, about 15-20 minutes on a charcoal grill.

If you don’t have a grill, you can try baking the skewers on a rimmed baking sheet at 375 degrees F for 20-30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Just follow proper safety precautions such as soaking wooden skewers for 24 hours to prevent the risk of fire. I have not tried baking these, but there are lots of tutorials online on this subject.

Here’s what everyone brought to the table today…

Starters
Chicken Bacon Ranch Taquitos by Things I Make (for Dinner)
Cherry Chipotle Glazed Wings by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Firewired Pancetta-Wrapped Seafood by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Mains
Maize and Blue Chicken Salad by Sew You Think You Can Cook

Savory Duck Handpies by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen

Slow Cooker Smoky Date Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures

Smokey Red Lentil Chili by Debbi Does Dinner Healthy

Thai Beef Skewers by The Pajama Chef

Sips

Apple Cherry Spice Cocktail by CafeTerraBlog

Dips

Kicked up Spinach Dip by Miss Laura’s Kitchen

Pizza Dip by Making Miracles

Sweets
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Hard Pretzels by The Spiffy Cookie

Disclosure: I received a complementary set of flexible grilling skewers from Firefire and complementary herbs from Gourmet Garden Herbs and Spices as part of my participation in #10DaysofTailgate. I was not compensated in any way–for my time, to create a recipe, or to publish positive comments. I was not required to use these products as part of my recipe. My opinions are my own.

Spicy peanut sauce, noodles, kale, and edamame meet in an addictive, easy pseudo-takeout meal that can be enjoyed hot or cold–what’s not to love?!

This spring/summer Ben and I have been eating sesame or peanut noodles all. the. time. [Side note: is there an actual difference between them? I’m sure there is. The librarian part of me is itching to google this up and see what I find out, but I’ll restrain myself.] They have replaced our easy mac & cheese from a box dinners. I have a hard time telling you what recipe I’ve used because a) I have many pinned on Pinterest and b) don’t really measure ingredients for sauces like this because I’ve never taken the time to take a few pictures to share the recipe here! But this time I did. Measure and photograph. 🙂 And this time I didn’t use any recipe except what sounded/looked/tasted good to me. It’s a good thing I did, because my noodles were utterly amazing.

Inspired by the lovely Amy of fearless homemaker and HER spicy peanut & sesame noodles, I added mix-ins to my noodles for the first time ever. What a good choice! Adding some kale and edamame made the textures of everything just pop and look pretty. Dontcha just love all that green?! 🙂

Ben walked in the door just as I was mixing everything together and was like, “what in the world is that fabulous smell?! You must be the best wife ever for cooking such an incredible dinner.” Okay, maybe his words didn’t come out exactly like that, but the sentiment was there. I know it. But seriously–these noodles DO smell fabulous. The sauce is the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and fresh flavors. I used ground ginger in the sauce but if I had had fresh ginger… oh man. Use that if you can.

Though I served these noodles as a vegetarian main course, this is a great base recipe to add some meat. I think grilled chicken or thinly sliced steak would be great. Or even shrimp or tofu. This could even be a side dish if you like. We loved every last one of these yummy noodles, and like all good Asian-ish recipes…you can enjoy them hot or cold. They’re great both ways. In the recipe below I included notes about how to prepare them to be more picnic friendly, but no matter how you make them, I’m sure you’ll love ’em! Enjoy!

one year ago: Ginger Banana Waffles
two years ago: Minty Asian Slaw
three years ago: Lemon Crinkle Cookies

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Kale and Edamame

Servings: 8
Time: 20min
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Ingredients:

16 ounces thin spaghetti noodles [any sort of thin noodle would work–Asian of any type, linguini, etc.]
3 cups kale, tightly packed & thinly sliced
1 cup Thai basil, loosely packed & chopped
1 cup edamame, shelled & room temperature
green onions, sliced, for garnish

for sauce

1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
juice of half a lime [roughly 2 tablespoons]
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger [use 1 inch grated fresh ginger if you have it]
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
~1/2 cup pasta water, to thin sauce

Directions:

Prepare noodles according to package directions. Be sure to reserve about half a cup of pasta’s cooking water to thin the sauce.

While noodles are cooking, whisk together all ingredients for sauce except for the pasta water.

When pasta is ready, drain, and return to pot [or a large bowl]. Add kale, basil, and edamame and toss. Thin dressing with 3 tablespoons of pasta water, whisk, and the pour over noodles and vegetables. Toss well to coat. If necessary, add additional pasta water to thin sauce further, up to a full half cup.

Serve noodles with green onions for garnish.

Note:

Can be enjoyed warm or cold, but the dressing does really absorb into the noodles after refrigeration [which doesn’t bother me but does affect presentation] so if you’re making these noodles for an event and want to serve them cold, be sure to rinse well after draining to get rid of starch, toss with a bit of sesame oil, and then refrigerate separately from the sauce and veggies. Toss together before serving. I haven’t tried this technique with this recipe, but I have done similar things for other dishes so I assume it’d work well! Using rice noodles [that you don’t boil to cook, thus, they stay cold] might be a good option too.